The Joba Dilemma

What to do with Joba Chamberlain? That question is going to dog the Yankees all year.

Should he be a starter? Should he be a reliever? What is better for this season? What about the future? He's had games in which we've seen why the Yankees believe he could be a stud starter.

Friday was not one of those days.

Joba failed to pitch five innings, allowing five runs on six hits and five walks in 4-2/3. However, he was picked up by the bullpen and the offense, which slugged five homers, including Derek Jeter's go-ahead blast in the eighth, to rally past the Indians 6-5 for the Yankees' first win at the new Yankee Stadium.

Joba was inefficient, struggling to throw strikes and consistently falling behind hitters. He threw 47 of his 93 pitches for balls and he walked ninth-place hitter Asdrubal Cabrera, a singles hitter, twice. The outing was in stark contrast to his first start against Kansas City, in which he threw 88 pitches in six innings, allowing three runs -- one earned -- on five hits and one walk.

So the questions remain: Should Joba be in the pen or should he be in the rotation? Should the Yankees stick with known or explore the unknown?

We know Joba is devastating as the eighth inning-guy and could be the successor to Mariano Rivera (though the way Rivera is pitching, he could be the closer for another five years). However, Joba was drafted and began his minor league career as a starter. The Yankees say he has four average to plus pitches (fastball, slider, curve and change), something that's unusual for a reliever, but commonplace for an elite starter.

And that's the rub: What is Joba Chamberlain?

Joba believes he is a starter. That's what he wants to do and that's what's in his heart. The Yankees can force him to be a reliever, but that can backfire and would be unfair both to Joba and the organization because it would deny Joba the chance to see if he can fulfill his potential.

Also it could lead Joba to become resentful of the organization. The Mets forced Aaron Heilman into the bullpen and Heilman hated every second of it. After last season he told the Mets he wanted to either be a starter or be traded. The Mets traded him. With Joba, who is infinitely more talented than Heilman, getting a shot as a starter, he won't be able to hold it against the Yankees if he fails and has to return to the bullpen. He'll know what he is and will accept it.

But is it the right move for the organization? Right now there is no doubt the team is better with Joba in the bullpen -- and he will be back there by mid-August because he has a 150 inning pitch limit. But what about the future? Is Joba more valuable as a starter or a reliever? The answer to that lies in what Joba becomes.

If Joba proves he can be not only an effective starter, but an ace or No. 2-type power pitcher, then I think the Yankees are better off with him in the rotation and rebuilding the pen (remember, the Yankees are very high on prospect Mark Melancon, whom they believe could one day also be Mo's successor). Those types of starters are rare and the Yankees would then have one from the start of his career.

However, if Joba proves he'll be no better that a No. 3, Daisuke Matsuzaka-type starter, the Yankees are better off with Joba in the pen. Dice-K is capable of putting sterling, untouchable starts. But he's also just as capable of putting of clunkers that stretch the bullpen. The Yankees don't need that. They need Joba to make as big an impact as possible and in this scenario, he'd be more consistent and make a bigger impact coming out of the pen.

But the only way to find all of this out is go through this season with Joba in the rotation. It tests our patience. It can drive us nuts when we see the bullpen implode as it did Thursday. But ultimately, going through this process will make both Joba and the Yankees stronger.

The Good
The Yankees are wasting no time getting used to their new home. Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano and Jeter all homered. The cortisone shot appears to have helped Teixeira's ailing right wrist. Damon finished 2-for-3 and scored the tying run in the seventh as the Yankees scored without the benefit of a hit. Damon walked and scored from first on a throwing error by Vinnie Chulk on a tapper hit back to mound by Teixeira.

A day after its meltdown, the bullpen was brilliant. Phil Coke replaced Joba in the fifth and pitched 1-1/3 scoreless innings, leaving in the seventh after allowing a single to Grady Sizemore. Jonathan Albaladejo replaced Coke and got a double play and ground out to get the ball to Brian Bruney, who continued his recent dominant stretch in the eighth. Mo allowed two hits, but sealed the win in the ninth.

The Bad
That Yankees are struggling to score with runners in scoring position. Wednesday they went 2-for-8. Thursday 1-for-11. Friday they were 0-for-9. Homers are nice, but the Yanks know they can't rely on them. They wasted a golden opportunity in the fifth when they trailed 5-3. Brett Gardner led of with a single, stole second and went to third on a Jeter flyout to right. But the Yanks failed to score the run as Damon popped to second. Teixeira and Nick Swisher walked and Jorge Posada flew out to left. ... Hideki Matsui was held out of the lineup and it was revealed he has fluid in his left knee. That forced the Yankees to send down reliever David Robertson and call up infielder Juan Miranda. Also, Xavier Nady is going to have another MRI as the Yankees are still trying to determine the extent of his elbow injury.

What We Learned
Coke, Albaladejo and Edwar Ramirez are going to get their chances in the sixth and seventh innings as Joe Girardi searches for reliable arms. All three are young players and this is their big chance to establish themselves a legitimate major league players.

Runners On Third With Less Than Two Outs
Friday
1 Opportunity
0-for-1
Season
17 Opportunities
2-for-13, 3B, BB, 3 SF, 10 R, 7 RBI, 1 K, 2 GIDP

Up Next
Saturday vs. Indians, 3:40 p.m., Fox
Fausto Carmona (0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs. Chien-Ming Wang (0-2, 28.93)

Wang has been beyond horrific so far this season. He can't get worse, right?