Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Joba Nasty in the First, Exceptional After

Joba Chamberlain was just about every bit of the ace the Yankees think he will be last night. He torched the Red Sox for 12 strike outs in only 5.2 innings including a stretch with 8 consecutive outs recording by strike out to end his start. But as good as he was after the first inning was surpassed by how bad he was in the first. The first five Red Sox reached base and the first four of them scored. Joba is 23 and will have games like this as he matures. He'll dazzle you and then crush you. The same can be said for Phil Hughes. This is the normal maturation process for young pitchers. Look at Zack Grienke who is finally fulfilling his potential at age 25. It's just that Yankee fans aren't used to these growing pains because it has been so long since young players, especially pitchers, have been allowed to grow and develop for them. The Yankees lost last night, but Joba showed why he belongs in the rotation and how great he can be. As a Yankee fan you can take solace in that.

It's amazing how close the Yankees have been to winning about four of their five match ups with the Sox. Last night they let yet another game slide through their fingers as they had numerous opportunities to tie or go ahead of the Red Sox but in each instance the lack of depth shined brightly and reserve players failed to come through.

Injuries have hurt the Yankees badly, but it's their lack of depth that has killed them in these games. You can't blame Ramiro Pena or Jose Molina for not getting the big hit against Beckett last night because the fact of the matter is neither should even be hitting in that situation. The Yankees had no choice. With Nady, Posada and A-Rod on the DL they've been forced to dive into a well that is just about empty in terms of bats they can bring up.

Cashman has done a good job with drafting pitchers as we have seen with Chamberlain and Hughes. There are talented arms down on the farm. Where they have failed so far is position players. They have next to nothing in terms of impact bats down in the minors. And right now that lack of depth is why they are 0-5 vs. the Sox.

4 comments:

Dan said...

Mike Francesa would beg to differ with you. He was incensed this afternoon, especially since the YES crew gave him player of the game. I tend to fall in the middle. Yes, he was terrible in the first, but he kept the Yankees in the game and it just fell apart for them in the end.

Dennis said...

Francesa is always incensed, it is pretty much what he does.

As for the Yankees, the fact that they have the highest payroll in the league by a good $60 million and have no depth is criminal.

Now, I am not criticizing them for having this payroll, every team's goal should be to win, and they should all spend whatever it takes to do so, but what have they spent on?

I will tell you, nine players combine to make $160 million. Of those 9, 3 are pitchers (2 starters, 1 closer), 4 are infielders (2 on the DL right now), and the other 2 are essentially a DH/LF platoon. That is not the problem.

The problem is in the players making $5~6 million. The Yankees have 5, 2 starting pitchers, their starting 2B, and their planned RF platoon (1 is on the DL). This is where a team like the Yankees should build their depth. Mark Kotsay, Placido Polanco, Chone Figgins, Pedro Feliz, even Kaz Matsui. Veterans who can hit a little bit and play several positions are what the Yankees are missing.

Peter said...

I whole heartedly agree with that Dennis. The Yanks probably could have won about three of the five games against the Red Sox if they had just one bat on the bench during some of those late inning rallies where the yankees had to rely on pena or molina. Granted they have had more injuries than most teams would care to have. I mean few teams could absorb losing their 3rd baseman and clean up hitter, their starting catcher, and number two starter and still be competitive with the likes of the red sox or rays.

Cashman is trying to build depth through the farm system like the sox, but doing that takes time and the still have a ways to go.

Peter said...

I whole heartedly agree with that Dennis. The Yanks probably could have won about three of the five games against the Red Sox if they had just one bat on the bench during some of those late inning rallies where the yankees had to rely on pena or molina. Granted they have had more injuries than most teams would care to have. I mean few teams could absorb losing their 3rd baseman and clean up hitter, their starting catcher, and number two starter and still be competitive with the likes of the red sox or rays.

Cashman is trying to build depth through the farm system like the sox, but doing that takes time and the still have a ways to go.