Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Gimme Your Studs, Make It Real, Or Else Forget About It

First off, I would like to take issue with something that my colleague Travis wrote. Let's look at the numbers, shall we?

75 IP, 2-1, 3.12 ERA, 72 Ks, 8.64 K/9, 1.15 WHIP - ADAM WAINWRIGHT, 2006 Season
24 IP, 2-0, 0.38 ERA, 34 Ks, 12.75 K/9, .75 WHIP - JOBA, 2007 Season

Joba had a categorically better rookie year then Wainwright. Granted, it is a smaller sample size.

202 IP, 14-12, 3.70 ERA, 136 Ks, 1.40 WHIP - ADAM WAINWRIGHT, 2007 Season

Yes, Wainwright's WHIP is too high and his Ks were down. But I will speak for all Yankee fans in saying that if Joba can get us 14 wins with a sub 4 ERA, I would be ecstatic.

Don't get me wrong, I like Santana. Let's face it, I like anyone that can rock the name Johan. But let's look at what the Yankees might have had to give up to get Johan.

W/ SANTANA
SP Johan
SP Petitte
SP Wang
SP Joba
SP Mussina
C Posada
1B Duncan
2B Cano
3B A-Rod
SS Jeter
LF Matsui
CF Damon
RF Abreu
DH Giambi

NO SANTANA
SP Petitte
SP Wang
SP Hughes
SP Joba
SP Kennedy
C Posada
1B Giambi/Duncan
2B Cano
3B A-Rod
SS Jeter
LF Damon/Matsui
CF Melky
RF Abreu
DH Matsui/Giambi

Which is the better squad? Personally, I prefer the team without Johan. Melk is an above average outfielder with plenty of upside. Hughes and Kennedy showed glimpses of how good they can be. Plus, Hank won't be tempted to get rid of Joba (I've never seen the Stadium so alive then when Joba entered the game in a meaningless September game) or the man who will win batting titles (guaranteed), Mr. Robinson Cano. In Cano's three years in the bigs, he has proved to be one of the tougher outs in the league when he's on. The fact that Cano hit the cover off the ball in the second half after his abysmal first half made it clear that Cano was a special player. Like Gene Hackman in Hoosiers, I'm making a statement. This is my team.

4 comments:

Travis Miller said...

You've known me a long time. I rarely admit to even "not hating" a Yankee. But I LOVE Joba. I only wish the best for him. I just don't think he'll cut it as a starter.

And if you're allowed to rely on stats that aren't to scale to prove a point, so can I!!

Adam Wainwright 2006 postseason
9 appearances
9.2 innings pitched
1-0, 4 saves
0.00 E.R.A
7 hits
15 strikeouts
2 walks


Joba 2007 postseason
2 appearances
3.2 innings pitched
4.91 E.R.A.
3 hits
3 walks
4 strikeouts

Travis Miller said...

oh yeah, and he single-handedly caused a gnat storm

Michael J. Clark said...

valid points, but i ask you this: does adam wainwright have rules named after him?

Chris Barrows said...

I should also point out that having seen him, and talked to him after starting in Triple-A, he's perfectly capable of being a starter. It's a matter of how he handles the switch back.

I was actually the first person to talk to him about how he felt about changing to the bullpen, so I know he's a team player and has no problem doing what's best, but he should success starting or in relief.

Yeah, I just pimped the fact that I was the first to talk to him about that, haha.