An issue involving the New York Yankees that has been swirling around in recent weeks concerns the right arm of a 22-year-old Nebraskan nicknamed Joba.
The youngster’s sub-1 ERA, 48 strikeouts and occasional 100-mph fastballs have been a huge boost since Chamberlain joined the team August 2007.
Joba’s immediate impact was felt in the Yankees bullpen as the young star solidified his job as Mariano’s setup man for the 2008 season. Despite his early success, many speculate whether Chamberlain should instead bolster New York’s questionable starting rotation.
Joba excelled as a starter for both AA Trenton Thunder, striking out 64 in seven games, and AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre striking out 10 in five innings.
Entering May, the rotation addressed the early question, led by ace Chien-Ming Wang and his notable 6-0 start.
Seasoned veteran Mike Mussina has been efficient, allowing only five walks in April and zero in his first May start, where he went six innings, letting in one ER and collecting a win.
Lefty Andy Pettitte has continued to prove to the Yankees that he is reliable. After a media-heavy offseason, Pettitte has silenced the critics and kept his ERA under 4.00.
The remaining two starters entering the season were young prospect Ian Kennedy and younger prospect Phil Hughes. Both briefly saw the mound last season for New York and each are hoped to be valuable additions to the Yankee rotation.
Though never mute, the issue somewhat quieted until Hank Steinbrenner turned up the volume.
“I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now," stated the newest voice of the Yankees.
“There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that.”
Hank, let’s talk.
The issue at hand was a simple answer. It’s too soon.
Firstly, who is getting replaced in the rotation? Wang and Pettitte are set in the rotation, Mussina has surpassed expectations, and the two prized youngsters, 23 and 21 in age, together were valued by the Yankees (with Melky Cabrera) over Johan Santana, a trade offer from Minnesota that New York turned down during the 2007 offseason.
On the other hand, who is in the bullpen? Joba offers the Yankees a setup man for Rivera that he has been missing since Stanton, Nelson and Mendoza; those three names bring to mind three rings. Joba Chamberlain may develop into the ace that Hank is looking for, but the Yankees do not need him in the first inning just yet.
However, on May 1, the quiet issue became a loud question. Due to Hughes' recent departure to the DL (rib stress fracture), he will be out of play until July possibly.
This unfortunate situation opens a spot in the starting rotation. Does Joe Girardi pull the trigger on Joba?
In the meantime, the Yankees will give the ball to Darrell Rasner today. The 6-foot-3 righty pitched a total of 24 innings in relief for New York last season and has a career ERA of 4.13.
However, if Rasner’s start against the Mariners isn't pretty, it is likely that the baseball world will hear from Hank Steinbrenner again.
-Wesley Friedman (New York aspiring sports columnist)
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5 months ago
Rasner had a very good, solid in fact outing today, and let's hope Kei Igawa has a good outing when they have him start against Detroit next weekend.
Here is how I see the "Joba" story shaking out. He stays in the bullpen. Period. End of discussion. Cashman & Girardi are able to "talk Hank down" off the ledge. Mo did just sign a 3 year 45 million contract, but someday he won't be as effective as he is right now, and/or may not be able to carry the same workload he does now. Even as "just" a set up person for Mo, I would rather have Joba helping to win 4 games a week than possibly winning only one game as a starter. Or worse yet, pitching well enough to win the one game this week he does pitch his six solid innings, and having a depleted bullpen (without himself in it) cough up one good outing after another. He can also be the lights out closer Mo currently is and we will need one of those when Mo is no longer around.
Tell Hank he does not need to push the panic button quite yet. He has plenty of talented pitchers to suck up innings that Hughes and Kennedy might not be getting for the next few weeks, or months as in Hughes case. You heard it here first, Hughes will come back after the all star break and go 10-2 the 2nd half wearing glasses, and Joba will still be in the bullpen.
Unless someone should step up in the current bullpen and assume the role Joba plays now as effectively as Joba does, (not likely with the candidates as they currently stand) I think Joba has to stay. Only an idiot would think otherwise.
5 months ago
The Hughes injury won't be an immeadiate catalyst to Joba entering the rotation. Chamberlain would have to make two or three minor league starts to prepare, building his arm which is used to one or two innings every other day. Good article.
4 months ago
His nickname isn't Joba, that's his real name...Joba Chamberlain
from 4 months ago
According to BR.com...but I'm wrong :)
4 months ago
Joba is regularly clocked at 97 or 98, give or take 3 mph. He is scary fast, with three other plus rated pitches..one is the best slider in the game today. Another is a nasty curve, when accurate. No doubt he is a starter. One word, "Rasner" He is 3 and 1, due to no offense, again. You can not win scoring one run. They need an offense, with a bench. Rasner or Hughes could go to the set up role. Looks like Rasner may give it a go, if the set up role is that important. Or they may make a trade for somene more proven...deadline is in July. I would think Kennedy is "expendable", as may be Hughes, again. They have a couple of roles to fill, and a leaky right field to tighten. Out of two needs on the pitching staff they require a set up role, and a 5th starter. They have Rasner, Hughes, Kennedy, Ohlendorf, Ramirez, Britton, Horne, McLintock, Melancon, Bruney and Dan Griese, who is lights out in the minors...the best......did I say RASNER too?
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