New York Yankees: Stretch Out Joba Chamberlain in the Big Leagues

With Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner less vocal in recent years, it's been entertaining to watch older son Hank take over the role with fiery comments such as this gem:

"Red Sox Nation…What a bunch of [expletive] that is...That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans.  Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets.

"This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."

Most recently, Hank has set his sights on the role of Joba Chamberlain, the 22-year-old phenom who rocketed from single-A ball to the bigs during the 2007 season.

His success came on the strength of a fastball that can top 100 mph and a devastating array of secondary pitches—especially his slider. 

Hank feels Joba should be starting—a sentiment shared by most of the Yankee brass and fans. 

This despite his dominance as a set-up man for the greatest closer in baseball history, Mariano Rivera. Joba posted a 0.38 ERA in 24 regular season innings in 2007, and has a 1.42 ERA so far in 2008.

No doubt the urgency of Hank's comments comes from that legendary Steinbrenner impatience. The other two-thirds of the Big Three—21-year-old Phil Hughes and 23-year-old Ian Kennedy—have combined to go 0-5 with an ERA over 8.0.

The question is, when and how should Joba be transitioned into that role? 

The Yanks appear to have set a rough inning limit of 140. 

Assuming an average of six innings per start and that the inning limit will be abandoned for the postseason and working backwards, Joba could join the rotation around the middle to end of May. This factors in the innings he'll rack up as a reliever between now and then. 

That helps answer the question of when. What about how? 

The assumption out there seems to be that the Yanks would have to send him down to the Minors for a few starts, to stretch him out. 

During this time—presumably at least three starts, a length of 15 days—he would of course not be in the Yankee bullpen. Despite some promising signs, the bullpen is still in desperate need of a reliable bridge to Mo. 

So why not stretch him out in the bigs? 

The Yanks are not going to a six-man rotation, so Joba is going to take someone's job. 

A starter is going to the bullpen.  Why not use that sixth starter to help transition Joba? 

Call it a "five-plus" rotation—one where Joba starts and goes three innings or more and starter #6 knows he's coming in as long relief on days that Joba starts. 

Incidentally, I think starter #6 is Mike Mussina. 

As much as I like Moose, and as much as he has earned the right to prove he's still got what it takes, I think Joe Girardi has demonstrated his belief in what fellow BleacherReport blogger Shane Connolly calls Sense over Cents.

I know such a role would be undignified for Moose, but every player has to do what's best for the team. 

This way Joba can transition into the routine and mindset of a starter—the latter is why you wouldn't want to reverse the roles and stretch Joba out in long relief. 

Additionally, on his throw days he might even be available from the bullpen. 

That way the club gets the benefit of watching opposing batters swing away futilely for a growing number of innings of Joba brilliance, rather than losing him entirely for two weeks or more.

Go Yanks.