Joba in rotation, but not the way it should have been done | thejobarules's Blog

It is now official, finally. Joba Chamberlain will be a starting pitcher - tonight at the Stadium. With Pedro Martinez making his return from the disabled list in San Francisco, New York baseball fans are in for quite the doubleheader treat! The Joba journey began in that two-inning stint on May 21st to mop up the New York Yankees 8-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles. It was the beginning to prepare Joba for the starting rotation and tonight's appearance against Roy "Doc" Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Every Monday and Friday I do a radio show at 3:20 PM EST (http://www.wobmam.com/) and a few weeks back discussed Joba's need to go into the rotation while piggy backing Joba with Darrell Rasner or Mike Mussina's starts in the majors. My point was that it is more important to develop a top of the rotation starter than it is to have a solid 8^th inning guy, plus the Yankees have a great group of young arms in the minors who should be ready for the Bronx by this summer.

It is apparent that Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi felt the same way.

Cashman said, "we're going back to the purpose that we drafted him (meaning Joba) and the projection that we had for him,'' Cashman said. ''This was a road we planned on taking. Now it's time to take it.'' At the time, however, Cashman wouldn't divulge many details about the plan for Joba, such as how often Joba will pitch, when he will join the rotation of whether Joba will go down to the minors to start a few games.

While it is good the Yankees are keeping Joba in the majors during the transformation, the method of extending him out is not being handled properly.

Joba needs more than a few two inning stints to get his arm acclimated to increased pitches and, more importantly, facing hitters through the lineup a second time. For Rasner's (or Mussina's) next several starts, Joba should be going three innings (45-50 pitches), then three innings again (45-50), then four innings (60-65 pitches), then four innings again (70-75 pitches) to build up to a five inning 80-90 pitch mark.

The reason for going three and four innings twice with Joba is the 3 or 4 inning stint is what separates relievers from starters. During a 3 or 4 inning stint, the pitcher sees hitters more than once through the order and Joba would use more than his current two pitch arsenal.

Also, the pitcher at this point must build up durability to start and limit his effort on every pitch. As a one or two inning reliever, Joba is used to airing it out during his appearance. Short relievers usually overthrow during these games, putting full exertion on every pitch - and then sometimes ramping it up even further!

That is one reason why short relievers are oftentimes flash in the pans. Good one year, ok the next, good again - then terrible the next year. Hard throwing relievers are good for more than a few years. Mariano Rivera is currently the exception. He throws the same way every pitch - no over exertion or extra strain.

According to several scouting reports Joba was throwing consistently in the high 90's late in the game when he was a starter last season for AA Trenton. But, this was after a few months of being a starter - not a couple of two inning relief stints.

I would have kept Joba in for the 9^th inning in his last appearance, but the Yankees gave the ball to Mariano Rivera with a two run Yankee lead. Joba could have easily finished the game and got his necessary work in, but Joba finished his work in the bullpen after the game. The best bullpen work, though, is still no replacement for live major league hitters. If you miss your spot in a bullpen session, you just shrug your shoulders; if you miss your spot against a major league hitter - your neck gets sore watching the ball fly over the fence.

We will see tonight how Joba performs as a starter. Many reports say the Blue Jays, knowing Joba is on a pitch count of around 75, will take lots of pitches. I don't think that should be the case - not if the Blue Jays are smart. If the Jays hitters take first pitch strikes through the order - they are in for a long night. Being down to Joba early in the count when he has that devastating slider is playing right into the Yankees hands.

Don't you think that the Yanks know the Jays will likely take pitches and have instructed Joba to throw strikes early? Don't you think that Joba knew his, too? The Jays will be better off if that first pitch is a good pitch to hit - go after it. When hitters put the first pitch in play against Chamberlain this season, they go for a .286 average and during his brief career on the first pitch hitters have an OPS of .747. But, during his career hitters are .163 AVG/.214 OBP/.250 SLG/.464 OPS when down 0-1 in the count. The Jays cannot afford to get down early in the count against Joba.

Down early and often will lead to quick strikeouts and weakly hit infield grounders - keeping Joba's pitch count down because Joba throws strikes, always has. If the Jays consistently take the first strike, they will probably average 4 pitchers per batter, which will get Joba into the 5^th inning.

Just what the Yankees wanted.