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.