Joba to the pen

March 19, 2008 · Paul Raymond · Jump to comments

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The decision has finally been made and to many it is no surprise. Joba Chamberlain will be pitching from the bullpen for the New York Yankees to start 2008. This may have been the worst kept secret in baseball, since everyone knew if the entire rotation is healthy and pitching well his place would be setting up for Mariano Rivera. “We think that’s where he fits best right now,” manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday. When asked what his role would be there? “He’s a back-end guy. That’s how I’m going to classify him,” Girardi said. Personally, I don’t know what genius reporter actually had to ask the blatantly obvious.

The move comes as no surprise to Joba either as yesterday he stated that he expected the move to come soon. “I really wasn’t wondering at all,” Chamberlain said. “It’s great not only to know, but just to get your routine going. The routine is going to be the hardest part. Sitting there (in the bullpen) and when the inning comes up, get ready.” I would expect the Joba rules from last year, to be VERY relaxed now. They don’t have to baby his arm AS much as they have in the past, so expect plenty of back to back games this season.

Now will Joba be a starter this season? That is not clear yet. “We have not got that far,” Girardi said. “I’m going to put it this way, we consider him a starter in the future. I don’t want to be locked into a timetable. You know that’s my personality.” As always with the Yankees plans can change, it’s a pretty big reason why Joe can’t commit to a timetable. If the rotation has some early injuries or someone bombs out big time then the team might have to consider bringing Joba back in. If everyone stays healthy and pitches well, the Yankees could be in very strong shape and you wouldn’t see Joba starting till next season.

As a Yankees fan, I hate seeing him in the bullpen but yet I love seeing him back there. Joba/Mo reminds me of the old days when the Mo/Wetteland combination shortened games for our starters and helped lead us to a championship. While I do want to see him be successful as a starting pitcher, his best role for this team in 2008 is shoring up that bullpen.