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!