Is the Joba debate finally over? Probably not.

Now that he's is in the pen, many are wondering if this is the end of the Joba debate. We are seeing more and more comments coming from the Yankees that would indicate that their plans are set.

Some of those remarks came from Yankees director of pro scouting Billy Eppler, who spoke with WFAN's Evan Roberts yesterday to discuss many things, but most importantly, the future of Joba Chamberlain. Here's some of the interview (hat-tip to Steve S. from TYU for the transcript):

Roberts - "Is there a situation where he starts again this year? I’m under the assumption that, he’s the eighth inning guy, and that’s it. The Joba debate is over. He’s a reliever. I know he could start for a few teams, I mean, he could start for my team, the Mets…”

Eppler - "Yeah — in the here and now, I don’t feel I don’t foresee any situation. I mean, obviously that’s for Brian and Joe, but but I don’t think they (emphasis his) foresee a situation where he would go into the rotation. He is going to be a reliever. And obviously we’ve seen what he’s been able to do and role, and he’s been able to be very dominant in that role — I don’t foresee situation where he would be be starting at all.”

Roberts - "Right, but does the question get re-asked next year? In 2011? Like his job as a starter? Like would you think that question will be asked again and maybe he’ll compete for rotation spot next year?”

Eppler - "I wouldn’t — I wouldn’t consider that likely, no.”

You can check out the entire interview here.

(By the way, my reaction would be similar to Joba's from the picture above if I found out that this was really the end of discussion, because while I still think Joba should start, I'm sick of this debate. Pick a role and let's move forward.)

From this, plus the report from yesterday where Joba said he's only going to focus on his top two pitches this year, you would really think that the debate is in fact over. Dave Eiland even told Marc Carig that "He's in the bullpen, and he’s there to stay, period.”

But you couldn't have thought the debate could end that easily, could you?

Here's what Bryan Cashman had to say in response to the Eppler interview via Bryan Hoch:

"We can all have various views. From my perspective, he’s going to be a starter that’s pitching out of the pen."

“We haven’t had any team meeting and said, ‘He’s a reliever for the rest of his life.’ We haven’t done that.”

Then he told Marc Carig that Eppler and Eiland were just stating their own opinions, and not the organizations stance on Joba's future.

So, while it would be great to finally put this discussion to bed, regardless of the outcome, we probably won't be that lucky.