Girardi: Joba wil be a starter

[cmaff051]

Joba has began to be stretched out to become a starter, according to Girardi. Today he threw 2 innings. No news on future plans though.

[No. 12]

If you were paying attention, you knew something was up when the Yankees promoted J.B. Cox to Scranton and Mark Melancon to Trenton last week.

Now it has been confirmed, Joba Chamberlain has started the process to become a starter according to Joe Girardi.

In truth, it started in spring training when Chamberlain was used as a starter. They kept him in the bullpen this long to control his innings. Chamberlain will now he used for multiple innings to get stretched out. It sounds like most of that work will be done in the majors.

Once the transition is made, Joba will finish out the season as a starter, get to around 150 innings and be ready to go 180-185 innings in 2009.

This issue has (and will be) debated endlessly. But to me it

[nykgeneralmanager]

This is very big and very good news. Not just for Joba but Cox and Melancon are clearly on the horizon.

[Pharmcat]

[PR07]

At least that's one thing to look forward to. It's definitely the right call too.

[Sashobe]

I just want to see who are we going to have pitching in the 8th inning. Important role that needs a great pitcher.

[Jitpal]

I had a thought last night. Why does Joba need to be sent down at all to get his innings. Why not do what Girardi did with Kennedy in Kansas City. Start someone like Ohlendorf or Veras who can give you an inning or two and then bring in Joba for 4-5 innings. Let him pitch out of the bullpen for up to 3 inning stints and then every 5th day, start Ohlendorf in the 1st. Take him out in the 2nd or 3rd and put in Joba to start the inning. Building up the innings, putting him in line for the win and stretching him out. -Jitpal

[Lconte17]

I just want to see who are we going to have pitching in the 8th inning. Important role that needs a great pitcher.

i think JB Cox can fill that role no problem... and if that fails iB the yankees go after Krod to be the successor to mo

[HCYanks]

I just want to see who are we going to have pitching in the 8th inning. Important role that needs a great pitcher.

This is a strawman that undermines the waste of keeping Joba in his current role. Besides, with the amount of pitching depth in the farm i'll be surprised if we don't get at least a setup man out of it.

[nykgeneralmanager]

I had a thought last night. Why does Joba need to be sent down at all to get his innings. Why not do what Girardi did with Kennedy in Kansas City. Start someone like Ohlendorf or Veras who can give you an inning or two and then bring in Joba for 4-5 innings. Let him pitch out of the bullpen for up to 3 inning stints and then every 5th day, start Ohlendorf in the 1st. Take him out in the 2nd or 3rd and put in Joba to start the inning. Building up the innings, putting him in line for the win and stretching him out. -Jitpal

They probably just feel that there is less stress on him to regain the feel and command of his changeup and curve. If I had to guess, I'd say they stretch him out in the majors (2 innings, 3 innings, 3 innnings, 4 innings, etc.) and when the time comes to actually start, send him to AAA to start a couple of games and get into the 6th/7th innings. But maybe they do it all at the majors like you suggest, and I would be all for that.

[Flash3]

Giraridi has really messed up the careers of Josh Johnson and Anabell Sanchez for the Marlins with the way he handled them as SPs. Hopefully he doesn't do the same with Chamberlain.

[massey1992]

He's had a couple short starts it might work out it might not.

[nykgeneralmanager]

Giraridi has really messed up the careers of Josh Johnson and Anabell Sanchez for the Marlins with the way he handled them as SPs. Hopefully he doesn't do the same with Chamberlain.

That has more to do with management not putting a strict innings limit on those guys. It wasn't Girardi's job to protect their arms in Florida, thats the job of the front office. Giardi's job was to win as many games as possible.

With Cashman and Nardi Contreras putting strict pitches and innings limit on these guys, Girardi won't have the freedom that he had in Florida to let him loose.