Back to the Bullpen

by jscape2000 on Aug 23, 2008 5:23 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

I missed this yesterday, but it looks like Joba's return will involve setting up for Rivera. It's like 2007 all over again! The more things change...

This won't reignite the "starter-reliever" debate, will it?

Personally, I don't bring Joba back at all unless the Yanks win their next five in a row, while the Red Sox and Twins/White Sox struggle. If we're not within 3 with 25 to play, let the kid sit and fully recover.

"We've always thought of him as a starter," manager Joe Girardi said Friday. "That's how I still think of him.
"There's not a lot of time to build up, so we might have to be creative how we build him up. ... We're not exactly sure how we're going to do it."

I don't want creative gambles in September 6 games out of the wild card.

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Shut him down

for the rest of the year. No need to risk re-injury when we have no shot this year anyway. Start fresh in ’09 with a healthy Joba.

Back to the Future is one of the best movies eva, IMO.

by runbrettrun on Aug 23, 2008 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

it's unfortunate

but it’s in everyone’s long term interests to have him relieve the rest of the year.

by Travis G on Aug 23, 2008 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

Joba

I haven’t read anything to suggest the Yankees plan on making him a setup man again.

It’s anyone’s guess at this point, but I interpreted what Girardi and co. said as giving Joba scheduled, multi-inning appearances out of the bullpen for a week plus to build up his arm strength to the point where he can start again. LIke they did when he first “began the process”.

Right now they have Rasner, Pavano, and Ponson in the rotation. It’s hard to expect any of these three to make it past the 6th inning, especially Pavano. They could use Joba to pitch on the days Pavano pitches.

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on Aug 24, 2008 12:48 AM EDT reply actions