6.2 IP  3 H  1 R 3 BB 8 K

7 IP  2 H  1 R  3 BB  6 K

8 IP  3 H  0 R  2 BB 5 K

5 IP  6 H  4 R  7 BB  5 K

6 IP  5 H  4 R  2 BB  5 K

5 IP  7 H  4 R  3 BB  2 K

4 IP  9 H  7 R  3 BB  5 K

The first three lines of stats are the three starts Joba Chamberlain made prior to the Yankees making him take extra rest between starts and the last four are his starts since the extra rest.  Doesn't exactly take an actuary to interpret the results.

I am all in favor of taking care of a young arm, especially one with as much potential as Joba.  There is plenty of evidence to support the theory that increasing a young pitcher's workload too much from one season to the next has a real detrimental effect.  That is why I am fine with him having an innings limit for 2009.  What I'm not in favor of is how this limit was implemented.

If the Yankees brain trust, and do I ever use that term loosely, knew from the beginning of the season that Joba had an innings limit, then why did they not use caution at the start of the season?  Why did they wait until August, after he finally found a groove, to start having him skip starts and take double rest?  Would it not have made more sense to skip starts in April and May, when pitchers could use the extra rest anyway?

The baseball schedule has built-in off days at the beginning of the season to account for weather and thus many teams only use their fifth starter a handful of times.  The Yankees could have used that to limit Joba's innings early.  That way he would be pitching every fifth day at this time of the season when he has found his rhythm and, ya know, they're trying to win the division.

Another great decision by the Yankee brass in regards to Joba.  I just wonder how many times they can screw this kid up?

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