This is a piece about Joba’s spot in the rotation – but it is not what you think.

I wrote a piece yesterday about the Yankees finishing off their pitching staff by adding Jonathan Albaladejo and not carrying a long reliever/spot starter. I am not fond of the long reliever thing, especially for the 2009 Yankees, who have durable pitchers in four of the rotation spots.

Over the last three seasons Andy Pettitte made 102 starts, CC Sabathia made 97 starts, AJ Burnett made 80 starts and Chien-Ming Wang made 78 starts. Wang likely would have been second overall, but broke his foot while running the bases last season. That probably will not happen again.

Of the four top starters, the Wanger had the best percentage of starts pitched into the 6th inning at 10.2% of his 78 starts. When Joba Chamberlain was not involved in any pre-determined pitch counts, he made 10 starts, of which he went into the 6th inning in 8 of those 10 starts. Not bad for a first time starter in the majors.

And even if Chamberlain is on that ridiculous innings limit this season and only goes 6 innings per start, the other starters more than make up for it with their extended work. In fact, Andy Pettitte made the most starts over the three years (102) but also had the highest percentage of starts not entering the sixth inning (22 starts or 21.6%).

That is why it is imperative to switch Wang and Pettitte in the rotation.

By sticking Joba in between the two most durable starters in Wang and Sabathia, the bullpen “long men” of Coke, Ramirez and Albaladejo will have the necessary days of rest when Wang or CC pitch and can settle in for the needed bullpen innings during Pettitte and Chamberlain’s starts.

The starting rotation should be:

Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Wang, Joba

Since Joba will be on that pitch count, innings and start limits, Triple A starters Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves and Ian Kennedy will have a big say in whether the Yankees make the post season. Kei Igawa, despite how well he threw last year or in this spring training this season, will never get another chance withthe Yankees and both Brett Tomko and Jason Johnson both are below .500 pitchers will terrible across the board numbers. Igawa and Tomko should be traded now while the fire is hot for them, and Igawa would be a great fit for many National League teams.

Joe Girardi should then ask Brian Cashman for permission to switch Wang and Pettitte in the rotation and make any innings limit fiasco for Joba not that taxing for what appears to be a stout bullpen.

Tags: AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees