Bay Area Baseball

Chamberlain threw a simulated game with no issue and is set to return.

With Yankees stud pitched Joba Chamberlain ready to come off the disabled list, New York is faced with a tough choice. Opinions are split on whether he should return to the starting rotation, or be sent back to the bullpen. Chamberlain, who famously dominated the 8^th innings in 2007 and early 2008, was moved to the rotation in June. He was just beginning to settle in as a starter before heading to the DL with rotator cuff tendonitis.

While a strong argument can be made for Joba returning to the bullpen since he has had great success in that role, the logic behind such an argument is greatly shortsighted. The team has had bullpen problems recently but even more so in the starting rotation. Joba has proven that he can be a successful, even dominant starter and that is what he should remain. Inserting Chamberlain back into the rotation makes the most sense over both the short run and the long run.

In the short run New York is 11.5 games out of first with less than 30 games to play, they need to think about what is best for Joba’s development. Chamberlain is not going to pitch them into the playoffs with shutdown 8^th innings with a starting rotation of Mussina, Pavano, Ponson, Rasner and Pettitte. Even if they somehow were to make it to October, Joba would be most effective as one of their three or four starters. Sending him to an 8^th inning role would be a waste of the 2008 season as far as development for him. Long term he will be a starter; he has three outstanding pitches and has the ability to maintain his velocity over seven innings. He is only 22 years old and is still improving; it is far too soon to think that his recent health problems will limit him to a Kerry Wood type conversion.

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