With Joba Struggling, Phil Franchise Has Assumed His Role

Although the Yankees have looked unbeatable of late, Joba Chamberlain is struggling mightily. The former top prospect and seemingly un-hittable set-up man is back on an innings limit, and it is another former top prospect who has taken his former role, says Yahoo Sports:

In six starts since the end of July, Joba has a 7.96 ERA and hasn’t gone more than six innings in any of them and thanks to the new new Joba Rules, he hasn’t gone past three in his last two. It’s almost as if he’s switched places with Phil Hughes in the Yankees’ organizationWhat do the Yankees expect? The way they’ve treated Joba: putting him in the bullpen, having him bounce up and down from the minors, having him start and limiting his pitches, its inevitable that he’ll struggle. Joba is a big boy, maybe it’s time the Yankees stop holding him back and just let him pitch.