CCF,
Great articles, especially the one on the stats on bullpens in 2007. What's interesting is that the Yankees' record pre-Chamberlain was probably a lot worse. I wonder how many of those 9 losses came in games in which Chamberlain and Rivera were called upon to pitch the 8th and 9th innings. Probably not too many.
I have been hearing a lot about Joba starting 2008 in the bullpen. I would assume that the rotation would then be Wang, Pettite, Hughes, Kennedy, and either Mussina or Igawa as the 5th starter. I suppose a lot will depend on how Mussina and Igawa pitch in spring training. At the end of last season, I heard Gene "Stick" Michael interviewed on WFAN and he said that the Yankees for years have been irritated with Mussina's offseason working regimen. In a nutshell, they have been telling him for the last 4-5 years that he is getting older and he needs to have an offseason workout regimen and strength and conditioning program. Mussina, if you have ever heard him in interviews, is somewhat of a curmudgeon who believes he knows what is best and everyone else knows shit. However, Michael speculated that Mussina getting his ass kicked like he never did previously in that one 3 game stretch late last season, after which he was temporarily pulled from the rotation, may have finally opened his eyes.
It's all speculation until they go to spring training and we see what kind of shape everyone is in and how they are pitching. However, if they keep Joba in the bullpen, they will have him, Hawkins and Mariano to pitch the late innings, with Farnsworth in reserve and possibly relegated to middle relief in blowout games. Maybe they can start that way and see how things shake out with Mussina/Igawa or maybe even Henn as the 5th starter.
Another option would be to put Joba on a strict pitch count but that could end up taxing the bullpen.
Regarding Kennedy being dangerously prone to an injury based on innings pitched, that's an interesting assessment. He is not tall, but he is not skinny or a runt, and his delivery shows good mechanics. To me, all of these articles, like most of the posts here, are just speculation. If these were scientific analyses with high degrees of probabilities, we would not need to play any games, we could just sit here and decide what the outcome of the season will be in advance, crowning the champion in each division, then guessing at the postseason rosters based on who will likely be healthy and productive, then picking wins and losses based on the pitching matchups.
I prefer to watch the games being played instead.
Great articles, especially the one on the stats on bullpens in 2007. What's interesting is that the Yankees' record pre-Chamberlain was probably a lot worse. I wonder how many of those 9 losses came in games in which Chamberlain and Rivera were called upon to pitch the 8th and 9th innings. Probably not too many.
I have been hearing a lot about Joba starting 2008 in the bullpen. I would assume that the rotation would then be Wang, Pettite, Hughes, Kennedy, and either Mussina or Igawa as the 5th starter. I suppose a lot will depend on how Mussina and Igawa pitch in spring training. At the end of last season, I heard Gene "Stick" Michael interviewed on WFAN and he said that the Yankees for years have been irritated with Mussina's offseason working regimen. In a nutshell, they have been telling him for the last 4-5 years that he is getting older and he needs to have an offseason workout regimen and strength and conditioning program. Mussina, if you have ever heard him in interviews, is somewhat of a curmudgeon who believes he knows what is best and everyone else knows shit. However, Michael speculated that Mussina getting his ass kicked like he never did previously in that one 3 game stretch late last season, after which he was temporarily pulled from the rotation, may have finally opened his eyes.
It's all speculation until they go to spring training and we see what kind of shape everyone is in and how they are pitching. However, if they keep Joba in the bullpen, they will have him, Hawkins and Mariano to pitch the late innings, with Farnsworth in reserve and possibly relegated to middle relief in blowout games. Maybe they can start that way and see how things shake out with Mussina/Igawa or maybe even Henn as the 5th starter.
Another option would be to put Joba on a strict pitch count but that could end up taxing the bullpen.
Regarding Kennedy being dangerously prone to an injury based on innings pitched, that's an interesting assessment. He is not tall, but he is not skinny or a runt, and his delivery shows good mechanics. To me, all of these articles, like most of the posts here, are just speculation. If these were scientific analyses with high degrees of probabilities, we would not need to play any games, we could just sit here and decide what the outcome of the season will be in advance, crowning the champion in each division, then guessing at the postseason rosters based on who will likely be healthy and productive, then picking wins and losses based on the pitching matchups.
I prefer to watch the games being played instead.
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