Guest Post: Gotta Go’da Joba

I know you guys must be sick of watching this Yankees game today. So how about a guest post about the argument that just won't go away; Where Joba Chamberlain should be, the starting rotation or the bullpen? It comes to us from John Bonini of The Voice of Yankees Universe and this isn't your every day Joba-to-the-pen article. This is as much about why Phil Hughes needs to be in the rotation, as it is about Joba going to the bullpen. Give it a read and leave your comments below.

This is the first guest post we've had here at Sliding Into Home, and hopefully there will be more in the near future.

By John Bonini

Death, taxes, and the Joba debate. Really, are there any other certainties in lives of Yankee fans? Certainly not in the thoughts and minds of Yankee fans.

With Joba Chamberlain getting off to a pretty ordinary start in the rotation, coupled with the fact that there have really only been two reliable arms out of the pen thus far, the Joba-to-the-pen debate rages on.

However, instead of focusing my energies on why Joba should be in the bullpen, surely something you all have read in every degree, theory and perhaps language conceivable, I’d rather spend my time on why Phil Hughes should be residing just southeast of Scranton, Pa, throwing his innings in the Yankee starting rotation.

The reason behind this is simple; Phil Hughes has shown that he can more than an ordinary starting pitcher in the big leagues. Who can forget his near no-hitter in Texas in May of 2007, only Hughes’ second career big league start.

Or his performance in game 3 of the 2007 ALDS, where the rookie pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings after bailing out Roger Clemens to earn the win and extend the season to one more day.

Joba Chamberlain, too, has shown greatness. However, the young hurlers greatest moments, his highlights if you will, have come out of the pen. He’s been dominating, fearless, quick, economical, and just downright nasty out of the pen.

In the rotation however, most of this swagger is missing in action. He works at a more leisurely pace, throws too many pitches, walks too many bad hitters, and lacks that gusto that once had fans on their feet at the anticipation of Joba entering a game.

There seems to be a certain focus Joba takes to the mound with him in the late innings of close games that lies dormant when he starts. He works much more quickly out of the pen, throws more strikes, and seemingly strikes everyone out.

There should be no shame in this for Joba. Goose Gossage and Mariano Rivera, two Yankee closers who will be joined in the Hall of Fame one day, both started their respective careers as starters only later to find their true calling in the ninth inning—and in Goose’s case, sometimes even the 7th and 8th.

The Yankee pitching this season looks to be the best they’ve had this side 2004, but in my mind, there’s no denying that the Yankees are a better team with Job in the 8th, and Hughes in the rotation.

Hughes’ latest start came Friday night, where the righty tossed 5.2 scoreless innings, walking none while striking out six. After two starts this season, Hughes is 2-0, pitching to a 2.31 ERA.

Hughes detractors will point to his dreadful 2008 appearance in the majors, and for good reason. We all know the numbers. He went 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA before going down with a rib injury.

But after what he showed in 2007, I saw this as more of the exception than the rule, especially under the circumstances of his rib injury.

With the way Brian Bruney has been pitching, along with the curious case of Mariano Rivera, adding Joba to the mix would strengthen this team far more than it would weaken it, especially with Hughes waiting in the wings.

It seems like the right move to make, but one the Yankees have been reluctant to do, almost as if they’re looking out for the best interest of Joba Chamberlain rather than that of the organization itself.

In the back of their collective minds somewhere, Yankee brass must be pondering who is replacing Mo in two years. These types of guys with the fortitude to pitch in the late innings don’t grow on trees. With the right approach, the transition from Mo may not be as gloomy as it once appeared. The Yankees must come to terms with this fact, it’s time. Gotta go’da Joba.

(John Bonini writes for The Voice of Yankees Universe.)

You guys know my opinion, I think Joba should start and I'm not going to budge on that. But there's nothing wrong with having opposing opinions on the same blog. It probably makes it more interesting for the readers anyway.

Also, with Chien-Ming Wang pitching as poorly as he has, maybe Phil Hughes can find his way into the rotation without taking Joba out of the rotation. Right now I think Chien-Ming Wang needs a start or two in the minors so he can regain his confidence.

Greg's Note: Chien-Ming Wang cannot be sent to the minors. According to Joe Girardi via Kevin Devaney, "a team cannot send a player to the minors unless they have options or the player agrees and has at least five years of service. Wang has no options and hasn’t been in the majors long enough." So, uh, so much for that.