NEW YORK (WCBS 880)  -- Much has been made in the Press and Sports Radio about this Tuesday being a stellar day for New York Sports. Pedro Martinez is scheduled to pitch against the Giants in San Francisco, and Joba Chamberlain will be making his first major league start at home against the Blue Jays.

Since this column rarely covers the city’s Junior Varsity squad, our interest naturally turns toward Mr. Chamberlain’s efforts.

Certain radio commentators have gone as far as to suggest that Joba’s first start will be an indicator of how the Yanks season will pan out—as if the whole season were resting on these 60-70 pitches. 

If you listen and read this stuff, you’d think that Joba Chamberlain was the first pitcher ever to convert from a reliever to a starter. Not only did Johan Santana convert in a very similar fashion as Joba in 2003, but so did the Blue Jay’s Shaun Marcum last year. Countless other fine hurlers have followed suit.

The Yanks’ season does not rest on Joba’s first start. The Yanks season was pretty much sealed in the off-season, for better or worse.

Joba’s start is simply the natural progression of an enormous talent. There is no question that a guy who can command four pitches, one being a 99 mph heater, should be in the starting rotation. Which would you rather have, Joba for 80 innings each year, or Joba for 200 + innings (in years to come)? Sure, the 8th inning is important, but it’s no more important than Innings 1-6. If the starter coughs up 5 or 6 runs, the 8th innings doesn’t matter much.
 
I’ve read in one of the New York tabloids that moving Joba to a starter’s role is a “panic” move by the Yanks. Nothing can be further from the truth. The Yanks are doing exactly what they said they would do from the start of the season.  He needed to keep his innings count at about 150 this year. Countless studies have shown that pitchers that throw 30 innings more than the previous years’ total are subject to injury. (Thank you Tom Verducci.)

So Joba was penciled in to set-up for a couple of months, then transition to the starting rotation. Things have gone exactly as planned. Sometimes it’s hard to know if certain writers have short memories, or agendas. Anyone who follows the Yanks knows that Joba’s transition from reliever to starter is happening right on schedule, exactly as outlined by Brian Cashman at the end of Spring Training. 

"This has always been the plan for Joba," general manager Brian Cashman said. "This is what we think is best for him."

Despite all the information poiting to Joba’s conversion, many fans read curious comments like this:

“In an extremely surprising turn of events, New York Yankees' manager Joe Girardi revealed to a YES reporter as he left the field after tonight's 8-0 victory over Baltimore, that setup man Joba Chamberlain is being converted to a starter for this season.”

Man, do a little homework, please.

Here is Shaun Marcum’s take on Joba’s transition, “I've talked to Joba before -- he's a great guy. I think he'll be fine in that role. He's got good stuff and some of the best stuff in that setup role. Even if he pitches at 93-94 and locates, that's just as good. It doesn't matter how hard you throw, if you can mix your pitches and keep the hitters off-balance."

Like many folks who follow the Yanks, I look toward 2009 with great anticipation. There a potential $86 million coming off the payroll, and Joba will be in the rotation for good. With all the money freed up, one wonders what C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira will command.

Of even more interest, in the year to come we will hear the names of Mark Melancon, J.B. Cox and Daniel McCutchen as possible set-up man to Mariano Rivera. 

The scouting report on Mark Melancon is very good. He has excellent command of an above-average fastball. The heater averages 91-93 MPH and has hit 97 this year.

His power curveball averages around 78-80 MPH, and some scouts consider it his out pitch, a la Joba’s slider. He is also achieving good control of his changeup. Melancon told reporters: “It's definitely a power curve. I feel really good about my changeup too. I've worked on it and I'm excited about throwing it now..."
Most importantly, minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras is impressed with Melancon’s make-up: "This guy wants to compete and will not get rattled."

With a third of the season over, here is where the Yanks sit at Runs Created Above Average (Courtesy of Lee Sinins’ Complete Baseball Encyclopedia.) One wonders if the Captain is in a slump, or if his offensive skills have really atrophied. Time will tell. But, he is already a defensive albatross. If he is serious about his .329 OBP, the Yanks are in trouble, because the Jeter blinders will stay on for years to come.

YANKEES
Hideki Matsui        15
Jason Giambi         10
Johnny Damon        9
Alex Rodriguez        8
Bobby Abreu           7
Jorge Posada          -1
Chad Moeller          -1
Chris Stewart         -1
Wilson Betemit       -1
Melky Cabrera        -3
Alberto Gonzalez     -4
Derek Jeter             -5
Shelley Duncan       -5
Morgan Ensberg      -7
Jose Molina            -10
Robinson Cano       -14

On the pitching side, the emergence of Darrell Rasner and Edwar Ramirez are welcome surprises. Kudos to them. 

YANKEES
Mariano Rivera       11
Darrell Rasner         7
Edwar Ramirez        7
Joba Chamberlain    6
Brian Bruney           4
Andy Pettitte           2
Chien-Ming Wang    2
Mike Mussina          1
Jonathan Albaladejo 1
Jose Veras               1
Chris Britton            1
Kyle Farnsworth       0
Billy Traber              0
Kei Igawa            -5
Ross Ohlendorf      -6
LaTroy Hawkins     -6
Philip Hughes       -11
Ian Kennedy         -13

Last, but never least, I’d like to give a shout-out to loyal reader Steven Risser of Southington, CT. Keep rooting on Melky Cabrera, Steven, that next outfield assist will be for you.