Joba Chamberlain Will Start Off In the New York Bullpen…
He’ll start the year in the Yankee bullpen, rather than start…
“We think that’s where he fits best right now,” manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday.
For much of spring training, Chamberlain was a contender for a spot in the starting rotation. He was a starter in college and the minors before New York switched him to a relief role last year and called him up in August to boost its shaky bullpen.
When asked if Chamberlain would go back to the setup role he thrived in as a rookie last season, Girardi refused to be specific. But he did say Chamberlain would pitch late in games.
“He’s a back-end guy. That’s how I’m going to classify him,” Girardi said.
The 22-year-old right-hander had prepared as a starter this spring, but wasn’t surprised by the decision.
“I had an idea if everybody stayed healthy this would happen,” he said. “It’s best for the team right now. It’s about winning games. It’s not about Joba Chamberlain.”
The Yankees’ projected rotation includes Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.
The team said it still expects Chamberlain to be a starter down the road, but Girardi wouldn’t commit to saying it would happen this season.
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