Joba Could Start Postseason in Bullpen

MLB.com has released their postseason schedule with an interesting wrinkle. The teams that finish the regular season with the best records in their respective leagues will gain two advantages come playoff time:

1. They will have home field advantage in the Division and Championship Series

2. They can pick which Division Series schedule they want to play

In the National League, this has little significance as the schedules for the two Division Series are identical. In the American League, however, there is an off day between games 1 and 2 in "American League Division Series A."  That extra day means that both teams can get through the series with three starters rather than four. That can be a blessing and a curse for the Yankees.  On one hand, it allows them to hold back Joba Chamberlain from starting in the first round of the playoffs, allowing him to pitch out of the bullpen.  Joba has been struggling lately, going 1-3 with a 7.96 ERA in his last six starts.  There is no guarantee Joba will suddenly find some effectiveness going back to the bullpen, but it does allow the Yankees to pitch CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett or Andy Pettitte twice in the series on regular rest, if needed. The problems are twofold.  For one, Joba would be taken out of the rotation and regular usage for over a week after the Yankees have spent the better part of 30 games controlling his innings and prepping him for the playoffs.  Joba didn't respond well to the extended rest they tried giving him between starts until finally pitching him on regular rest the last three outings. Secondly, the Yankees will have to face their opponents two best pitchers possibly twice in the series on normal rest.  In a short best of five series, one bad start by your ace can put your team in a bad position. Regardless, the best move for the Yankees is to keep Joba out of the rotation the first round.  It's possible he could bounce back these finals weeks, a process that starts Wednesday in the series finale against the Tampa Rays.  It's also possible that the kid is tired, having already pitched more this season than he ever has in a single year. Either way, the Joba drama will continue on for some time.