The Great Joba Experiment No Fair to Mel Stottlemyre

Tomorrow many will second guess NYY decision to start the NYY decision to start Joba. They will start by saying he is 2 inning guy, he three 62 pitches in 2.1 innings, what were the Yankees thinking. their short memories will not recall a young Andy Pettitte or an even younger Mel Stottlemyre; although at pre-game they were all making the comparison.

In his rookie year, 1964, at age 22, Mel Stottlemyre tossed in 96 innings and finished with a 9-3, 2 no decisions. He struck out 49, walked 35, hit 2, and intentionally put on 3 in a total of 14 games, 5 of which were complete games. He finished the season with a 2.06 ERA. Oh by the way 14, (5 complete games) and 96 inning is ...................5.6 innings per game pitched in partially games (Mel's losses albeit his game 1 debut, 1 win and 2 no decisions)

On August 12, 1964, when he debuted he pitched 9, he lost in 9 inning; giving up 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk to the Chicago White Soxs. The White Soxs beat the Yankees. 7-3 that day. Mel faced 27 batters.

Gone are those good old days, the days of the complete game.

In tomorrow's dissection of the Joba starter premier, we will also forget about Mel and his losing debut. We will forget about pitchers being pitcher, not starters, relief or closers. What is wrong with baseball is specialty pitching. All pitchers should be whole games pitchers.

As far as I am concerned, Joba's role should be closer, heir to Mo. As far as starters are concerned, if 9 inning was good enough for Mel, in 1964 it is good enough for all in 2008. The game has not changed that much.