First game underway!

by Travis G on Feb 25, 2009 1:29 PM EST in New York Yankees News

UPDATE, 9:10 a.m.: Joe Girardi just said the rotation would be Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Pettitte and Chamberlain. The plan is for Joba to make roughly 30 starts.

UPDATE, 10:52 a.m.: Yes, 30 starts for Joba. So we could be looking at him throwing 175-180 innings. That certainly a lot more than the 100.1 he tossed last year. Chamberlain was at 116 in 2007, counting the playoffs.

Obviously a lot can change and probably will. But the Yankees are of the mindset to let him go out and pitch as the No. 5 starter. The key to this will be Joba being honest with them about how he is feeling.

UPDATE, 1:04 p.m.: Gardner just buried the second pitch over the fence in right field. 1-0 Yankees.

The info regarding Joba is very interesting. I never thought the Yankees would let him go much beyond 150 innings. 30 starts times six innings per start equals 180 innings. The 'Rule of 30' says you shouldn't increase a young pitcher's workload by more than 30 innings from one year to the next, but perhaps Joba's 116 in 2007 has some bearing on that.

And one more thing: Gardner for centerfield!

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and A-Rod

goes yard as well… looking forward to the highlights this evening.

by NumberSeven on Feb 25, 2009 2:17 PM EST reply actions

Concern about 175-180 Joba Innings

Isn’t there a rule of thumb that young pitchers should not increase their innings pitched by more than 30 from the prior year? Should they cap him out at 140-150? Or is it my bad to listen to rule of thumbs?

I would like to see Gardner get more time at CF. Wonder if that will give Melky the kick in the pants he needs?

"No matter where you go, there you are"

by coops2001 on Feb 25, 2009 2:51 PM EST reply actions

Tom Verducci at SI

was apparently the first journalist to identify this warning sign. he talks about it here.

by Travis G on Feb 25, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

Crazy

I don’t understand how the Yankees plan to up Joba’s innings that much. First of all, it would put him in line for top of the list Verducci next year. The correlation is quite good with problems for guys that bump this much. There are exceptions (eg Johan Santana), but not so many. It will be interesting to watch Jon Lester and Tim Lincecum this year. However, both seem more stable than Joba. For example Lincecum is a mechanical freak, while Lester is older, and was closely watched last year for structural fault. It is not like Joba has not had injury problems both in college and last year. Second, The Yankees actually have pitching depth after resigning Pettite; They have Hughes, Aceves and Kennedy to fill in. Third, what to do with Joba in the playoffs assuming the Yankees make it and indeed Joba tosses 175? Seems really, really dumb.

by Buzzy on Feb 25, 2009 8:00 PM EST up reply actions

I'd give Aceves some starts..

he looked promising late last year (though so did IPK in late ’07!). While the 30+ is just a rule of thumb, the fact that Joba was injured makes me feel even more cautious.

"No matter where you go, there you are"

by coops2001 on Feb 26, 2009 5:54 AM EST up reply actions

I think

the Yankees are planning on Joba to be skipped now and then in the rotation, allowing his arm to have time to rest, making 170-180 innings not seem like so many. Also if u plan of him throwing 170-180 innings, and he gets hurt, and misses about 25 innings (4 starts) then ur at a good number of innings.(145) I

"Hey Derek do you actually drive the Edge?","I don't drive that piece of crap!"

by Da Shiz on Feb 25, 2009 4:14 PM EST reply actions