I'm ready for Joba and Kennedy
The Yankees definitely seem to be considering bringing Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy up to the big leagues and putting them in the bullpen. We'll see if the Yankees trade any of their relievers by the deadline. There are rumors about Farnsworth if the Yankees pick up a portion of his salary (I'm done with him), Proctor to the Dodgers, and Ron Villone is a lefty with a decent 3.28 ERA, and a small contract.
It's hard to say if the two pitchers, who both started the season in A-Ball, are ready to get Major League hitters out, and neither of them have pitched in relief before. However, the fact that they both have very good stuff, and good command, coupled with the fact that the league hasn't seen them, and won't have time to get used to them with this little season left, and them pitching in relief, the Yankees could catch lightning in a bottle by bringing them up.
How many times have we seen pitchers come up and dominate for just a little bit. Many of those pitchers had a lot less talent than these two.
3 comments:
Joba made his AAA debut tonight. 5 shutout innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, and 10 strikeouts. Not a bad first impression.
My understanding was that Kennedy does not have great stuff - I thought he was more of a command/finesse guy.
Joba does apparently have great stuff. His problem has always been injuries. It's hard to say if pitching in a big league bullpen would be better or worse for a guy who hasn't relieved before.
Kennedy has always been thought of as a #4 starter. Some scouts think he could have been a decent #4 since the day he was drafted, but without much of an upside past that. I think the Yankees think he has more talent than that.
Joba in unquestionably considered the next most prized Yankee prospect after Hughes, even more so than Tabata now (and Tabata is having a fine year batting over .300 in the pitching friendly FSL).
Joba does have an injury history and I don't think switching him would help him, but I'm not sure it would hurt him, I just think he could help, and sometimes you just have to take the risk.
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