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The Yankees closed out their home schedule with a loss, thanks in part to a starting pitcher who couldn't escape the fourth inning.

The best quote of the postgame locker room came from Joba Chamberlain, when he was asked what he thought about his role on the Yankees postseason roster.

"If they want me to fold towels, I'll fold towels,” Chamberlain said. "I don't really care. I'll do anything to win on this team.”

Most of the rest of his session with the media was less exciting, but Chamberlain admitted that his tenuous position is the result of his own inconsistency. He had a chance to put a lot of questions away tonight if he followed up his strong outing against Boston with another one. Instead, it's hard to figure what the Yankees are going to do with Chamberlain come next week.

Umm, it's not that hard to figure. Next week, you're not going to see Chamberlain anywhere near the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees might let him watch the games on TV ... but then again they might not.

Chamberlain's got a 4.78 ERA this season. You could almost maybe sorta live with that, if you're the Yankees, because you're going to score five or six runs in most games, so you've still got a pretty good shot at winning when Chamberlain pitches. Indeed, the Yankees are 20-11 in Chamberlain's starts this season.

But those numbers just can't carry the day. Yes, he beat the Red Sox just last week. But that "strong outing" included two home runs and 86 pitches in just six innings. Worse, Chamberlain's ERA since August is sort of astounding: 7.69.

The Yankees won't need a fourth starting pitcher in their Division Series. They certainly won't need a right-handed relief pitcher who hasn't thrown a single inning of relief in more than year, and needs some sort of regular work if he's going to be any use at all, later in October.

When the Yankees do need a fourth starter ... well, maybe then Chamberlain might find his place. I mean, Chad Gaudin might be better than Chamberlain right now, but Gaudin's got his limitations, too. If he's asked to start against the Red Sox, he might walk half the ballpark.

But that's a concern for another day. Right now, Chamberlain doesn't deserve a spot on a Division Series roster any more than Brad Lidge or Tim Wakefield do.