Yanks concerned about Joba's innings limit
Photo credit: Freelance/Photo by David Pokress | Bronx, NY - Sunday, July 19, 2009. Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. Joba Chamberlain tips his cap as he leaves the game in the 7th inning with a 2-1 lead. Photo by David Pokress
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Yankees general manager Brian Cashman could be looking to add depth to his starting rotation, in part because of concern about a starter he already has.
Joba Chamberlain, who is scheduled to pitch tonight, has never pitched more than 1001/3 innings in a major-league season and already is at 952/3 this year. The 23-year-old has an innings cap on him - one that has not been made public - that the Yankees continue to watch.
"There are some inning-limitation concerns with Joba," Joe Girardi said before last night's rain-delayed game. "We have options that we'll have to evaluate as we get closer to that point. We still have what we feel is a substantial amount of time."
Neither Girardi nor Cashman would say what the innings limit is, nor did they detail a contingency plan, such as moving Chamberlain to the bullpen at some point or skipping some turns in the rotation.
Said Cashman, "There's plans in place. Joe's aware of them, what he needs to do. Joe and Dave [Eiland, the pitching coach] have obviously been aware of them since spring training and plan accordingly, and that's why when we've made decisions that we've made so far with [Phil] Hughes, for instance, and [Alfredo] Aceves, they were tough decisions with consequences at the same time. We're thinner because of those moves [keeping Hughes and Aceves in the bullpen]. We're better because of those moves, but we're thinner because of those moves.''
Cashman added, "I wouldn't go through what the plan entails, but it's not a new plan. It's a plan that was hatched right at the very beginning of the season.''
Is the plan right now to keep Chamberlain in the rotation? Yes, Cashman said. Would the Yankees shut him down if he's approaching the innings limit? No, Cashman said.
The Yankees also are watching Hughes (57 innings), who is in less danger of reaching his limit now that he is a reliever.
The Yankees started Sergio Mitre in injured Chien-Ming Wang's spot in the rotation on Tuesday, and he was fairly effective in picking up the victory over the Orioles. But if Chamberlain (5-2, 4.05 ERA) were taken out of the rotation, that would leave CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, who have been outstanding for much of the season, and Andy Pettitte, who has been uneven but had an excellent outing Monday, as dependable starters.
In terms of who could fill in in the bullpen if a reliever got hurt or had to enter the starting rotation, Cashman said, "Edwar Ramirez is pitching much better right now. You know we got [Jonathan] Albaladejo sitting there waiting. We got [Damaso] Marte on the come. We got some young guys looking to prove themselves at the same time. The most important thing right now is for us to remain healthy so we don't have to worry about the next step. But the next step [trades or promotions from within] is real, and it's right around the corner if we have any hiccups. You guys are no dummies; that's why we're talking about it.''
After his brilliant debut in 2007 as a setup man for Mariano Rivera, Chamberlain began 2008 in the bullpen before making the transition to the starting rotation in late May, but he was removed from an Aug. 4 start because of right shoulder stiffness that was diagnosed as rotator cuff tendinitis. He was on the disabled list until Sept. 2, when he made the first of 10 relief appearances.
The injury limited him to 12 starts in 2008, and that lack of work had an impact on how many innings he will be allowed to pitch this season.
