Joba Chamberlain will make his first start tomorrow against the Blue Jays in Yankee Stadium. Ironically, Joba made his Major League debut out of the bullpen against the same Blue Jays' team on August 7th of last year. Because of an injury to Ian Kennedy, who was just placed on the disabled list, Chamberlain was forced to move into the rotation earlier than anticipated. Chamberlain has never thrown more than 40 pitches in a game. Joe Girardi expected that Chamberlain would have a 55-pitch relief appearance and then a 70-pitch appearance before joining the rotation. Now, Joba is starting on Tuesday and being held to a very strict pitch count - probably around 65 pitches, which is still too big of a jump from 40.
Joba has been struggling in the second inning of his appearances this year. How is he going to do in the rotation if that's the case? Probably not very well. Neither his legs nor his arm is in good enough shape to be throwing so many pitches. If the Yankees want to make him into a starter, they need to either do it over the off-season, or take it very slowly during the season. In the meantime, they can call up Dan Giese, who has a 1.98 ERA in 59 innings at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Giese should be making the start tomorrow, not Joba. You can get five innings out of him and then have Joba throw 55 pitches in relief. In Giese's next start, Joba can throw two or three simulated innings in the bullpen and then take the mound, throwing a total of around 70 pitches. You have be gradual when working such a stellar reliever into the rotation. The Yankees are rushing him. It will lead to ineffectiveness on the mound and a possible injury.
- D. Spell
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