New York State of Emergency: The Joba Chamberlain Switch

I'm sitting at my computer, seven hours after my first article and 10 hours away from my favorite sport's championship opener, and I can't stop thinking about the NBA Finals. So, to get my mind off of waiting for the game to start (I'm giddy), I present to you the sophomore article, if you will...

As you continue to read my work, you will begin to find out that I am about as diehard of a fan you can possibly be with two teams: A) The Dallas Cowboys and B) The New York Yankees. It kills me to watch the Yankees these days because I feel like they just do not get it...

Every once in a while, a city embraces a sports figure, whether it be LeBron James in Cleveland, Tony Romo in Dallas, or Tom Brady in New England. And even more seldom is when a city embraces a young sports figure with loads of potential: Adrian Peterson in Minnesota, Jacoby Ellsbury-Dustin Pedroia in Boston, and this 22-year old by the name of Joba Chamberlain in New York.

Now, me being from New Jersey, and a life-long Yankees fan...I understand what most people who don't get to see the Yanks regularly don't understand. That is that New York, and Yankee Stadium in particular, is the toughest place to be admired or accepted. Why don't you ask Alex Rodriguez how hard it is, or Gary Sheffield, or Johnny Damon?

Anyway, my point being that every once in a while, an athlete has that rare star-quality, something that grabs the hearts of fans throughout the nation. It's something that cannot be described. 

But last summer, when Joba Chamberlain opened the bullpen doors in the outfield to run out onto the field for the first time, you kind of had a feeling that he was something different. The kid had swagger about him, and not to mention the hype of a 99 MPH fastball, with an absolutely filthy slider. His first appearance is what garnered him his rare place with the Yankees.

Coming out and striking out batters left and right in his first 20 innings in the big leagues, and becoming that ever important bridge to Mariano Rivera, the New York Yankee fans embraced him, much like they did with a certain player named Derek Jeter, a certain player named Paul O'Neill, and a certain player named Mariano Rivera.

Now the 2008 season is in full swing, and the Yankee coaching staff has made Joba Chamberlain a starter. However, giving him plenty of restrictions on pitch counts and innings he's able to pitch, thus leaving the Yankee bullpen in a state of emergency. I am a big fan of Joe Girardi, and I feel like he knows what is best for Joba, and Joba probably will wind up being a successful starter at some point this season, if not next.

But my question to the Yankees is, why?

Why listen to Hank Steinbrenner, who knows as much about baseball as my 10-year old brother? Why take away that aura that he has developed? Why spend two months trying to build his arm strength up when you need to be winning games? Last time I checked, the Yankees weren't exactly running away with the division.

Moving Joba into the starting rotation makes absolutely no sense right now, unless the Yankees are bagging this season, which we all know never happens as long as a Steinbrenner's name is still attached to the front of the organization.  So why the switch?

Here's what happens when you move Joba to the starting role:

1) You lose the bullpen completely. Mariano is the only good pitcher in that 'pen, the ONLY one. So now you ask your starters to try and get into the eighth inning every game, and the Yankees just can't do that...especially with a 70-pitch limit on Joba.

2) You lose almost a whole month trying to pretty much train this guy how to pitch deep into games. Don't get me wrong, he can do it if he had the proper training. The kid has four insane pitches, but mid-season, when you are trying to chase...(gulp)...The Rays..in first place, and with the World Champ Red Sox in the same division. Not too mention an underrated Orioles team and a Blue jays team that has all the talent in the world.

But why do it now when you're losing game after game because your bullpen cannot hold a lead for more than an inning.

3) It's way too early to be asking Mariano for two-inning saves. He is pitching way to much as it is. Leaving Joba in the pen allows Mariano to rest, and gives the bullpen confidence knowing that they have a guy who can step in and be great.

The Solution

Move Joba back to the bullpen. I realize the Yankees have serious starting-pitching issues, and Mike Mussina isn't going to pitch like this all season, but you have plenty of young talent in the minors, and you can always go out and get a veteran pitcher for the longhaul (please Hank, not Barry Zito).

My point is that Yankee fans loved Joba for the role/character that he created.  Joba's like that NBA sixth-man spark off the bench. He excited the stadium like no other player on the roster. Aside from the No. 1 goal or winning games, the second goal for any organization should be fan satisfaction.

What the Yankees are doing is killing the aura of a potential monster come playoff time. Could you imagine Yankee Stadium if they make the playoffs, with Joba coming out of the pen in the eighth....you wouldn't be able to hear your self think.

So please Joe, Hank, Hal, Randy Levine....WHOEVER has the input in that organization...George please step in, and move Joba back to the bullpen, and salvage this season!  Please!

Get us out of this state of emergency!