March 26, 2010

The Joba-Hughes Conundrum

The "big" news this week is that Phil Hughes has won the 5th starter competition. It has been written that this means Joba Chamberlain will most likely be the 8th inning set-up guy.

Put me in the camp that believes Joba should be a starter. I believe this not because "Joba is a starter" or "Joba is a reliever", but because Joba is a talented pitcher and talented pitchers are always more valuable starting. I'd like to see him get every chance to succeed in that role. If he shows he can't hack it, then by all means move him to the bullpen.

I understand his demeanor seems to favor that of a reliever: very emotional and fiery. But there are great relievers who are unemotional (see Rivera, Mariano) and there are great starting pitchers who wear their emotions on their sleeves (Josh Beckett and CC Sabathia are known to pump their fists and yell when they get a big strikeout).

Bottom line, the Yanks need to develop good, cost effective starting pitching. They can't hope to fashion a rotation of just free agents. If so, they'll be looking at paying upwards of 80 Mil just for 5 guys. That's just too much.

My hope is that the Yankee organization hasn't given up on Joba as a starter. I would like to see them send Joba down to AAA to work as a starter there. He could work on his secondary pitches and his efficiency. Let's face it, some time this year the Yanks will need another starting pitcher, either due to injury or ineffectiveness. Having a stretched out Joba waiting in the wings would be a plus. And then in 2011, if all goes well, the Yanks will have two young starters to plug into the rotation for good.

March 22, 2010

Weekend Tidbits

I want to comment on some of the happenings from this past weekend:

1) Health Care Reform

It's about time. Why some Americans believe that in the richest country in the world, healthcare should be a luxury and not a right, is beyond me. The Healthcare Bill is far from perfect, but neither was/is Medicare. This nation has always fought against change (see slavery, women's rights, civil rights, etc...) but some brave souls have always been willing to fight for what was right. And we're all better off because of it.

2) Joe Mauer signs with Twins

I've read comments that Yankee fans (and Red Sox fans) must now be dissapointed that Mauer signed a long term deal with the Twins. I can't speak for all Yankee fans, but I for one, am happy. Why? Because it's good for baseball.

If the Twins can't sign their best player who's a home town kid that wants to stay after building a brand new ballpark, there would be no hope for any of the mid-market to small market clubs to compete. We'd be on the road to more labor unrest and probably an eventual strike. And even though I'd love to have the Yanks sign all the best players and sport an All Star team every year, I understand that this hurts the game in the long run.

Besides, as long as the Red Sox don't get him it's all good.

3) Busted Brackets

This NCAA tournament is AWESOME! I should have never picked Kansas, though. I work with a guy that is from Kansas and all he talked about all year were the Jayhawks, Jayhawks, Jayhawks! I knew from experience that Kansas can not be trusted but I drank the Kool Aide anyway. Oh, well.


4) Tiger Woods, again

The Masters can not get here fast enough. I'm tired of these choreographed interviews. Anytime someone agrees to an interview but chooses to do it standing up, you know they ain't really trying to open up. Plus, is it me or did Tiger look a little pudgy last night in the belly region? Understandable, I guess, since he's no longer "working it out" like he used to.

5) Opening Day Only TWO WEEKS away!!!

March 17, 2010

March Madness Time

It's that time again. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is about to start. One of the biggest sporting events of the year.

But let's face it...college basketball is not what it once was.

The best players are one & done now. A small improvement over the previous decade where all the best players went straight to the NBA from high school, but not by much.

Back in the hey day of college basketball, the 1980's into the mid 90's, you had guys staying 4 years in school, at least 3. And because of this the college game rivaled if not surpassed the NBA in popularity.

I remember the great Georgetown teams with Patrick Ewing and Reggie Williams, St. Johns with Walter Berry and Chris Mullin, Syracuse with Pearl Washington and Derrick Coleman. And that's just the Big East.

Then you had the great Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan and Indiana programs. And how about that great Houston team with Clyde Drexler & Hakeem Olajuwon.

Teams back then had great stars that you could identify with. But now, you need a primer before each year just to find out who the top players are. Most of them end of being freshman who are just going to college because they have to do the 1 year requirement.

But the tournament gets everyone excited for college basketball again for about 3 weeks. It comes at the perfect time. Football is over, the NBA season (which is too long anyway) is coming to an end and baseball is still in spring training. People fill out their brackets with the hope of winning a little scratch. It's all good.

Except for the fact that I can name a player on only about 8 of the 64 teams.


Here's my Final Four picks:

Kansas, West Virginia, Syracuse, Duke.

Championship Game: Kansas vs. WVU

National Champ: Kansas Jayhawks