FROM JOEL SHERMAN

The biggest reason that the Yankees are transforming Joba Chamberlain from a late-inning reliever to a starter is that their internal scouting strongly suggests that he can grow into a top-of-the-rotation stalwart (see my column in today’s Post). But there is another reason why they are doing it now, during the season: If they don’t commit to this at some point this year, when do they do it? The Yanks strongly believe that for pitchers 25 and under the proper (safe) way to progress is to add 25-30 innings to their workload annually en route to reaching the 200-inning mark. Chamberlain, therefore, is allowed to get to about 140 innings this year.

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