Comments on: Just talkin’ about Mo

By: Old Ranger

Old Ranger — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:41:33 +0000

I am opting out of the Joba to the pen debate…if it starts again. It is a waste of time and energy. Joba to the Pen is a non-starter ( ok, so it is a pun…and much intended as such) for me and most others around the game, with a cell in their brain to think with.

By: Old Ranger

Old Ranger — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:32:38 +0000

I know I’ll be sorry for this but, Marte is #1 to look at for the 9th…he has done it before.

By: David

David — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:33:11 +0000

I foresee the “Joba in the pen” debate starting again for the 2009 post season. (I am confident that the Yanks will get that far.) Since only 3 or 4 starters are needed for the post season, it will make sense to move Joba to the pen at that time unless he’s substantially better than 3 other SPs. Also, his lack of experience could justify a move to the pen for the post-season.

By: Troy in NJ

Troy in NJ — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:49:17 +0000

I really get annoyed with the Joba to the pen garbage.

The Yankees have a ton of depth in their bullpen. A starter is worth so much more than a reliever. Even a great reliever. AJ Burnett gets more than Mo or K-Rod.

But Harper’s argument is garbage as well. Bruney was excellent last year (better than Joba out of the pen). Plus there is Ramirez, Marte, Robertson, Veras, Melancon, Sanchez and even Phil Hughes who could pitch out of the pen if need be.

By: Hawkins44

Hawkins44 — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:49:38 +0000

Right… let’s go into the post season with Melancon closing out games against the Red Sox in Fenway…. that will work. and I love Bruney, but he walks an unacceptable amount of base runners to ever be a closer.

By: Sweet Dick Willie

Sweet Dick Willie — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:37:31 +0000

Yeah,when they go on re-hab, or innings limits or such, not because that is where they are best utilized.

Where is David Price penciled to pitch this year?

Starters are starters, ~~and that’s it.~~ until they prove they can’t cut it as a starter.

Fixed.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:14:03 +0000

I usually like your guys trades and signings ideas but getting pedro would be a waste of money. We might as well throw that same amount at cruz and see if he comes wondering this way. Pedro will not be effective in the AL and he would be way down the least of replacements most likely. He would net us back very little in a trade and there is a chance we get stuck with him. With this one, I am going to say i dont really think that move would help us. I almost always agree with you guys on this stuff though but i just dont see us benefiting from anything we would get back in a trade for pedro after the spring is over. And i really think he would not do well in the spring either. I dont even know if he would take a minor league deal but if not, there is no way he is worth the roster spot either.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:09:21 +0000

Hawkins,

There is a guy named mark melancon in the st complex you might have heard of him. He is perhaps one of the best relievers prospects around and improved in every level of the minors pitching almost 100 innings the year after TJ surgery. He is already good to go to the bronx if we need him. I think he could make a very viable replacement for Mo in the event of an injury. And not only that – Bruney was just dominant last year and could be even better now. We also have about 15 other relievers whp most of which have not yet shown their potential. Not to mention, one of the better pen arms in the game in marte. And Mo is fine – there is no reason to start debating replacements when they guy is not a concern right now.

I think the only way this debate really gets some steam or some legs or whatever is if joba fails as a starter. Then, he is certainly destined to go back to the pen. But if hughes is pitching really well and mo is injured, there are other options besides joba to turn to and who knows if the rest of the rotation will be fine all next year? Someone may go down at any point and we have far more depth from relievers than starters still. We should not take away from our starting depth to add to the pen. Its not worth it.

By: Drew

Drew — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:54:59 +0000

I want Joba to be our current/future ace but there is one argument for him in the Bullpen, We have so many damn pitchers! this is great, for all the heat Cash has taken I sure hope we thank him for this year! BTW I never want to see Joba in the pen, I’m just saying that some nutballs could argue for it.

By: Hawkins44

Hawkins44 — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:53:17 +0000

If MO get’s hurt (or ineffective) and Hughes is throwing lights out in the minors it will get interesting… I’m one of the many morons that get’s lambasted on a regular basis for my belief that Hughes/Kennedy should battle it out for number 5 and Joba should hedge our “Mo might get old” concern….. Joseph, nice to hear that you see a shred of logic in the move.

No Mo or Joba in the back end of the bullpen and we become last years Mets….