Put Joba back in the Bullpen

Listening to Mike Francesa for the past couple days he has been talking about how he feels Joba Chamberlain should be put back in the bullpen (and also that the Yanks won't do it). I have felt this way all year. I am definitely one who goes along with the belief that a dominant starting pitcher is more valuable to a team than a dominant reliever. It is self-evident that the player tossing more innings at a high-level is more important than the one tossing fewer innings. The problem is, Joba is a very average starting pitcher, and he is hurting the Yankees bullpen two-fold.

How is he hurting the bullpen in two ways? A) The Yankees obviously lose a dominant relief pitcher (Joba, one they have proven all year cannot be replaced by Veras, Bruney, Ramirez and all the others they have tried). B) He not only is an average starter - but he never goes deep in games therefore further taxing an already weakened bullpen.

Joba right now is fortunate to have a 4.00 ERA. His WHIP is near 1.60. While he is striking out nearly a batter per inning (thanks to his 12-K performance against Boston), he has allowed 25 walks and 6 HRs in just 45 innings. 9 starts. 45 IP. 6 no-decisions. His velocity is way down. This is the same guy who as a rookie gave up 1 run in his first 24 IP with 34 Ks to 6 BBs. Last year (mainly in the bullpen, with a few starts) he surrendered just 5 homers in 100 IP while striking out 118, while walking under 40 batters.

If Wang shows that he is at-all healthy and Hughes continues to progress, there is no reason to think those two can't pitch as well as Joba has as a starter (1.60 WHIP) and possibly better. On top of this all is the fact that Mariano Rivera is clearly nearing the end. The Yankees have been blessed with a rare power arm like Joba who could possibly step right in and be a top-notch closer right away (he won't be Mo of course, but no one is)...it makes far too much sense not to do, which is probably why the Yanks won't do it.