How Does Joba Fit Into Yankees’ Postseason Plans?

Joba Chamberlain has been anything but dominating in the last two months of the season. Now as the Yankees wait to see who they will play in the ALDS, questions arise whether Joba will be on the Yankees postseason roster. With Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte notched as starters, Joba will not be in the Yankees’ starting rotation for the postseason. If he fits anywhere it would be in the bullpen but some people don’t think the Yankees will put him on their postseason roster at all.

With Phil Hughes as the setup man and Mariano Rivera as the closer, Joba’s only chances of pitching are in the middle innings. The Yankees will most likely put 10 pitchers on the ALDS roster and with the three starters, setup man and closer, that leaves five spots remaining. I’d have to believe that lefty Phil Coke has a spot and so does Alfredo Aceves, who can pitch in long relief. That leaves three spots remaining for four pitchers. Either Damaso Marte, Dave Robertson, Chad Gaudin or Joba Chamberlain will be left off the roster.

Even after seeing Joba’s struggles this season he has be on that roster. That’s just my opinion. He can be dominating. His upside is incredible, especially for just one inning. We’ve seen him have success out of the bullpen before. Give him the ball and tell him to let it fly. I can see him flourishing out of the bullpen for an inning before handing it over to Hughes in the eight. Could you imagine adding the Joba of old (2007 setup man Joba) into the mix with Hughes and Mariano? They would be lights out. Add a dominating Sabathia start to the mix and you can chalk up a win. 

Joba can still be dominating and using him for an inning or even an out can be beneficial for the Yankees in the postseason.