Chamberlain Does His Joba as Yanks Beat Royals

You hear that? 

The sound of silence coming from critics' keyboards is deafening, after Joba Chamberlain's solid performance in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Chamberlain made just one mistake - a hanging 3-2 slider to Jose Guillen that was hit for a two-run homer in the third - in 4.1 innings of work.  Joba threw 78 pitches (53 for strikes) as he gave up two earned runs, five hits and a walk to go along with five strikeouts.  More importantly, for the second straight time, he gave the Yankees a chance to win, unlike his predecessor at the number five starter position, Ian Kennedy.

But in contrast to those critical of Joba's move to the rotation, who made a big deal over one subpar outing last Tuesday in a New York loss, I'm not going to take this latest start for more than what it was - a step in the right direction.

And now the grades from Sunday afternoon's victory.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (A+) Joba finished the fourth inning with 66 pitches, only about six pitches away from his projected limit for his second start, but Girardi allowed Chamberlain to start the fifth, where he was able to get the Yankees one more out before yielding a walk and being lifted for Dan Geise.  I applaud Girardi for not being too strict with the pitch count, and allowing Joba to help the team as much as he could.

Girardi also continues to be aggressive on the base paths, sending Johnny Damon with one out in the top of the seventh.  Bobby Abreu singled on the pitch, which set up runners at the corners for Alex Rodriguez's two-run double to break the game open.

Johnny Damon, DH: (A+) Damon followed up his 6-6 performance on Saturday with two more hits, including a triple, on Sunday.  He's now 24 for his last 46.  Those are slow-pitch softball numbers.

Derek Jeter, SS: (C-) The Captain singled and scored in the first, but was once again held silent the rest of the way.  He also failed to get Damon home from third with less than two outs in the fifth.

Bobby Abreu, RF: (A+) Luckily for Jeter, Abreu was able to get the job done, and tied the game with a  ground out.  He also added two more RBIs on his eighth home run of the year.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: (A+) A perfect day for A-Rod, who went 2-2 with two walks and two runs batted in.

Hideki Matsui, LF: (C) 0-2 but walked twice.

Jason Giambi, 1B: (B+) Made an outstanding diving catch to rob the Royals of a run in the fourth, and then gave the Yankees the lead with a solo shot in the sixth - his only hit of the day.

Jorge Posada, C: (C-) 0-2 with two base-on-balls, but his passed ball cost the Yankees a run in the second.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (C-) 1-4, and was robbed of another hit on an outstanding play by KC center fielder Joey Gathright, who made three terrific defensive plays in this game.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (F) 0-4 with a strikeout, and left two on base.

Wilson Betemit, 1B: (INC) Replaced Giambi at first in the ninth inning.

Joba Chamberlain, SP: (C+) Joba's control was a lot better in his second start as he only walked one - the final batter he faced in the fifth inning.  He looked much more calm this time around, and got out of a couple jams early on to keep his team in the game. 

Chamberlain's next start should be Friday at Houston, where he'll get an opportunity to bat.  Girardi said his pitch count for start number three should be between 90 and 95.

Dan Geise, RP: (A+) Joba's personal reliever was perfect over 2.2 innings en route to his first career win.  Could this be another benefit to the Joba experiment - the discovery of another good arm to help the Yankees' struggling bullpen?

Jose Veras, RP: (A) Two straight good appearances for Veras.

Mariano Rivera, RP: (A+) No problem bridging the gap to Mo this time.

Yankees Overall Grade: (A+) Timely hitting and relief pitching to support Joba, who looked much improved in his second start.  This will be the right move for the Yankees.