Joba Chamberlain will start the season in the bullpen. This has been the assumption by many for some time, but the interesting thing is that Joe Girardi would not commit that Chamberlain will definitely move to the rotation this season. The plan remains for him to do it at some point, but not absolutely this year.Peter Abraham added this:The long-term plan is still for Chamberlain to be a starter, but there are no guarantees that will happen this year.
"I'm not saying this year, but I am saying in the future," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Chamberlain starting.
Chamberlain said: "I have no preference, whatsoever. ... It's not about Joba Chamberlain, it's about the team."
Girardi did not define Chamberlain’s role in the bullpen other than to say that he will be used in the “back end of games.”So that's that. No matter where you think Joba should be, the 2008 Yankees should have a sick bullpen.
There will be no Joba Rules. Chamberlain can be used for multiple innings and on consecutive days. “It will be common sense,” Girardi said.
4 Comments:
Without Joba, the yankee bullpen blows, with him, it's one of the stronger Pen's around the AL. Do the math.
I don't know if I'd go as far as saying it "blows," but it's certainly not nearly as good as it is with Joba in it.
The most important thing now for the Yankees is getting Joba enough innings so that next year he can become a full-time starter.
Are you going to tell me that if moose goes 5.1 innings, a 2-run lead is safe? How do you figure it is anything better than blowing? please explain.
Take Joba out of the equation a minute: I feel that this year's pen is much stronger than it was last year.
I think Hawkins will turn out to be a good pickup; he's been very good since he added the two-seam sinking fastball to his repertoire toward the end of last year.
Farnsworth did very well when he didn't pitch in the 8th inning last year, holding batters to a .103 BA in the 7th, so that it appears that he can be useful in that role.
Traber looks like the Yanks may finally have the lefty specialist that can get lefties out.
Ross Ohlendorf has a very good arm, and Scott Patterson has been fantastic.
The Yankees also have several guys (Melancon, Horne, Cox, and Sanchez) in the minors who will be available at some point this season.
And that's all without even considering other guys like Bruney, Ramirez, Veras, Britton, and Albaladejo, who could all end up playing a major role in the pen.
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