The Real Joba Rules: The New York Yankees' Dilemma

An issue involving the New York Yankees that has been swirling around in recent weeks concerns the right arm of a 22-year-old Nebraskan nicknamed Joba.

The youngster’s sub-1 ERA, 48 strikeouts and occasional 100-mph fastballs have been a huge boost since Chamberlain joined the team August 2007.

Joba’s immediate impact was felt in the Yankees bullpen as the young star solidified his job as Mariano’s setup man for the 2008 season. Despite his early success, many speculate whether Chamberlain should instead bolster New York’s questionable starting rotation.

Joba excelled as a starter for both AA Trenton Thunder, striking out 64 in seven games, and AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre striking out 10 in five innings.

Entering May, the rotation addressed the early question, led by ace Chien-Ming Wang and his notable 6-0 start.

Seasoned veteran Mike Mussina has been efficient, allowing only five walks in April and zero in his first May start, where he went six innings, letting in one ER and collecting a win.

Lefty Andy Pettitte has continued to prove to the Yankees that he is reliable. After a media-heavy offseason, Pettitte has silenced the critics and kept his ERA under 4.00.

The remaining two starters entering the season were young prospect Ian Kennedy and younger prospect Phil Hughes. Both briefly saw the mound last season for New York and each are hoped to be valuable additions to the Yankee rotation.

Though never mute, the issue somewhat quieted until Hank Steinbrenner turned up the volume.

“I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now," stated the newest voice of the Yankees.

“There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that.”

Hank, let’s talk.

The issue at hand was a simple answer.  It’s too soon.

Firstly, who is getting replaced in the rotation? Wang and Pettitte are set in the rotation, Mussina has surpassed expectations, and the two prized youngsters, 23 and 21 in age, together were valued by the Yankees (with Melky Cabrera) over Johan Santana, a trade offer from Minnesota that New York turned down during the 2007 offseason.

On the other hand, who is in the bullpen? Joba offers the Yankees a setup man for Rivera that he has been missing since Stanton, Nelson and Mendoza; those three names bring to mind three rings. Joba Chamberlain may develop into the ace that Hank is looking for, but the Yankees do not need him in the first inning just yet.

However, on May 1, the quiet issue became a loud question. Due to Hughes' recent departure to the DL (rib stress fracture), he will be out of play until July possibly.

This unfortunate situation opens a spot in the starting rotation. Does Joe Girardi pull the trigger on Joba?

In the meantime, the Yankees will give the ball to Darrell Rasner today. The 6-foot-3 righty pitched a total of 24 innings in relief for New York last season and has a career ERA of 4.13.

However, if Rasner’s start against the Mariners isn't pretty, it is likely that the baseball world will hear from Hank Steinbrenner again.

-Wesley Friedman (New York aspiring sports columnist)