The Great Yankee Debate: What is My Joba?

Joba Chamberlain started his baseball career as a catcher when he was a young man.  As he shaped up and thinned down he was he turned to the rotation and thus a young man began down the long path to being a Yankee.  In what capacity though?

Joba honed his pitching talent over the years pitching in high school, College, and the minor league system for the Yankees.  Over all the years of elevating his game and himself through the ranks, he was considered a starter and pitched as such.

The kid the Yankees scouted and chose 41st overall in the '06 draft, as compensation for the loss Tom Gordon to free agency,  was a starter.  Sure plenty of people are scouted and chosen as starters only to wind up in the pen, or vice versa.  Look at Johan Santana.  Was there ever this much fuss over his destiny?

Joba came up through the Yankee minor league system as a starter.  He did have a stint as a reliever in the minors.  On July 27th '07 he was announced as a reliever for Scranton Wilkes Barre.  He was bounced up and down between Double-A and Triple-A as a reliever until August 7th 2007.  That amounts to little over a week as a reliever in all his pitching career thus far.

Enter the Joba Rules.  Joba who was touted and battle tested as a starter for so long was now the setup man to the greatest closer this game has ever seen.  The two fit like a perfect puzzle.  For a long time the Yankees have had success by shortening the game with the likes of Stanton and Rivera in days passed.  Once again there was a one two punch that could not be topped.

Joba went on to truly impress and raise eyebrows for the remainder of the season. Ending the 2007 postseason with a bit of a sour note for Yankee fans.  Apparently Joba is to Lake Erie Midges as Britney Spears is to Paparazzi.  Even still no one could doubt the gem the Yankees had uncovered.

Joba reported to spring training '08 with a new plan.  Hearing the new fearless leader of the Yankees spew something to the effect of only an idiot would have Joba in the pen, he embarked on a spring training that saw him preparing for the rotation. 

Funny things happen though and Joba wound up in the pen once again.  He spent the entire spring training to start and his first appearance of '08 was as a reliever.  Joba continued to impress with every chance he had.  Rarely did Yankee fans see Joba fold in the Pen.  It was a success.  One rarely tinkers with success right? 

Those funny things seem to keep happening to Joba.  Guess what, on June 3rd 2008 Joba made his first major league start against the absolutely dominating Roy Halladay.  Joba did well considering his opponent. 

This start came after the Yankees used Joba's appearances out of the pen to stretch him out for a role as a major league starter.  He went on the do quite well as a starter.  He wasn't allowed to go deep so his W/L record doesn't reflect this but his time as a starter was, yes a success.  Why would one fix it if it wasn't broken?

On August 4th 2008 Joba left a game, with what later was determined to be shoulder tendinitis.  One might guess those Joba Rules didn't do much of anything except sell Tshirts.  This injury did not keep him out for the remainder of the season.  He did return to the Yankees on September 2nd 2008, this time as....you guessed it, a reliever once again.  Have you ever seen a dog chase its tail?

Today there were multiple stories stating that the Yankees don't know what to do with Joba for the coming 2009 season.  Imagine that.  Joba has done exceptionally well at both posts as a starter and a reliever.  The mighty Yankees don't know what to do with him though.  Is that to say the mouth at the top is speechless?  Doubtful. 

No one person can stand up and take a true stand and say hey, put this kid in the ??????????? and keep him there.  That is unless you ask Jorge Posada.  One should trust Jorge's opinion of a pitchers capabilities and makeup more so than say an overweight, outspoken, spoiled brat with a microphone and a checkbook.  Well one would think so anyway.

The overall point that has been saved for last is this.  A final decision must be made and the course must be stayed.  This should be a priority for the Yankees, as they really do have a rarity in Joba.  If they approach this right they could reap the rewards for many years.  If they play this hand poorly it might very well prove devastating to Joba's career.

CHOOSE!  Choose quickly with conviction and dont waiver.   BELIEVE!  Believe you've made the right choice, dont shy away the minute something goes other than planned. 

ADHERE!  For the sake of this kids makeup, confidence, and mentality let the money ride once you put it in the pot.  Baseball has long been a gamble and you play the hand your dealt, while trading in some cards for hopefully better ones.  This card is an Ace.  Play it right. 

He cannot just show up to spring training and wait for the powers that be beat around the bush about his future, all the while wondering where will I be this September.  He should know in March what his role will be pitching in October, baseball gods willing.  After that, there should be a new issue to argue about like who will be the next Yankee batting coach.  Bernie Williams?  Willie Randolph?  Kevin Long should be just that, Long gone. 

This back and forth wishy-washy pussy footing around has to end in 2009.  It has to end today.  Joba knows what he is capable of and he needs to be led.  Lead him and he may just lead your rotation.  Lead him and he may be the answer to how does one replace Mariano Rivera. 

 Every Yankee fan and fans across baseball all know that is an impossibility but someone will have to fill those shoes.  Lead this young man and he will not let you down.  Lead this young man and he might just make someone look like a genius.  For the sake of Yankee fans everywhere, please just make a decision so they can move on with their lives.