Around the Yankee Universe: It's all about Joba

by Ed Valentine on Jul 30, 2009 7:16 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Let's take a quick look around the Yankee Universe today following what might well have been the best start of Joba Chamberlain's young career.

Of course, it is with Joba that we have to start. Chamberlain is now 3-0 with an 0.83 ERA since the All-Star break. Mark Teixeira had this to say after watching him pitch 8 shutout innings Wednesday night.

"He’s growing up before our eyes. love seeing the progress he’s made. You hope that a young kid like that keeps getting better, and I think that’s what we’re seeing."

John Harper of the Daily News says Joba's much-discussed innings limit (140? 150? 170? -- no one knows for sure) is why the Yankees need Roy Halladay.

You know the deal. Unless the Yankees change their minds about capping his workload this season at around 160 innings, Chamberlain seems destined to be yanked from the rotation in September, which could create a huge problem come October. ...

The Yankee players are very much aware of the situation. A couple of them rolled their eyes at the mention of it Wednesday, and made it clear they think the front office is being overprotective of Chamberlain. ...

GM Brian Cashman has shown no real interest in paying the price in young players the Blue Jays want, starting with either Chamberlain or Hughes, but players assume the Yankees are always in on such things. As such some of them wondered about everything from the whether the club would make an exception on its facial hair policy in such a case to what number Halladay would wear, since No. 32 is retired for Elston Howard....

Scouts who have seen a lot of Chamberlain say they understand the Yankees' thinking, partly because they believe Joba is prone to further injury.
"Bad body, violent delivery, stiff front leg," one scout said. "He's got great stuff, but I'd try to protect him too because he's had leg and arm injuries in the past, and he's bound to get hurt again."

So maybe the Yankees' thinking is prudent. But Chamberlain is suddenly pitching so well that you wonder if it could cost them a championship.

The players had their own answer Wednesday - it's not too late to go get Halladay.

My take: I still find it incredibly unlikely that Halladay dons the pinstripes this season. The Yankees have to do something, though,. It's pretty obvious that they have a team which can make a serious run at a 27th World Series title. If Joba is in the bullpen, though, they are probably a starter short of getting it done.

Garza says he hit Yanks' Teixeira on purpose

Pitchers never admit this. But Tampa Bay's Matt Garza wasn't shy about it.

"They can take whatever they want from it from it, but I just kind of got tired of people brushing him back. It's about time someone made a statement," Garza said, noting that Longoria was hit by a pitch in the opener of the three-game series on Monday night.

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You have got to be ****ing kidding me!

“Look how awesome Joba is! We must get Halladay!”

Halladay gives us a great shot at 27 this season, but Joba gives us a shot for the next 10 years.

We have CC and AJ to start us off in the post season, and if Andy continues to toss as well as he has since the ASB, we have a solid 1-3. Give us Washburn, with Hughes, Joba and Mo in the pen, and we’ve got as good a chance as anyone, probably better.

As for Garza, I’ve got no issue with him tossing at Tex, but since he admitted it, does he get a 5 games suspension like AJ?

by misterd on Jul 30, 2009 7:26 AM EDT reply actions

Why does Harper have to say this?

So Joba is on an innings limit, so we must get the best pitcher on the market? Why?

He does realize that a Halladay trade must include Joba right? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?

Jared Washburn is not gonna cost the farm. Joba, Hughes, AJAX, Montero, probably McAllister are all untouchable when it comes to Washburn.

There’s no reason to go out and get Halladay just cuz Joba’s gonna miss probably from the middle of August to the middle of September.

Please, Joba needs to stay away from the pen. He has to be in the rotation for the playoffs. Hughes and Joba can flip flop, but as we’ve seen doing that can cause more harm than good when done midseason.

Leave everyone where they are at. Joba needs to limit himself? Shut him down for a month but make sure to revive him for a few starts before the playoffs.

And its probably imperative that the need another starter. They can get away with one Mitre, but another guy like that (Igawa….) probably not.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 30, 2009 7:29 AM EDT reply actions

Players

It’s no surprise they want Halladay. But, they don’t consider the cost. You can’t lose Joba or Hughes to get Halladay. Period.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 30, 2009 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions

The players have that

win now mentality that many fans do, and that’s nice.

But we all saw what happens when you rely on a young pitcher to carry you…Mark Prior. He had perfect mechanics (even tho they led to his downfall apparently) and Joba I guess doesn’t

Joba’s here for this season and hopefully the next 10. No reason to go all out in year one.

Besides, like I’ve repeated entirely too much already, they can simply shut him down for a while then put him back in the playoffs. He still could have that 170 limit at this point cuz he did a good job of limiting his innings early on.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 30, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Matt Garza suspension??????

Since the likes of AJ Burnett and Joba Chamberlain have been suspended for up to 5 games “intentionally” throwing high and hit/almost hitting batters does Matt Garza get like a 10 game suspension for admitting he hit Tex on purpose but he hated being “that guy”??? MLB will look like a joke if they don’t suspend him and proves the MLB treats Yankee player unfairly in this kind of siuation!!!

by pedro316 on Jul 30, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

Give it time

He just said this, and I’m sure there will be repercussions. BTW, saying Yankee players are treated unfairly in these situations is a boatload of nonsense. They are treated like everyone else.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 30, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

refresh your memory....

May 21st last year……… Daniel Cabrera hits Jeter last year on his left hand….. later in the game Latroy Hawkins pitches inside and gets thrown out and suspended 3 games….. no suspension for Cabrera.

April 18th last year…… David Aardsma hits ARod in like the 7th inning….. an inning later Kyle Farnsworth throws high and inside to Manny. two days later he is suspended 3 games. Aardsma gets nothing.

This year….. AJ Burnett gets a 5 game suspension for throwing high at Nelson Cruz (not hitting him) and Vincent Padilla gets nothing for Hitting Tex!

by pedro316 on Jul 30, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Hitting Tex Twice*!!

by Yankz09 on Jul 30, 2009 10:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Standard suspension '09

Hey y’all. First post on PA.

Garza will get 6 games, just like AJ and Beckett. He’ll appeal and they’ll drop it to 5.

It’s about time the Yanks pitchers get a little tough. Jeter and A-Rod have been getting plunked in Boston for years and the Yanks never respond. I would love to see CC throw at the vastly overrated Pedrioa, just for the tale of the tape measurements. I love Andy and Moose was great, but Andy is too much of a good sport to work the brushback and Moose had that bad experience in Baltimore. It’s good to see the Yankees pitchers with a bit of swagga—yeah, we wear the pinstripes and all, but we’re still playing old-time hardball.

That being said, I don’t think Joba is the guy to do the intimidation thing. He’s too young and we already know he’s a bit of a hothead. I’d rather see him pound the strike zone and get easy outs.

by Sgurd0187 on Jul 30, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

You know

as well as I do that it’s always the guy who ‘retaliates’ who gets tossed/suspended, etc. Nothing unusual there.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 30, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

True, I just think it is unfair. Both pitchers involved should get punished. Like if Garza gets suspended, Joba should too but just less severe. Maybe Garza 5 games and Joba 3 games or a fine.

by pedro316 on Jul 30, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I refuse to believe that Albaladejo had the control to hit anybody,

unless they were disguised as the fat part of a bat.

by mrljdavid on Jul 30, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's look past Joba

for one second.

The real move we need to make is to sign Michael Vick. Yes, he probably cannot bat well. Yes, he was convicted on dog fighting charges. BUT look at his speed. Perfect pitch runner down the stretch. And I’m sure the media would treat him fabulously in NY.

by jmappelbaum on Jul 30, 2009 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

Jeff George.....

is looking for a job too!

by pedro316 on Jul 30, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Geez

We could sign Brett Favre, too … LOL!!

by Ed Valentine on Jul 30, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Joba will stay in the rotation

fricking better

by fob22 on Jul 30, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

Breaking New

Ortiz and Manny On The List From 2003 of steroid users

by Yankz09 on Jul 30, 2009 12:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

HAHAHA!!

That is awesome……. Red Sox World Series Championships are tainted!!!

by pedro316 on Jul 30, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Their steroid users still beat our steroid users.
What’s the opposite of awesome? Disheartening?

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Jul 30, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

So...

wasn’t Ortiz who came out and said steriod users should just get suspended for a whole year on a first offense??? And I sure hope ESPN and 60 minutes sets up to interview Man Rammer and Big Pamper so America can drill them into the ground like they did Arod this past off-season!! This totally explains Big Pampers rise from out of nowhere all the way back to an average player this year!

by pedro316 on Jul 30, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Joba

He is the ace of the staff right now, him and Hughes have been the most consistent pitcher s and its all about pitching to win the world series. Who is Wang?

by bcw420 on Jul 30, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

Wondering why...

…some people still talk about Washburn when the Mariners are positioning themselves as buyers.

What amazes me is the Boston record against the West. Now just imagine the cushion NYY would have if they only had split up their games with Boston as of today…

Indeed, a reliable Wang would really relieve the Yankee brass…

by The Nacho Fan on Jul 30, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions