Coming soon to a theater near you: “Joba Returns – Without A Day Off.”
With the AL playoffs on the horizon, the Yankees are considering a change to the rules they have instituted regarding Joba Chamberlain’s use, a change that would allow the rookie reliever to pitch on successive days.
The amendment to the Joba Rules would have to come from organizational pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras, but Joe Torre said yesterday he’s had regular dialogue with Contreras, and anticipated receiving clearance to use Chamberlain on consecutive days before the regular season ends next Sunday.
“The important thing for us is to make sure we warm up [Chamberlain] only once.” Torre said before the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 12-11 in 10 innings yesterday.
“Whatever they want to do, I am ready for,” Chamberlain said afterward. He was unavailable to pitch because of the existing rules after firing two shutout innings of relief in Friday night’s 5-4, 14-inning loss. He has said he would welcome a change to the policy, designed to protect the 22-year-old from potentially overworking his arm.
The Yankees also have held steadfast in that Chamberlain rests one day for each inning he pitches in a particular outing, meaning the right-hander also will be unavailable today.
The fuss is understandable. In 15 appearances, Chamberlain is 2-0 with an 0.44 ERA, having struck out 28 batters and walked six in 201/3 innings.
Already there have been subtle changes made to the Joba Rules. In Wednesday’s game against the Orioles, Chamberlain was summoned from the bullpen with two outs in the eighth inning, marking the first time he was allowed to enter an inning in progress.
But the most significant step of all would be allowing Chamberlain to pitch on consecutive days, something the Yankees will need in the postseason, especially given Kyle Farnsworth’s wretched performances – such as yesterday’s three-run, three-hit, one-walk horror show in just one-third of an inning.
First, Torre would like to have a regular-season test run with Chamberlain working consecutive days.
“But we have to have it presented to us,” Torre said. “We need to win games. We can’t be concerning ourselves with, ‘Let’s see if this works.’ We have to use [Chamberlain] to help us win ballgames.”
mpuma@nypost.com