Melky Cabrera drove in three runs, including the game-winner, A-Rod hit #565* and Derek Jeter added two runs of insurance as the Yanks beat the Mariners for their sixth win in a row, 8-5.
Mariano threw out the first pitch (in honor of save #500) and the last, getting save #501.
Joba started, but once again looked like Jaret Wright. I agree with Pete Abraham’s assessment that Joba has to let it fly. 5 1/3 again. He’s got to start going deeper into ballgames. The ERA (3.89) isn’t bad, but he has to start copying a workhorse like CC. He had a struggle last night. 5 1/3, 3 R, 9 hits, 3 walks and 4 K. Lengthen it out, Joba.
Phil Coke finished the sixth, the Hughes had the 7th. Another great outing from Phil out of the bullpen, and I agree wholeheartedly with Pete Abe and with Jason’s comment (previous post) about Girardi needing to use Hughes for more than just one inning. He has to start thinking of Hughes like Torre thought of Rivera in 1996. Turn Hughes/ Rivera into a 2009 version of Rivera/Wetteland. Instead, Girardi went by the book and brought in Bruney for the 8th and it nearly burned him as Bruney coughed up the 5-3 lead provided by A-Rod’s 2-run HR.
In the bottom of the 8th, Melky’s RBI double followed by Jeter’s 2-run hit gave the Yanks their victory. Then the 9th, Mo and the win.
Joba, give more innings.
Girardi…trust and go with Hughes more often, and for two if necessary.
2 responses so far ↓
1 yankeemza781 // Jul 1, 2009 at 8:51 am
How about Hughes/Chamberlain/Rivera. Chamberlain has been average as a starting pitcher, I’ll say it again where is the fastball. 90-94 topping out at 94. Rather have a dominant 8th inning than a average no. 5. As a closer he’s hitting 97-100. Too much lost on the heat when he starts. If he goes you have Rivera 9th, Chamberlain 8th, Hughes 7th, Bruney, Coke, Robertson. Put Aceves in as the 5th starter. Immediate upgrade in the bullpen and not that much drop off (never thought i’d say this) from Chamberlain.
2 Mike Sommer // Jul 1, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Interesting concept, but I do wonder about “dooming” 23 year olds (Hughes just turned 23, Joba is 23) to the bullpen. You really want to develop them as starters. Joba is 4-2, 3.89. Because he isn’t going deep into games, he isn’t getting decisions. I’ll cut him some slack because he is just 23, but he has to get guys out on 3 pitches or less, not walk as many, and go deeper into games.
That said, a 23 year old with a sub-4.00 era as a starter isn’t bad at all. Three guys with sub 4.00 eras on this rotation (pitching in HR happy New Yankee Stadium) isn’t bad. The ERA+ is still under 100, but it is up to 98 from being 91 earlier.
One thing that concerns me is Joba’s first inning blues that he has had (BA .350 in that inning). Coming out of the bullpen there is always that “First inning”. For some reason he has had trouble this year. Would that change coming out of the bullpen or would those warmup problems continue? If they continue, then coming out of the bullpen isn’t a good idea.
Actually, with a 113 ERA+, Joba has been above average. Although he is just 4-2, the Yanks have won 10 of the 15 games he has started. I’ll take that anytime. His biggest problem? Lack of innings. If he were able to go a bit deeper, maybe he is 8-4 in those 15 starts, and if that were the case, I think a lot of the arguments might become mute.
Room for improvement? Definitely. Less walks, more innings. But the 3.89, ERA+ of 113 and the 10 wins out of 15 starts (meaning keeping your team in the game) are nice for a 23 year old. Although not a rookie, he can be considered such in the starting category. Not bad… and as we know, room to improve.
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