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And you thought we'd seen the last of the Joba Rules? Hardly. Peter Abraham with the latest:

Joba Chamberlain shed some light on the Yankees' plan for him, saying yesterday he is scheduled to start six more games this season.

The 23-year-old right-hander asked pitching coach Dave Eiland and manager Joe Girardi for clarification of how he would be used. They met and told Chamberlain their intent.

Because Chamberlain threw only 100-1/3 innings last season, the Yankees intend to limit his innings to guard against injury. Chamberlain has thrown 126-2/3 innings so far. Six more starts would likely put him around 165.

"We sat down and figured out a plan that works for both of us as far as keeping it as regular as possible," Chamberlain said. "It gives my arm the rest that this whole thing is for, so it all worked out great. Mentally, for me to know that this is the plan for the rest of the year, it's definitely calming."

Chamberlain threw in the bullpen yesterday and will repeat that tomorrow and Sunday in Fenway Park. His next start will come Tuesday against Texas at Yankee Stadium.

With 41 games left to play, obviously Chamberlain's remaining starts will come on extended rest.

"I expect it," he said. "But at least I have a good idea of what the plan is."

Come the postseason, Chamberlain will be used as a starter with no limitations.

Of course, this is one of the beautiful things about having a commanding lead. The Yankees are seven games ahead of the second-place Red Sox, so winning games over the next six weeks is practically a secondary consideration. The primary consideration -- for management, anyway -- is keeping everybody healthy and happy and primed for a sterling October.

The Tigers, unfortunately, aren't yet in that position with Rookie of the Year candidate Rick Porcello. Still only 20 years old, Porcello threw 125 professional innings last year. This year, he's thrown 118 and, if kept in a regular rotation, will finish the season with something like 170 innings. And that's before the postseason.

Management has kept Porcello on a pretty short leash. Though he's been the Tigers' third-best starter for most of the season -- behind Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson -- Porcello has averaged roughly five innings per start, and hasn't been allowed to throw even 100 pitches in any game. He's been given extra rest here and there, too.

I don't know that the Tigers could have handled Porcello any better than they have. They thought he was good enough to jump straight from Class A to the majors, and they were right. They've been doing everything they can to nurse his tender young arm. So far, it's all been enough. But the story's just beginning ...