Girardi: I’d Tell Joba The Rules, But, Then I’d Have To…
Via Chris Hine -
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said he had Joba Chamberlain’s future starts mapped out, but there was one person he did not bother to share this information with — Chamberlain.
Girardi said before Tuesday’s game against Toronto that he only notified Chamberlain when his next start would be. Beyond that, Chamberlain would have to wait to hear.
“He is not completely aware of exactly how we’re going to do it because the one thing that I don’t want him worrying about is his next start,” Girardi said. “I want him just to worry about this start.”
Only after Chamberlain completes a start will Girardi tell him when his next one will be.
The Yankees have said they would limit the number of innings Chamberlain pitched, occasionally giving him an extra day or two off between starts. All this is to prevent Chamberlain, who has not been part of the rotation for an entire major league season, from wearing down in September and October.
Including his start Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Chamberlain has thrown 121 2/3 innings, eclipsing the 100 1/3 innings he threw last season.
Girardi said he was not concerned that an extra day off between starts would disrupt Chamberlain’s performance.
“There are going to be times where he is going to be on five days and there’s other times that he might get a little extra rest,” Girardi said. “But that’s all part of it, and it’s making adjustments and learning how to make adjustments. Let’s not forget after the break he had about 10 days and came back extremely sharp.”
I don’t think I’ve seen an attempt to keep a secret like this since Dr. Madre made Maxwell Smart drink the map to the Melnick uranium mines…
Now’s the time where we’ll see if your theory on how Joba pitches better with more rest holds true. If he’s getting most starts with extra rest for the rest of the year, according to your theory Joba should then be lights out the rest of the way.
After his few days of rest recently he hasnt pitched all that well. I hope you guys are right about this.