Yesterday, Joba Chamberlain allowed 3 runs over 6 innings, which in the world of statistics is considered a Quality Start. The Yankees rallied for a 4-3 victory and Joba received a no decision. Chamberlain would like to work later into games, like he had in his previous start of 8 innings. That is an unrealistic expectation for a 23-year old to meet. Especially when his team refuses to let him give max effort.

Since Joba rocketed up the Yankees farm system in 2007, the Yankees have been doing their best in protecting Chamberlain versus wear and tear. They have limited his innings, and his pitch counts. You wanna know why you won’t see another 300 game winner in you lifetime? This is exactly why. There is this new train of thought that if by “taking it easy” with young pitchers, that it will extend their career and their effectiveness. However, nobody has been able to prove that this theory will produce the way they hope it does. Former pitcher and current Texas Rangers GM Nolan Ryan has been on record that most of the Texas Rangers pitchers will no longer be on pitch counts, that only by throwing the ball more help will pitchers develop more arm strength. Football coaches will say the same thing about their QBs. They aren’t worried about resting arms, or lifting weights, it is about throwing the ball. Of course, in the same could be said of this theory, as not hard data is available to prove either way. However, the eye test shows us that most 300 game winners were never limited when they came into the league. Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux were all allowed to throw as much as they needed to. Maddux case was a little different, as he is probably the most efficient pitcher in history.

The Yankees have decided to stick with the new school of thought when it comes to Joba. How could this be stifling his growth? For one, in the back of his mind he knows that he is only in the game for a limited time. This puts pressure on him to over think his pitches. He puts more pressure on himself to be efficient, which ends up leading to less efficiency, and racking up his pitch count early in the game. The other thing is that there is this idea that he has to save his harder pitches for later. Instead of throwing 96mph fastballs in the 1st, it is around 91. Compare this with CC Sabathia, who hits 97 on the gun in the 1st,and the 8th. If the Yanks would loosen the reigns on a guy that they think is special, he might even produce better than he already has.

What might have scared the Yanks was when Joba developed tendinitis in the shoulder last July. Until that point, there was no control of how Joba was throwing the ball, and he was outstanding for most of the season. This year there has been a definite change in how he approaches it. Because of the tamed down fastball, he has struggled in the first inning, and typically cruises after that. However, looking over all of Joba stats, he has been one of the better starters for the Yanks, and in the entire AL since becoming a starter. He is 6-2 in 124 IP, 129 Ks, and a 3.25 ERA. Those are great starter numbers. We have to remember that wins are somewhat misleading, and Joba has been unable to get much run support. It is silly to suggest that Joba belongs in the bullpen. Who else in the Yanks system can put up those kind of numbers? Chien-Ming Wang is suddenly terrible, and Phil Hughes is still a work in progress.

All in all, Joba is still producing for the Yankees, even with the tight restrictions that are placed upon him, however it remains to be seen as to how special he could be because of them. Time will tell if the current way of using him will pay off.

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