According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, if the Yankees lost closer Mariano Rivera to a lengthy stay on the disabled list, Joba Chamberlain would likely be moved to the pen to replace him as closer.
“If Rivera were to miss a sustained period, three club officials verified that Chamberlain almost certainly would replace him. The officials admitted the subject has been discussed at the highest levels and conceded Chamberlain has the best combination of temperament and stuff—by far—in the organization to handle both replacing the legendary Rivera and coping with the stress of being the Yankees’ closer.
The only reliever with even an outside chance to fill in during an extended Rivera absence is Brian Bruney, but one Yankees official said cautiously, “Let’s see him handle the eighth inning first.”
Bruney and Damaso Marte are Joe Girardi’s initial choices to set up Rivera. Marte has a reputation of not handling pressure exceedingly well, and no Yankees official thinks he could capably replace Rivera.
No one from the pool of eighth-inning candidates—throw in Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez, plus ultimately Mark Melancon and Phil Coke, if you wish—projects as either ready or steady enough to step in for Rivera. That is, unless Bruney makes people forget about Chamberlain in the eighth inning, thus earning the right to try the ninth, if need be.”
Makes sense to me, but right now, Mo looks like he’s coming back strong from offseason shoulder surgery. So, for the time being, there is no reason to expect Joba to be moved out of the rotation.
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