Joba Chamberlain Should Not Start '09 in Pen

In order to keep his innings total from sky rocketing past the 112.1 innings he threw last year, Joba Chamberlain started this season out of the bullpen before switching to the rotation.

The idea was to keep him around 140 to 150 innings this year so the strain on his arm was bearable, but that didn’t happen. Instead, because of an injury and a return to the pen, he will likely finish the season somewhere around 100 innings.

So now Joba and the Yankees are in the exact same position they were in last season where his innings in 2009 are going to need to be capped at around 150.

“He had an innings limit this year he didn’t meet,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “Will he exceed that innings limit next year? You wouldn’t want to do that. You’ve still got to protect the player.”

The plan was pulled off this season and possibly could be again next year, but there really is no need to go through that again. They could easily avoid it by using him as a fifth starter and skipping his turn through the rotation during off days.

That will ensure that he is rested throughout the season and his total innings will not be too extreme. At the same time it will keep him in the rotation so he can help the Yankees win.

Another good solution could be to use him in simulated games this October so that the team’s goal of 150 innings this season could be reached and he’ll be free to start in the rotation with few restrictions next season.

Either idea seems better than what they went through this year. They had a few games where their bullpen was maxed out almost on purpose, all while being surrounded by a ridiculous media circus.