I don’t really know how I feel about Joba pitching on all of this rest. I understand the “protect the young pitchers” mentality, but it pitching 170 innings instead of 140 really going to do anything? I suppose that he could get injured during these extra 30 innings, but you run that risk every inning of every game. I don’t think that putting an extra 30 innings under your belt is going to do any structural damage.
Joba has started 23 games this season. Over these 23 starts, Joba has averaged 5+ innings a start. If Joba were to pitch on 5 days rest for the rest of the season, he would start 8 more games (I’m not counting Friday, because he is already declared to not be starting). If he sticks with the averages, he would pitch just over 40 more innings for the rest of the season. That would put him at just under 170 innings for the season. Am I crazy to think that that wouldn’t be a horrible thing?
The fact of the matter is that Joba Chamberlain is one of the better pitchers on the team. He has certainly struggled his last 3 starts, giving up 4 ER and not pitching past the 6th in each start, but he has been very solid this season. Yes, he has walked to many and nibbled around the strike zone like nobody’s business, but isn’t the only way to fix your problems to work through them? I would so much rather see Joba out there than Sergio Mitre or Chad Gaudin.
I can’t remember where I read this article, but somewhere, somebody was talking about how certain pitchers, like Fausto Carmona and Francisco Liranio, are hurting now because they underwent big inning jumps early in their career. Sure, you can point to them, but what about people like Chad Billingsly (90 IP, to 147 IP, to 200) or Tim Lincecum (148 IP to 227). Every pitcher is different, that’s for sure, but I feel like Joba could handle an extra 30 or 4o innings (over his 140 inning limit).
I just came across an article that highlighted another point. Wouldn’t all this start skipping throw off the rhythm all pitchers talk about and love? Tim Smith asked this same question in his August 12th article, “Let Joba be Joba”. Joba’s response to the question was: “Yes and no, Chamberlain said. You still get your bullpens in and your mechanics in. But game situations are always different. You can do everything you can to keep your rhythm and do the things to keep being successful.” It sounds to me that in game situations are better for keeping the rhythm. Like I said, it seems like the best way to fix issues is to pitch through them.
I guess I don’t really know what’s best for Joba. I’m sure the Yankees are making the right decision in the long run. I just feel that 30 some odd innings wouldn’t hurt too much. I’d rather see Joba getting more acclimated to the major leagues than see him skipping starts. Maybe I’m crazy, but I am a fan of what Nolan Ryan is doing down in Texas. It can’t be that bad to stretch pitchers out a little more? Can it?
#1 by Frank on 08/20/2009 - 9:07 am
I’ve been on the fence about this and haven’t really leaned one way or the other. I could care less about how many more regular season games Joba starts (well maybe that’s not totally true) but I hope that the Yankees are looking at the big picture and that 6P8OBJ is ready for the games that really count in the Post Season!
#2 by Alex on 08/21/2009 - 9:40 pm
Joba did have shoulder troubles last year coupled with a longer injury history, so perhaps there is a benefit to controlling his innings now. The yankees don’t necessarily need to rely on Joba for the remainder of the season given their lead so why not save his arm and limit the chance of injury until the playoffs when theres actually a potential benefit to the risk