Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 21, 2008 
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Joba Chamberlain looked like his old self yesterday. Ian Kennedy was impressive as well.
Rays-Yanks tonight. But first we’re off to the complex to see CMW pitch his minor-league game at 1 p.m. Back later with a report.
I’m just commenting for the sake of commenting.
It looks to me like the Yankees’ pen is stronger than that of the BoSox, as is their rotation. If Becket is banged up or has a sub-par season, this could be another rout.
I expect Abreu to make a case for resigning him.
Since it’s time for the Rays again, wanted to share a post I made (largely in jest) at a Rays blog I also frequent to talk baseball. I believe in keeping in communication with the enemy. Sorry about the length – hope you enjoy.
“Well they’re back at it tonight. Yanks conspire to dodge bullets – and Elliot Johnson – again (or wuss out if you prefer) by pitching Rasner and letting Wang pitch a AAA game. They’ve still got plenty of tacklers – er, minor league players – on the roster and available for the late innings and/or fireworks.
Do they have those in Tampa at Friday night games? Guess not, since the Rays play in a dome.
Oh and attached for your viewing pleasure, a link to a sequence of photos of Shelly Duncan, Borderline Criminal (he’s had business cards made up), on a headfirst dive into home with the plate blocked by the Toronto (same team against whom he slid hard into 2B and kicked the SS’s glove and the ball into LF last season) catcher in Spring Training where he…
extends his left hand to touch home plate and rolls away. Scored the run. Yanks won, but not on this play alone.
Good, hard, winning baseball play.
Disclaimer: No catchers were harmed in this photographic sequence.
http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.....fault.aspx
It’s gonna be fun talking baseball with you all this season. Hope you see the tongue firmly placed in cheek. Have fun at the game, your local watering hole or wherever. It’s Friday Night Baseball in Tampa!”
The “conspire to dodge” thing above was in response to the line in Tampa that Pettitte’s elbow soreness that took him out of the scrum game was a conspiracy so he could avoid any requirement to hit a batter – Phillips then becoming the sacrificial lamb. Little consideration given to the fact Phillips barely grazed Longoria, and did it with 2 out and 2 on with 2 runs in. Whatever – we see what we see.
I can see the media leaning on the public toward keeping Joba in the bullpen, even if subtly.
I am confident that the front office will retain its correct resolve to make Joba a starter over the long haul. It’s March, folks, and using the word “unsettling” to describe performance over less than eight innings of baseball – in Spring Training – is a little irresponsible. Of course I understand that it’s the media’s role to fan the flames, chum the water, dish the red meat and what not, but if any decision is made about Joba’s future based on starting numbers during this year’s spring training, then those in charge will have taken a pretty high dose of stupid. Or mob. Or both.