I’ve been searching Nostradamus quatrains the last few days to see if the ancient seer foretold of Joba Chamberlain’s shoulder injury…but so far I’ve come up empty. I’m taking this as a good sign, since I’m sure he would have warned of this apoplectic event if it were career-threatening.

It certainly seems that fire-balling pitchers who burst upon the scene at a very young age are doomed to injury – this trend has reached crisis proportions in the last 20 years or so. There is no doubt in my mind that the Yankees did everything they could to prevent such an occurrence with Joba. But what’s done is done and the phenom’s shoulder is barking.

Certainly, the diagnosis of tendinitis from Dr. Andrews is good news, as indications are there is no structural damage. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve seen the last of Chamberlain this year. His future is just too valuable to risk.

Joba’s injury has further damaged the Yanks’ already dwindling chances to make the playoffs in 2008. With 47 games left, and only 19 at home, time is running out quickly.

In many ways, it’s pretty amazing that the Yanks are still on the peripheral edge of contention. Losing Wang, Joba, and Posada…and A-Rod for a time is bad enough. But the work from Hughes and Kennedy has resulted in a worst case scenario for the Bombers. Mix in declining offense from Jeter and no offense at all from Melky and you get the picture: The team is fortunate to be 3 ½ games out in the wild card race.

The case of Melky Cabrera (.242/.298/.340 ) is particularly frustrating for the team. He got out of the gate quickly this year, and was hitting over .300 into May. But he is hitting just .226 in over 300 at bats since May 1. During that span he has only 14 extra-base hits. Think about the last time you saw Melky hit the ball hard. You can’t think back that far. It’s as if he’s using a wiffle ball bat.

Every game is crucial now for the Yanks, and if Girardi feels that Damon can handle centerfield, you’ll see a lot of him there with Nady in left.

Girardi told reporters: "It's a day-to-day decision on our whole lineup. We're going to put out the best team that we feel has a chance to win that night." For four consecutive nights in Texas, that starting lineup did not include Melky.

Joe did tell Melky that he would get a start Friday night in Anaheim, but there may not be many more for the 23 year old.

The Yanks hope Austin Jackson will be the centerfielder of the future, but he’s a few years away. A stopgap will be needed next year. Expect either a combination of Damon and Brett Gardner, or an acquisition.

Below is where the Yanks stand at the all important Runs Created Above Average chart. (Courtesy of Lee Sinins’ Complete Baseball Encyclopedia.)

Melky brings up the rear with -20, that’s not surprising. But what may be unexpected to some is the stellar year that A-Rod is having. If you listen to sports radio, read message boards, or read blogs from Interested Readers, you’d think that A-Rod turned into Rich McKinney or Jerry Kenney. In fact, A-Rod leads the league with + 43 RCAA. He’s second in the league with a 161 OPS +.

Man, that’s some “off” year.

YANKEES            RCAA
Alex Rodriguez       43
Jason Giambi         19
Johnny Damon         17
Hideki Matsui        11
Bobby Abreu          10
Xavier Nady           1
Richie Sexson         0
Justin Christian     -1
Ivan Rodriguez       -1
Jorge Posada         -1
Chris Stewart        -1
Chad Moeller         -3
Shelley Duncan       -5
Wilson Betemit       -6
Brett Gardner        -7
Alberto Gonzalez     -7
Morgan Ensberg       -8
Derek Jeter          -9
Jose Molina          -14
Robinson Cano        -19
Melky Cabrera        -20

The Runs Saved Above Average chart shows just how valuable Joba has been. (+21). Mike Mussina, as we’ve seen all year, is having a renaissance season and may indeed get those 20 wins this year, at the age of 39.

YANKEES             RSAA
Joba Chamberlain     21
Mariano Rivera       16
Mike Mussina         16
Edwar Ramirez         9
Jose Veras            7
Dan Giese             6
Andy Pettitte         5
Brian Bruney          4
Kyle Farnsworth       4
Chien-Ming Wang       4
Chris Britton         1
Jonathan Albaladejo   1
Damaso Marte          0
Scott Patterson       0
Sidney Ponson         -1
David Robertson       -1
Billy Traber          -2
Kei Igawa             -4
Darrell Rasner        -4
LaTroy Hawkins        -6
Ross Ohlendorf        -9
Phil Hughes           -11
Ian Kennedy           -12