Joba to pitch in relief Sunday

by Travis G on Oct 4, 2009 12:01 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

He'll audition for a playoff role. I suppose it's to see whether he'll join the LDS roster as a reliever. If he doesn't perform well, we may not see him until the LCS (God willing).

For at least one day, the Yankees are putting Joba Chamberlain back in the bullpen.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the club has reconsidered its stance and plans to take a look at Chamberlain for one inning of relief in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rays, in what could be an audition for a playoff roster spot.

"I think it can give you a better idea of what you're going to get," Girardi said. "Will it be necessarily what you're going to get during a series? It may not tell you that. But I think it will give you a better idea."

Now, expectations should be tempered. We probably won't see the late-2007 Joba, but we'll hopefully see a more confident pitcher, similar to the metamorphosis Phil Hughes has gone through this season.

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Joba?

Pen?

Wait. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 4, 2009 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

Too Emotional

One thing about Joba I’ve noticed — especially in comparison to Mo — is the fact that he has a very difficult time controlling his body chemistry on the mound, a troubling thing if we expect him to be a great pitcher (either starter or reliever).

We’ve understood Joba pumping his fist to be a good thing — an injection of excitement to a Yankee team that used to be a little too bland. Fine. But the fact that he feels it necessary to do that from time to time only shows how much the drama gets to him in the first place.

Personally, the few times in my life where I’ve felt such sheer drive to celebrate are when I’ve been in situations where I was up against the wall, where the odds of success were very slim. Is this why he celebrates coming off the mound, because he felt the chance to get out of an inning to be slim?

How will he react if, instead of gettign that key strikeout, the hitter doubles in the tying or go-ahead run — will his lack of control over his emotions (especially come playoff time) make him incapable of pitching effectively to the next hitters?

I don’t like the emotional outbursts, and I guess I can say that comfortably because I grew up watching Samurai Mo strike out people left and right in critical moments during the late innings of critical games and walk off the mound as if though he just got a call from his accountant.

I don’t know where Joba should be (I originally argued that, since we agree that Mo was the most important factor during the dynasty years, and Joba was so unhittable out of the ‘pen during the time he was there, that we should make him the set-up guy until Mo retires, thus continuing our tradition of being able to lock up the 9th). But I do know one thing — he should get his head straight, stop lying to himself and the press when it is clear his pitches are horrible, and control his emotions when he’s out there.

by Solomon96 on Oct 4, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

You know, generally I agree with you

but will respectfully differ on some minor details. I don’t feel like he’s lying to the media… the Yankee way of handling the media, as exemplified by Jeter and this season’s version of ARod(!) is to say some fairly bland things, which are debatably true though they may have little to do with how the player feels about the situation privately. The tone is diplomatic. I feel like Joba has been trying to do that… if he’s as emotional as you envision, and I have no reason to think he’s not, then inside he’s probably seething about a bad performance… but has also learned not to air all that laundry in the media, lest it ignite a storm on the back pages of the New York tabloids. I wouldn’t be surprised if Girardi has been preaching that sort of media comments, too… it seems consistent with the team’s approach. Anyway, that public comment aspect of his demeanor doesn’t bother me, for that reason.

by pinstriper on Oct 4, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

yea

I agree with that. Who really cares what he has to say to the media cuz the way they like to spin anything, even saying what he does gets spun into “what is he talking about, does he even know how bad he was?”.

It doesn’t matter what he says to us/the media. He’s not a dumb guy, he knows what’s going on.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 4, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Better late than never

Just don’t expect him to be the monster he was in 07.

by GMan83201 on Oct 4, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

The biggest problem with Joba is not his emotional nature. How many people are fully mature and handle everything perfectly when they’re 24 years old? No, the biggest problem is his inability to throw strikes consistently. Whether its him being timid and nibbling at the plate (occasional), or some sort of mechanical issue in his windup (more likely), that is his biggest problem. If he is able to get his control problems under control, then he’ll be the frontline starter many believe he can be. Look at his dominant starts, specifically in late July. The talent is there, its just a question of harnessing it.
Don’t pay attention to the “fist pumps” or his emotional nature because thats a load of bunk and really doesn’t add up to anything significant. The fact that he’s “wired” for the bullpen and should be used in such a role should be put to rest as well. As far as his media relations, it doesn’t matter what he says to the press…all I care about (and what all fans should care about) is what he does on the field.

by NastyNate82 on Oct 4, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions