It started out good. With the 2007 Joba Rules, he managed to dodge the Torre bullpen bullet. Going into 2008, it was decided that a previous high innings total of 130 allowed for a very conservative 140 to 150 innings. Seemed a little low but that's okay. Can't be too careful with the kids, right? We all knew some creativity would be necessary. As the plan unfolded, we found Joba beginning the season in the bullpen then making a gradual transition to the rotation. It worked. It worked perfectly. Then things came to to a crashing halt with an injury that was eventually called rotator cuff tendinitis, an injury that is considered part of life for most pitchers. No. Big. Deal. He had pitched a total of 89 innings.

The treatment was rest and 12 days later he began to throw again. He only missed two starts so maybe they were a little overcautious but again, you can't be too careful with the kids. Rehab went routinely with bullpen sessions that gradually increased from 30 to 35 to 45 pitches then it was back to live action. With the minor leagues winding down, rehab opportunities were limited so a return to the the bullpen seemed like a reasonable solution with the conventional wisdom being that he would gradually build up his arm strength and finish the season in the rotation.

The conventional wisdom became anything but conventional and certainly not very wise. The Yankees elected to keep Joba in the pen for the rest of 2008 claiming that there wasn't enough time to build his arm strength back up. As of today, he's pitched a minuscule 11.1 innings since being activated. 166 pitches. Now we're hearing rumblings that he could be sent to the Arizona Fall League to get more innings. Sent as what? A reliever so he can get another 10 innings? And why wasn't that a part of the original plan when he came off the DL?

Had the Yankees simply stretched Joba back out and allowed him to be the starter everyone knows he should be, it's not unrealistic to think he could have gotten 5 or even 6 starts. 2 IP, 4 IP, 6 IP and he's stretched out for the final 2 or 3 starts. Starts that he could have made instead of Carl Pavano or Sidney Ponson. He could have gotten his innings total for the season up from around 100 to near 120. Then add another 25+ in Arizona. Suddenly, he would be at the previously mentioned goal of 140 to 150 innings.

Now the real question. Why? Why didn't the Yankees do what was needed to get Joba's innings up? Why do they seem to be changing their plans with every shift in the wind? The answer is fear. Paralyzing, inexplicable, irrational fear. Fear that they will make a mistake. Fear that they will cause an injury to the crown jewel of the organization. But in reality, they've demonstrated the right amount of caution with his development. They've managed his innings judiciously. They've acknowledged the relationship between injury and fatigue. They've monitored his mechanics. In short, they've developed him by the book. And he still got hurt. There is an underlying risk that can't be managed and that is the risk that simply accompanies the pitching motion. To put it simply, sometimes sh*t happens. Sometimes that sh*t happens to your stud young pitcher. The Yankees unfounded fears have forced them into having to deal with the same innings concerns in 2009 that they faced in 2008 and right now they're considering approaching it the same way by starting next season in the bullpen. Enough already. Pitchers need to pitch and if Joba Chamberlain is going to be a starting pitcher, he needs to be allowed to start baseball games.

If you disagree, we want you to consider this one point:

Imagine if the Yankees had gone on an insane run and somehow managed to squeak into the playoffs at Boston's expense. Now wipe that smile off your face when you realize Joba Chamberlain wouldn't be available to start a single postseason game. That's right - our best pitcher behind Mike Mussina wouldn't be available to start a single game in October all because of a short DL stint over a month ago.