The Pen is Mightier Than the Start

Enough already. The Joba Chamberlain Should Be a Starter Experiment is over. Especially after today's Spring Training Performance against the Detroit Tigers. Joba got the start for the Bombers, and in two innings, he was virtually flawless. Chamberlain was economical, and probably would not have allowed a base hit if not for a play Mark Teixeira should have made at first base. Then, in the third inning, the midges came back. OK, maybe not, but Joba completely imploded after two. He gave up six runs and couldn't finish the inning. WHY ARE WE STILL CONSIDERING THIS MAN TO BE A STARTING PITCHER? The guy is an all-or-nothing flame thrower that belongs in the bullpen as part of the "Bridge to Mariano."

I understand that Phil Hughes should probably be developed as a starter. But the Yankees don't think to the future. They think about the present. And the present state of the Yankees is that this team is better with both Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes in the bullpen. Think about it. Can Chad Gaudin, Sergio Mitre, or Alfredo Aceves get it done as the fifth starter? Absolutely. With a pen of Chamberlain, Hughes, Marte, Robertson, Gaudin/Aceves, Chan Ho Park, and Mariano, you're talking about the best in baseball.

Let's stop with the experiment. If they are both supposed to be starters, let it happen in the future. The Yankees don't put off seasons to develop players. They bring the house every year and try to bring another title to the Bronx. Time to stop the experimenting Girardi. Get them both in the bullpen, and get it over with. Brian Cashman even admitted last week that the 2010 Yankees are better with both young guns in the bullpen. Someone should take a listen.