Thursday, July 30, 2009

The New Joba Keeps the Yanks Moving Higher

It is clear that a new Joba Chamberlain has taken the mound for the Yankees since the All-Star break. The young right-hander has thrown 21 2/3 innings since the break and has an ERA of 0.83. Chamberlain is working faster on the mound and with far more conviction than he has at any other point this year. He mixed his pitches well and kept the Rays guessing all night. The result was the best start of Joba's young career.

These last three starts should quell the Joba to the bullpen debate. Well at least until Mike Francesa gets back from vacation.

The Yankee bats backed Chamberlain against Matt Garza. Garza pitched effectively but the Yanks chipped away for three runs against him and then jumped on the Rays bullpen for three more once he was out of the game.

The only problem to come out of Joba's fantastic start is that he probably has about 30 innings left before the Yankees will have to put him in the bullpen in order to keep him around his innings limit for the season. That leaves about five starts more for Joba, but if he continues to pitch this effectively then the Yankees may need to deal with his limit that much sooner.

Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi may have to start treating him like a pitcher in the minors who has an innings limit per start, pulling him after six innings or so. It's one of the reasons I would imagine he was not allowed to finish last night's game.

No matter the situation with Joba, the news in Yankeeland is good after the Sox fell again and the Rays are now at a distance eight games in the loss column. The Yankees will need to make a deal for another start but it wont have to be anything of the scale of Roy Halladay. They will need a fourth or fifth guy and Jarrod Washburn would be a perfect fit, though, it seems that Seattle fancies themselves buyers after their acquisition of Jack Wilson and Ian Snell from Pittsburgh.

Cashman will make a move, he always has something up his sleeve around the deadline. Hopefully the offense will keep covering for Sergio Mitre and Joba's eventual replacement.

The Yankees are moving on to Chicago now to take on the White Sox for four games. It will be Andy Pettitte vs. Gavin Floyd tonight with Pettitte looking for redemption after a poor July that has seen him win one game in five starts. Pettitte will only become more important to the Yankees as the season progresses and the rotation weakens.

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