RealGM

At the conclusion of the series in Chicago, the Yankees will have monday off before heading to Toronto for a quick 2 game set. This is a unique situation because the Yankees have a very important 4 game set vs. the Red Sox.

Before people go ape **** about importance. Let me define what I mean as being important. It isn't important in terms of playoff implications. One, there is still roughly 2 months left of baseball. Two, The Yanks swept Cleveland only to job to them in the short 5 game series. So head to head really isn't always a direct correlation to playoff outcome.

It is important in terms of checking a barometer reading with where this team is at in terms of internal fortitude or toughness.

Now with monday off, Girardi could skip Joba. Why? Because we all know Joba is on an innings limit. Skipping Joba means, Pettitte and Mitre face Toronto. Then you can line up the ducks against Boston properly @ Yankee stadium: AJ Burnett, CC Sabbathia, Joba Chamberlain, and Andy Pettitte.

The key being Girardi will NOT have to start Mitre vs. the Sox. It's important the Yanks send their best not their worst pitcher to start the series.

Thoughts...Do you think Joe G is thinking the same thing?

i deff hope thats the plan but we'll see
if jobas start isnt skipped over then the only explanation i could have for that would be to have hughes go against the sox

whatever happens, mitre better not be thrown during the series

It would be ideal if we can find a way to skip a handful of Joba's starts down the stretch, I haven't really looked at the schedule to see how realistic it would be. The only problem is that Girardi has said Hughes will remain in the pen for this year, but if the Yanks decide to throw Joba in there then Phil better be coming to the rotation. Not only should Phil be a starter now but he has to get his innings up so that he can start all of next season with no innings limit.

It's already been confirmed. It will be Pettitte and Mitre versus Toronto, and Joba, Burnett, C.C. and Pettitte (again) will be starting versus the Roid Sox..

Yup

Chamberlain's next start pushed back: Yankees SP Joba Chamberlain will have his next start pushed back until Thursday. "It's part of the ongoing plan with working things out with Joba," manager Joe Girardi said, adding that Chamberlain could be skipped in the rotation later this season to help control his innings.
(Updated 08/01/2009).

Looks like the Yankees are going to make the right decision with this one and keep him away from the pen