With the recent signing of Andy Pettitte, there are many Yankee fans who want Joba Chamberlain to head back to the bullpen. These people feel that Joba is better suited for the pen because his body type is wrong for starting and less innings will keep his valuable right arm healthy.

They also say that the game will be shortened to 7 innings. (Why is that? Did the MLB rules committee change the rules to high school level? Nope. Last I checked the major league game is still 9 innings.) and the back end of the bullpen tandem of Joba and Mariano Rivera will be intact again, dominating like is was in late 2007.

All good reasons. 

Joba did dominate in that 8th inning role in 2007, would transistion nicely in to the closer role once Rivera  retires in 2015. At least I hope Rivera pitches that long, and why not, he was very effective last season with. Also, Joba has the mound demeanor for the closer job.

More good reasons.

But, Joba still needs to be a starting pitcher. Why limit one of your better pitchers to one inning a few times a week? That is why current Yankees CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett are starters and not closers. Don't you think CC and AJ could be good closers, too? A teams best pitchers start, their top reliever closes and everybody else is in between.

Any you know what? Unless they are getting hit hard, starters should go more that 5 or 6 innings per start - even when the team is behind. If a team is down 3-2 in the 6th, why take out your starter after 100 pitches? He is your better pitcher so run him out there again and let him hold down the other team. A this point a manager knows what the starter has and what he is giving your team. A manager does not know what the middle reliever is going to give you, that is why they are middle relievers!

A starter has already seen the hitters!

One of the most underrated things about starting pitchers is they are into the flow of the game and have already faced the hitters at least twice through the lineup. Working with the catcher, the starting pitcher knows the current (in-game!) strengths and weaknesses of the hitters. I know that if a pitcher is doing well against my team and their manager brings in a new guy, I am pretty happy.

Anyway, Joba needs to pitch more innings, not less. With a plus fastball, plus slider and improving curve and changeup, his arsenal is conducive to top of the rotation status. In 2008, the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder threw his fastball 62.3 percent of the time in 2008, averaging 95.0 MPH on the radar gun. He mixed in a slider (avg velocity: 85.1) 25.2 percent of the time and also flashed a curveball and changeup. While he certainly would throw with more velocity in short bursts (97.0 MPH avg fastball MPH as a reliever in 2007), he has shown the ability to sit in the low-to-mid-90s for multiple innings.

Joba wants to start and he dominating in his 12 starts in 2008 with a 3-1 record, 2.76 ERA, 74 K's in 65 starter innings including the great Sunday night game on July 25, when he outdueled Boston red Sox ace Josh Beckett. 

And if people are worried that Joba’s physical condition will prevent him from throwing 120 pitches every five days, then I suggest Joba start on a significant training regimen to build endurance.

Since Brain McNamee appears very busy lately, I am sure there are other personal trainers in the Tampa and New York areas that will work Joba into baseball pitching shape.

As far as mechanics are concerned, Joba has a slight timing problem, but nothing serious. Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and other oft-injured pitchers (Chris Carpenter) have significant delivery issues and that is why they are always hurt. Although he ahd an injury plagued career, Kerry Wood probably pitched the greatest game of all time.

Also, pitchers like Joba who throw 95+ will always be at a significantly higher injury risk than the soft tossers (such as Jamie Moyer) because of the stress each pitch at that velocity causes to the arm. However, I like the ratio (Joba had in 2008 of FB to sliders (don’t like that pitch), and would look forward to him incorporating more curves and changeups in 2009.

The more innings a good pitcher throws, the better it is for the team. And the Yankees don’t need Joba in the pen. Mark Melancon will eventually have that 8th inning role, and if Yankee fans like Joba’s mound presence, they will absolutely love Melancon’s. He is a true bulldog in every sense of the word, and he WANTS to be a reliever.

I would rather have a dominant Chamberlain for 6-8 years as a starter before his arm gives out, then 12+ years out of a bullpen.