Joba will train as SP but start in BP....

[VinnyTheMick]

Joba Chamberlain Joba Chamberlain will prepare during spring training as a starter, but will begin the season in the Yankee bullpen barring injury to any of the other five main rotation members, team officials confirmed to The Post.

It had been speculated throughout the offseason that Chamberlain could open in the 'pen as a way to restrain his innings from going beyond the approximately 140 the organization wants to limit him to in 2008. The Yanks New York Yankees believe that at Chamberlain's age (22), he should not be asked to exceed his innings total of last year (112.1) by much more than 30 innings, or else he would be put at a greater likelihood for an arm injury.

full article

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02122008/sp ... _97303.htm


I don't know what to think. Its hard to go from BP to SP midseason. I'd almost rather look to Joba for relief ace come August through October than April.

Before anyone starts talking, no, Joba shouldn't permanently stay in the pen. He has too many great pitches & is potentially a #1 for us.

[theknicks414]

I think this is the right move considering he had to be limited somehow. The other options were:

- start him in AAA on a 5 inning per start count and call him up at the all star break

- make him a ML starter and make him a reliever at the all star break

- start him off as a reliever and convert him to a starter at the all star break (which is what they chose)

[Jstarks3]

i like it. gives us some time to find help in the bullpen for mo. i like the idea of the 7th-9th innings being basically done for us.

[rappa]

What do you guys think of Johan Santana?

What do you guys think of Francisco Liriano?

Well if any of you knew this, both of them started off the seasons in the bullpens when they were being groomed as starters and then made the transition into SP mid-way. Its a very good strategy, keeps him facing quality hitters and learns more and keeps his innings down. Once we move him into the rotation he should be fine.

[HCYanks]

As long as it's done correctly (increasing his innings workload somewhat slowly instead of throwing him into starts directly after he was a setup man for 2-3 months) this could work out fine.

[cmaff051]

It's really the best way to limit his innings.

April, May - 25 innings of relief

June - 25 innings of starting in the minors

July, August, September - 90-100 innings of starting. With about 14-15 starts, he can go as long as he can without taxing the bullpen.

[VinnyTheMick]

One wonders what will happen if Andy is as behind as the Yanks think he is & Mussina continues his garbage performance of 07.

[34Celtic]

I think its funny people think these kids only threw ~100 innings of baseball a year if they did in a high school season. What about Legion, what about Fall ball? For the kids in warm states, what about winter ball? Not saying this is the case with Joba, just in general. I know it isn't always the case but most pitchers grow up throwing around 200 innings a year playing a season that runs from April - End of October. I know I did.