New York Yankee notes: No training wheels for Joba ... if he starts

by Ed Valentine on Feb 10, 2010 10:18 AM EST in New York Yankees News

Joba Chamberlain is a free man. No more 'Joba Rules,' no more intentional three-inning starts or 50-pitch limits. This is, of course, if Chamberlain can pitch his way into the New York Yankees starting rotation this spring.

Here is pitching coach Dave Eiland talking about Chamberlain and the fifth starter spot.

"For me to say who's the clear favorite - right now I can't do that," Eiland said Tuesday. "Time will tell. We have interesting guys, and this is going to be fun to watch. Competition brings out the best in guys, and we'll see who pulls ahead of the pack."

"He's just going to go out and pitch and he'll be the one who'll dictate when he comes out as far as getting hit or getting tired or losing his stuff," Eiland said.

"He's not going to have any restrictions, so Joe (Girardi) and I are not going to have to go into the game thinking, 'Oh, he's got 85 pitches or six innings or whatever comes first.' We don't have to game plan it out. The kid gloves are off, and he's just going to go out and pitch and he knows that and he's going to come in and be all geared up to win that job, as are the other guys. Competition should bring out the best in everyone."

I am on record favoring Phil Hughes for the last spot in the rotation. The lack of an innings limit, though, is probably the biggest thing in Chamberlain's favor when figuring out who should start and who should be in the bullpen.

Here are some other Yankee-related stories to keep you busy as the countdown to Spring Training continues.

I love the sound of what one American League talent evaluator said about his expectations for new Yankee outfielder Curtis Granderson this season.

"In that ballpark, he has a chance to go off," the scout said of Granderson’s left-handed swing taking advantage Yankee Stadium’s launching pad in right. "It wouldn’t surprise me if he has a big year to send Detroit a message. He is going to have a helluva season offensively. He has a chance to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases."
Buster Olney ranks the Yankees' starting rotation as one of the three best in baseball. He says it could be the best if A.J. Burnett has a big season.
Bugs & Cranks has an exclusive interview with Jim Abbott.
The Times-Tribune has a two-part breakdown on all 20 of the Yankees Spring Training non-roster invitees. (Part 1 ... Part 2)

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hopefully Joba is mentally and physically prepared for this season

cause hes got some decent competition in hughes and the others and i want to see what a Joba looks like when he has no leash, no limits. I dont expect to see 97-98 mph fastballs consistenly while starting but if he can maintain 95+ for 5-6 innings as a 5th starter, then you cant ask for much more. If Javy pitches to a 4.00 ERA for 200 innings and the other 3 can repeat close to what they did last year we are in for a hell of a year.

by GriffMan on Feb 10, 2010 10:58 AM EST reply actions

Joba

Can you just stay in the pen when you belong……You will have a much better career in the bullpen and future closer……..Learn from Papelpuss

by imyrick on Feb 10, 2010 12:23 PM EST reply actions

What indication do we have of that?

Joba wasn’t exactly lights out in the pen this past postseason.

by GMan83201 on Feb 10, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

But he's going to be the next MO!

You know, the greatest closer in history! Possibly the most unique talent in the history of baseball? The Yankees have MO part 2 in Joba Chamberlain!!

Cuz Power relievers always last 15 years in the pen! That Joel Zumaya guy is just like Joba, look how durable he is!!

Rectum? Damn near killed em!

by FreeBradshaw on Feb 10, 2010 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

If

by Great Gatsby on Feb 10, 2010 12:51 PM EST reply actions

Good

I’m glad he’s got to earn his spot.

Here’s to hoping he doesn’t suck so he has to be stuck in the bullpen, where good pitchers go to die.

Rectum? Damn near killed em!

by FreeBradshaw on Feb 10, 2010 12:52 PM EST reply actions

If they decide..

Oops, if they decide Hughes is the 5th starter, they need to do a better job with the
“Phil Rules”..They should take a page out of the Tigers playbook on how they handled a 20 yr.old last year. They limited his innings the first month, and around the All Star break, shut him down for about two weeks.

by Great Gatsby on Feb 10, 2010 12:57 PM EST reply actions

Either way,

It’s not a bad problem to have. It could be worse, we could be going into the season with a rotation like we had in ’08…3 guys with hardly any experience already penciled into the rotation without having to fight for their spot.

by Leviticus6688 on Feb 10, 2010 12:59 PM EST reply actions

Just two little points, then I won't bother you-

1. It is well withinthe realm of possibility that Chamberlain can learn to win as a starter throwing a fastball in the low 90s if he has confidence in and command of his other pitches. Many great pitchers have posted their best records later in their careers when their fastball has lost 10 mph. (See: Mussina, Mike. Tanana, Frank. Martinez, Pete). Or they throw less than 100% until they get into trouble and then they ramp up. (See: Cone, David. Halladay, Roy).

2. If there is an actual competition for the fifth spot, the worst outcome would be someone like Mitre having a few good outings and winning it.

by designatedquitter on Feb 10, 2010 1:11 PM EST reply actions

Competition

There is no competition other than Joba and Hughes. We have some pretty smart baseball people on the team….Give them a little more credit than…If they see Mitre have a good couple of innings, they give him the number 5 spot. That’s just silly! Mitre is not fighting for a starting position. It’s all about Joba and Phil. I think that Phil could be lights out if he had a little movement on his fastball. That thing is like a lazer beam. Maybe take a little off and change the arm angle a little. Too straight to fool major league hitters for 6 innings. Mitre will be fighting for a roster position only.

by Tickle Monster on Feb 10, 2010 1:46 PM EST reply actions

One more thing...

Mitre as the 5 starter…..Things could be worse! I like the way Phil and Joba were used in the pen last year. One in the 7th and one in the 8th. turn every game into a 7 inning affair. Use Mitre and/or the others as 5th starters and get Phil and Joba used to coming in before Mo so that the die is cast for the playoffs. The 5 hole doesn’t start any playoff games anyway and they will be regulated to the pen, reguardless. Unless one of them pitches lights out and takes over for Javi or someone gets injured. It really is nice to have this competition and the luxury of several options.

by Tickle Monster on Feb 10, 2010 1:54 PM EST reply actions

Joba is the 5th starter.

It’s his job to lose. It makes absolutely no sense to let him start for an entire year in 2009 just to waste it in the bullpen for the next. The only way Hughes is starting if Joba completely sucks in ST which won’t happen and Hughes is untouchable in ST.

Leave me, leave me, I can't effin stand you.

by Swishawk on Feb 10, 2010 2:17 PM EST reply actions

+Cervelli

This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.

by Lord Duggan on Feb 10, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

It was snow day today so I decided to lock my afternoon up in a B&N store. I managed to quickly read through a fairly new Bob Gibson-Reggie Jackson book. It was pretty entertaining and insightful and Reggie had plenty of good things to say about Joba.

by Scooby Snacks on Feb 10, 2010 8:40 PM EST reply actions