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August 30, 2007

Joba Rules To Be Changed?

George King thinks this will happen soon. It makes sense - pitch count is more important than innings pitched. Plus, if the Yankees make the ALDS, you know there's a chance that Joba will be needed in back-to-back days. Better to get him used to it now.

Chamberlain is a big boy. It's been a full month since he's been taxed with the workload of being a starting pitcher - and he's been handled with kid gloves over that past month. He's as fresh as fresh can get at this time of the year. Sure, he's just a kid, but, there are just 29 games left to this season. There's no reason why he can't pitch in 19 of those 29 games if he's only used for an inning per game and is throwing 14 pitches per inning. He's a horse. This is not some 5' 9" 165-pound pitcher we're talking about here.

If there were 3 months left to the season, I would say "No, protect him from Torre. Keep the old rules." But, now, it is time to take off the restrictions - at least a bit.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at August 30, 2007 10:50 AM

Comments

Agreed.
Another possibility though: 2 innings every other day?

Posted by: rbj [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 30, 2007 12:23 PM

I'd rather have him available one inning each in back to back games then have him pitch two innings every other game. Last night was a perfect example of a spot they could have used him in back to back games.

Posted by: antone [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 30, 2007 12:46 PM