This afternoon’s game is on YES, so we’re going to throw up a game thread. Hopefully some of you get to watch Joba rock the start. Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez and Jon Albaladejo will follow, so it looks like Joba’s maxing out at four innings. That’s fine, given the news Girardi broke this morning. PeteAbe’s got it.
The news isn’t that CC Sabathia will start on Opening Day, because we knew that pretty much from the moment he signed. What we’ve been wondering, though, is how the team will handle Joba Chamberlain in April. Girardi said that he’ll start the sixth game, meaning that the first pass through the rotation will go CC-Wang-Burnett-Pettitte-CC-Joba. This lines up CC to start the home opener against Cleveland on April 16. This won’t really allow Joba to skip a start, as the off-day on the 23rd comes one day after he’s scheduled to start against the A’s. If all goes well he’ll get four April starts to Sabathia’s five.
In fact, after staring at the schedule for 10 minutes, it appears that the only reason Joba would start the sixth game rather than the fifth is so Sabathia can start the home opener. Otherwise, if the Yankees went with a straight one through five, Joba would have that honor. Don’t get me wrong, I love CC and all, but I think it would be rather cool if they let Joba start the home opener.
Now for my favorite part. JOE GIRARDI READS RAB!!!!111!! Okay, so maybe not. You’ll know what I mean, though, after you read this post on the Yankees lineup and then look what Girardi has for today:
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Hideki Matsui, DH
5. Nick Swisher, RF
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Cody Ransom, 3B
8. Jose Molina, C
9. Melky Cabrera, CF
Of course, flipping Jeter and Damon in the lineup could just be to get Jeter a couple more hypothetical at bats.
Side Note: MLB.TV is giving a free preview of it’s fancy new HD media player during the game today. So if you’re thinking about upgrading to the premium package, or are just going to be away from a TV during the game, make sure you check it out at MLB.com. (h/t Maury Brown)
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.