The Softer Side of Joe Girardi

Kat O’Brien’s (Newsday) got a writeup on Joe’s softer side. People typically characterize him as a “tough” and “intense” individual (basically he’s Joe Torre’s binary opposite), so the text provides a slightly different perspective.

What’s the Meaning of Life? Who Cares About That? What Should We Do With Joba?

 

Joba Chamberlain is slotted to be in the rotation come the new season…. OR, depending on what the Yankees decide is best for the young and developing ace, he can, of course, be in the bullpen. Bryan Hoch at the Yankee Website, outlined a couple of the options and spoke to Brian Cashman about Joba’s place on the team. From the comments made by B. Cash, one thing is certainly clear, Joba will not be in the rotation for a prolonged period of time, as his work is obviously dictated by the amount of innings he throws.

But after Chamberlain threw only 112 1/3 innings in his first professional season, 24 of which came in the Major Leagues, Cashman admits that the Yankees will be unable to slot Chamberlain into a five-man rotation without at least getting creative.

“Because of this stage in his development, he’s not going to be able to pitch for six months in the rotation without exceeding his limit,” Cashman said.

Among the options the Yankees are considering, Chamberlain could pitch out of the bullpen for a period of time — including starting the season in relief, where he could join Kyle Farnsworth and LaTroy Hawkins in helping to set up for closer Mariano Rivera.

So, from these words, we can extrapolate a couple of bits. Brian Cashman’s intent is clear. He wants Joba to start, but, that’s all contingent upon innings. Therefore, this option of Joba the set-up man is a good one, one that has been effective in the past, and one that would preserve his arm. It’s not one that everyone likes, but it’s realistic and practical.

Now, what’s the other option, really?

New York could also open the year with Chamberlain in the rotation and later skip him a turn through, or adjust to accommodate him with a six-man rotation.

“All of those things are up for discussion,” Cashman said. “[A six-man rotation] is not something that you want to do, but it’s something you might do for a period of time.”

Cashman said that Chamberlain’s assignment will be a prime topic to be discussed with manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland later in Spring Training.

Joba as a starter could end up being a headache for team personnel. It’ll be a juggling act to say the least to keep Joba in the rotation and use him in a manner which is effective for his development and for the team (wins). I believe Girardi has already stated that there will be no 6-man rotation, and, I doubt that they would go this route simply to accommodate Joba (although Hughes and Kennedy could benefit from it). You have to remember that the Yankees still want to win now, and limiting the amount of times that a Chien-Ming Wang or an Andy Pettitte go to the mound is problematic in this regard.

So, it’s either starter in a 6-man rotation or a 5-man rotation with a lot of skipped turns and bullpen appearances, or, it’s a lot of bullpen appearances, with a few starts sprinkled in towards the end of the year. The most telling comment was the following:

“If our entire staff is healthy coming out of Spring Training, he could go right to the ‘pen to start the season off. If we have injuries, he’d have to start the season in the rotation. It just depends how things are going to shake out.”

It’s appears fairly evident that Joba will be in the bullpen to start the season (barring injuries to his fellow rotation brethren). That would leave the starting 5 with Wang, Pettitte, Moose, Hughes, and Kennedy. If I had to guesstimate wins (off the dome)? Hmm, I’d say that Wang wins 20, Pettitte wins 15, Moose wins 15, Hughes gets 12 and Kennedy gets 12 (dependent upon who throws more innings).

The Roster is Up

The Yankees have posted their new roster on their official website (new numbers and new players included). Time for me to start rooting for my boy Chase Wright again.

Culture Steps to the Plate

Everybody is talking about the Chien-Ming Wang situation. Wang and the Yankees have not reached an agreement this offseason and are currently $600,000 apart in their offers. Wang wants $4.6 million and the Yankees only want to give him $4. Recently, GM Brian Cashman told PA that the two sides have not closed the gap (even if it is a tiny gap in Yankee Land), and are likely headed for an arbitration hearing.

I don’t know why the club is treating Wang this way. The Depressed Fan (Brian) has a nice writeup about the situation (equipped with some theories). Either way, without Wang we probably would’ve missed the playoffs in 06 and 07. Yes, he did struggle when we needed him to prove himself on national television (the playoffs), but he’s still the most dominant pitcher on the team (and one of the best in baseball). Why not just pay the man his money?

Whenever you end up in a messy situation like this, you have to wonder about the social dynamic at play (between both sides). One thing, in particular, that I wondered about, was how the cultural differences (Wang is Taiwanese) involved have effected the process, thus far, and how these differences will effect the ultimate outcome of the process. As a Communication Major, I actually studied cultural communication between varying groups, and it’s amazing how much culture and communication are intertwined.

Jessica, at the Let’s Go Yankees Blog, is Taiwanese, and gives her take on the situation.

True story from my side. In Asian countries, students are supposed to be quiet and listen to what teachers teach in the class. After I had studied in the United States for a while, I realized this was considered wrong attitude in American culture. Students are supposed to express their opinion and have interactions with teachers. Teachers even hope students challenge and question them…

…But, If I were Yankees front office, I would not play hardball with Wang to this far. Trust me, I understand how big difference between American culture and Taiwanese culture. I hope Yankees front office and his agent don’t put Wang to hearing which he has to hear how bad he is for 0.6 million.

Of course, Wang can choose to tell his agent and then give it up, but Wang won’t do this. He won’t express his opinion and he will follow his agent’s decision. I remember Wang let Yankees renewed his contract after 2006 season because of the advice of his agent. During signing, he apologized to Cashman and said he didn’t want to do this. This is just part of Taiwanese culture which we respect specialty and older people’s advices a lot.

This is a culturally salient perspective on the situation. Could Wang be headed to an arbitration hearing simply (an understatement) because of his own cultural cues? How does this effect negotiations, now and in the future? It’s an extremely interesting concept to think about and should be thought of by the Yankee front office in their decisions with Wang (and his agent Alan Nero). What do you think?

Anything for Tickets

From News Day:

NEW YORK – A Bronx man is accused of bribing a city investigator during a sting that involved tickets to a Mets-Yankees game.

The city’s Department of Investigation says Celestino Orta was arraigned Thursday in Brooklyn federal court.

The case started last summer. A judge with the Environmental Control Board reported that she’d been offered Yankees tickets to resolve a summons on a Brooklyn building. An investigator posing as a clerk then received a ticket behind home plate at Yankee Stadium.

Orta allegedly asked the fake clerk to have other building violations removed. Later in the sting, he allegedly received $15,000 from a second undercover, then split those proceeds with the first undercover.

Orta’s attorney did not immediately return a call for comment on Friday.

Wow, I would have just accepted the tickets…