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Joba's so-called "development program"

Posted by Chris H. at 5:00 pm 7 Responses »
Mar 292010

On Friday, when asked about Joba Chamberlain, who recently lost the fifth starter competition to fellow teammate, Phil Hughes, Yankee GM, Brian Cashman, offered the following. “What we did was, we finished off [Joba’s] development program,” Cashman said. “We have choices with him. He can start if we need him to start, he can relieve if we want him to relieve. So I don’t feel it’s a waste at all. We completed the mission on him, and what will be, will be.” Now, if Joba is expected to join the Yankee rotation in 2011 – many Yankee fans believe that, though I am a bit more skeptical – with no rules attached as the program is, according to Cashman, over, will 200-plus innings be an actual goal?

Joba pitched just under 170 innings in 2009 – regular and postseason included – and will likely toss just under 90 innings in 2010. Is he simply going to slot back into the rotation a season from now after logging such a small amount of innings the year prior? This “development program” seems remarkably haphazard and distinctly unmethodical.

Consistent innings and a steady role are extremely important for pitchers. This build-him-up, scale-him-back, starter, reliever sort of approach – it is not even an approach, really – in my opinion, is hardly constructive developmentally. I think the Yankees know this, however, which is why, as Billy Eppler suggested, Joba could remain in the bullpen beyond the upcoming season.

Photo by Getty Images

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Cashman discusses Eppler's Joba admission

Posted by Chris H. at 11:00 am 3 Responses »
Mar 292010

Yesterday, Steve pointed to an interesting WFAN interview from Saturday, in which the Yankees’ director of professional scouting, Billy Eppler, discussed Joba Chamberlain’s future as a pitcher. To the dismay of many – myself included – in the interview, Eppler basically stated that Joba would remain a reliever in 2011, rather than transition back to the starting rotation. Luckily, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch caught up with Yankees GM, Brian Cashman, to discuss Eppler’s comments, and he seemed to indicate that Eppler was offering a personal opinion – his perspective on what Joba’s future should look like – not a plan of action that had already been agreed upon by those within the organization.

“We haven’t had any team meeting and said, ‘He’s a reliever for the rest of his life,’” said Cashman, claiming that the Eppler interview was an example of the “healthy dialogue going on behind the scenes” regarding Joba’s role. “Billy’s good,” Cashman added, “He’s been an asset and he’s going to continue to be an asset… Although, at times, I might disagree with his opinion, he makes us better. I want him to be out there talking to you guys as much as he can. I don’t want him shying away from his opinion.” Note Cashman’s repeated use of the word opinion here. He is trying to frame Eppler’s comments as such, though it did seem as if Eppler was speaking for the club at the time of his interview.

Photo by Getty Images

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Quick Bits: Swindal, Eppler

Posted by Chris H. at 6:45 pm 4 Responses »
Oct 162009

Here are two quick news items as we await a perfect game from CC Sabathia.

  • Steve Swindal, the one-time son-in-law of George Steinbrenner (he and Jennifer Steinbrenner were married and then divorced), and former general partner/chairman of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC, is opening a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic. Swindal and J. Steinbrenner are reportedly trying to get back together.
  • According to Jon Heyman who cites a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Billy Eppler, the director of professional scouting in the Yankees organization, is rumored to be a candidate for the Padres GM job, though San Diego has yet to contact the Yankees about interviewing him. Jed Hoyer, the assistant GM to the Red Sox is also being considered.

That’s that. I’ll be posting lineups shortly.

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