Wednesday May 28th, 2008 may just be the last time the words, "reliever Joba Chamberlain" are used. After an inning and a third in which the Yankees pitcher allowed one hit, one walk and struck out 3, Chamberlain would throw a bullpen session to build up his pitch count and arm and leg strength.

In five days Ian kennedy will be rehabing in Tampa after injuring himself on Tuesday may 27th against Baltimore. This opens the door for Joba to make his first Major league start. After winning 9 of his 15 starts in the Minors in 2007, Joba became a bulpen ace for the Yankees down the stretch, becoming one of the biggest reasons they made the playoffs. This year, the team has struggled to get to .500, even with their bullpen ace. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are both hurt, thats 2 of the Yankees planned 5 starters on the DL. Darrell Rasner has been a pleasant suprise, but aside from Chen-Ming Wang, the Yankees rotation has been inconsistant. Joe Girardi, Brian Cashman and the rest of the yankees Brass hopes Chamberlain can be a stabalizing force in the rotation for the rest of the season and many more to come.

Over the coming weeks and months the Joba starter/reliever debate will reach it's peak as Joba gets his feet wet as a starter, and as the Yankees search for a set-up man who can come close to what Joba was abke to do, in those rare ocasions this year when the yankees ebter the late innings with a lead.