Joba Rules Part II

February 13, 2008   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

The New York Yankees have created their new blueprint for Joba Chamberlain, will most likely be called Joba Rules, Part II. According to today’s New York Post the plan calls for Chamberlain to only throw around 140 innings this year (his career high is 112 innings). If a pitcher stays healthy the entire season and in the rotation there is no way he throws less then 140, so the plan calls for Joba to start the year in the bullpen.

Here is the breakdown of the Joba Rules for this season:

1. Joba will pitch in the bullpen for the months of April and May.
2. Joba will pitch in the minor leagues in the month of June to stretch his arm back out to 5 innings per game
3. Joba will then be a starter from July to the World Series.

The NY Post also listed the Yankees ideal plan for this.

1.Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Phil Hughes, and Ian Kennedy stay healthy and form the rotation for the first 2 months
2.Chamberlain then stabilizes the weak bullpen, while the team sorts through all options in the pen.
3.Yankees see Joba and Mo being a dominant force in the first 2 months helping offset the weaker bullpen.
4.Over those 2 months Kyle Farnsworth and LaTroy Hawkins can pitch and prove to new manager Joe Girardi that they can handle the 8th inning role.

Plans are always subject to change. There could be injuries to the rotation early in spring training that call for Joba to be used as a starter. As well as Mariano Rivera staying healthy, any injury to him and Joba becomes your new Yankees closer, which many fans feel he should eventually be.

Personally, I see plus and minuses to this plan. I don’t like innings limits i’d rather a season pitch count. But hey IN CASHMAN WE TRUST. Last year those Joba rules worked just fine, and as he was needed more they were modified. If it keeps this kid healthy and on the road to being a perennial Cy Young candidate then so be it.

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