The last week has felt a lot like the Summer of 2007. Solid bullpen pitching fresh from Triple A (Joba to Coke and Melancon), strong starting pitching, and a healthy dose of Melky (ok, maybe not as crucial this week, but I'm glad my "Got Melky" shirt is wearable again). Most importantly, Phil (Franchise) Hughes and Joba Chamberlain looked every bit the potential aces they are supposed to be. With a combined 13 innings of one-run ball from the two kids are the least earned runs given up on consecutive starts by Yankee pitchers by such young pitchers since the early 1980s. Of course, the New York media has to take a strength and make it appear to be an issue. Oh no! Six quality starting pitchers? What ever shall we do?
Perhaps even more ridiculous, beat writers and analysts alike are taking Hughes' strong start as evidence that Joba should be relegated to the bullpen. This couldn't be any more wrong. These are the same people who blamed the Yankees for having Joba prepare for the bullpen last year, only to be put in the rotation, then switched back to the pen. They say this contributed to his injuries a season ago. So, by what logic do they defend asking the Yanks to send him to the pen after he prepared all offseason to be a starter? Regardless of what role you feel he should fill in the future ( I believe he's a starter, but that's not the argument), you do NOT make a switch this season. They've made their bed, now they have to sleep in it.
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