Joba's Transition A Success

Say goodbye to Joba Chamberlain the shutdown eighth inning guy. Say hello to Joba the Yankee Ace. After throwing 114 pitches en route to a 10-0 Yankee victory last night the transformation was complete. As dirty as it looked early on the transition really couldn't have gone much better. Part of the reason it was so successful - and the 4-1 Yankee record during these starts says it was - is because even though it looked ugly they pulled it off perfectly. Thanks not only to Joba's 1.80 ERA in those five games, but also to Dan Giese's more impressive 1.41 ERA during those same starts. Abandoning their initial plan (to send Joba to the minor leagues while he stretched out his pitch count), then denying that it ever existed, the Yankees were relying on Giese to come through. He did - who needs the minor leagues anyways? In his first start, and probably the worst appearance of his professional career, Joba was limited to a 65 pitch count. Things could have gone very badly especially since he used up nearly 40 of those pitches in the first inning. After throwing 62 pitches manager Joe Girardi lifted him for the unknown Giese. The Yankees wound up losing that game 9-3, but Joba and Giese combined for a quality start, six innings and only two earned runs, and gave the Bombers every chance to win that game. Perhaps it was fitting that the bullpen blew the game during his first start or perhaps that's what happens when you face Roy Halladay. Either way the 9-3 loss was worse than it looked and was not a sign of things to come. For Joba's next start he was limited to an 80 pitch count. He was much more himself that night going four and one-third and giving up just two earned runs and a walk with five strike outs. Giese again helped Joba out when he pitched two and two-thirds innings allowing zero runs. Joba and Giese again combined for a quality start, seven innings and two earned runs. The Yankees beat the Royals 6-3 that night. In his third start the training wheels were off. Well sort of. Facing the Houston Astros, Joba still had a pitch count - 95 pitches - but he no longer needed Giese. Eventually finishing with 88 pitches Joba gave up only three hits and held the 'Stros to only one run over six innings. In his very own quality start the Yankees beat Houston 2-1, but Joba was still had no record as a starter. In his next appearance Joba finished at exactly 100 pitches, his limit for that night. While pitching in one of his most dynamic games he only managed to go five and two-thirds, but he fanned 9, a new career high. He would not need Giese again because on this night the Yankees bullpen showed its new pecking order. After Joba left the game Jose Veras came in, filling Kyle Farnsworth's former role as the seventh inning guy. Farnsworth then stepped on the mound in the 8th inning role formally reserved for Joba. He struck out two of the three batters he faced. Of course the ninth belonged to Mariano Rivera. That game showed the Joba could be a dominant starter and the Yankees bullpen, while not as good, could survive without him. The Yankees beat San Diego 2-1. Joba still had no record as a starter despite the Yankees being 3-1 behind him. It wasn't until last night that Joba got his first win as a starter. It is fitting that he wouldn't get a decision until there were no strings attached. He is now a complete member of the starting rotation, something that will help smooth out the Yankees rocky season as they will now look to him to help stabilize the rotation. Which Joba certainly is fit for. Critics said he needed the adrenaline of coming on in relief to be successful, but now we see what a complete pitcher he is. Instead of throwing every pitch in the 98-100 MPH range he now sits at the 94-95 range, but he certainly can still unleash the power when he needs to. Just ask Jason Michaels of the Pirates, who struck out on a 98 MPH fastball to end the sixth inning last night. He has also found a decent mix of pitches now that he is no longer just a fastball/slider guy. Not just trying to strike guys out all the time anymore he mixes in sinkers to pitch to contact and every now and then he busts out a curve ball as his out pitch. Welcome to New York, Joba the Starter.