Is this a big game for Joba?
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 10, 2009 
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Joba Chamberlain has faced 11 opposing batters in spring training.
Vs. Minnesota on Feb. 28:
5-3
Single
Double
Double
4-3
6-3
Vs. Team Canada on March 5:
Walk
Single
Walk
Walk
Walk
His line this spring: 1 inning, 4 hits, 5 runs, 5 earned runs, 4 walks, 0 strikeouts.
I’m sure this is providing great fodder for those who believe Joba belongs in the bullpen. Or those who think something is wrong with him.
I am not in either of those groups. If I felt like looking it up, I’m sure I could come up with a list of 500 starters who were absolutely dreadful in spring training and then pitched well in the regular season. I don’t think what happens to a pitcher in spring training means a thing as long as he is healthy.
Consider Chien-Ming Wang. He had a 8.43 ERA in spring training last season. Wang couldn’t keep his sinker down if he rolled it to the plate. Then the season started and he was 3-0, 1.23 in his first three starts.
One caveat: Chamberlain is not Wang. Joba is 23 and is unproven as a starter. He also has Phil Hughes banging on the door with both fists behind him. The Yankees got burned last season when they handed Hughes and Ian Kennedy jobs out of spring training. They need to remember that lesson and make Chamberlain earn his way.
For his sake, that probably needs to start tonight against the Reds. If not, the first question Joe Girardi is going to get after the game is whether that final spot in the rotation is up for grabs.
We will be fine
No not really a big game at all, infact media is making too much of his ST struggles, 2 games in he’s allowed to be rusty. He’ll be fine.
Spring Training 2008
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....;year=2008
PLAYER W L S ERA G GS CG SHO IP H R ER
J Chamberlai 1 0 0 6.14 3 2 0 0 7.1 8 5 5
i think joba just has to be healthy. it’s too soon to worry about anything else. two weeks from now if he’s still having trouble, then results would start to matter more.
It is two spring training games, they don’t count. The first game he was throwing 88mph and only fastballs. Last time I checked Joba threw 95mph and had nasty breaking stuff. Would people be happier if he came out of the gates throwing 95mph and strain something. Give the man some time.
im not worried at all, joba has great stuff and he will just fine. no doubt.
Joba getting too complacent?
Didn’t Joe already throw down the gauntlet and say that he needs to see improvement from him? Not necessary a threat, but let him know that he has to start to go in the right direction?
Girardi himself said he wants to see something better from him tonight and needs him to throw strikes.
So if he bombs, no one can use the “he was working on things” excuse. His own manager wouldn’t ask to see something better if the results didn’t matter because he is experimenting.
The Hughes/Wilcox trade ruined the chemistry of the Knicks. They should have just kept Thomas/Roberson, not that they were doing anything but atleast the team we playing better.
Maybe he needs to get hammered before the game?
No, it is not a big game. Exhibition games, by definition, aren’t big.
Also, didn’t I read (probably here) that in the 1st start vs Minny, he was throwing almost exclusively fastballs, trying to build up his arm strength, and didnt throw more than 1 or 2 offspeed pitches the whole time? I just can’t bring myself to worry about that. Not when there is real stuff to worry about like Ransom at 3b or how bad Jermaine O’Neal stinks …whoops, wrong sport!
But yeah, you get my point. No way am I losing sleep over a Joba’s spring struggles. Not at this point anyway. I remember him giving up all sorts of bombs to the Twinkies last year, around this time or even later in the exhibition schedule. He still dominated in the regular season. If he’s still getting hit hard in his last start of the spring, maybe then I’ll worry but not yet.
It isn’t really a big game, i agree with you Pete but the thing about Joba is he also had a bad shoulder last year and his veloity has been way down and with his 2 bad outings that makes it a cause for concern unless he straigtens himself out.
o/t but –
“Wade go MVP in the NBA’ ”
holla!!!!!!!
He was also bad last spring. He seems to be a guy that takes longer to get his mechanics in order. Since this is an abnormally long ST because of the WBC, its WAY too early for this to be a “big” start.
If he can give them a couple of innings with his mechanics in better form, that’s all he needs to do.
http://www.baseball-reference......7250.shtml
This is why this isnt important
I remember Joba taking some time when they first stretched him out during the season as a starter last year and then he was awesome until the injury. I think we just see the same thing going on now.
Raja Bell needs to understand that playing for the Yankees is MUCH MUCH bigger than playing for the Mets, Knicks, Giants, or Jets. The media scrutiny and expectations are 10 fold.
Using A-Rod as an example of the NY media’s viciousness is pointless, he is in a different universe compared to other athletes. He brings everything upon himself and gives the media free ammunition to pile on.
Joba DOES belong in the pen. Not becuase of his performance this spring, but because the Yanks already have an injury-prone flame-throwing hillbilly in the rotation (Burnett).
SJ I’ve been saying it for awhile how LeBron is a superstar but Dwayne Wade is definitely w/o a doubt the closest thing I’ve seen to Micheal Jordan, I didn’t know Spolstra developed him, that changes my mind about him as a coach, but yeh that Heat team is starting to resemble the Chicago Bulls before the Dynasty began. Moon is a perfect Pippen like player, Cook and Chalmers have a bit of Kerr and the other 3 pt shooter escapes me right now. Damn what a steal they got in him, Miami is going to win a title again and they are if Jermaine O’neal finds a fountain of youth a dangerous team this year.
“ESPN Radio should bring back Stephen A. Smith to replace Kellerman”
used to love his show. Until, his reverse-racism became too thick. After the MF mocked Andy Pettitte, one too many times, i washed my hands with him
There’s a big difference between Joba and Hughes. Joba threw 100 innings last year and had an ERA under 3. That should at least earn him a chance.
Agree Pete– using Wang is a bad example considering he was already established in the majors. If Wang had pitched like Joba has, in 2006 Spring Training, he would have gone to AAA.
Joe Girardi said he wanted to see progress. Doesn’t have to go 2 IP, 6 ks… but he can’t walk the ballpark and show no command like he did against Canada.
“Joba DOES belong in the pen. Not becuase of his performance this spring, but because the Yanks already have an injury-prone flame-throwing hillbilly in the rotation (Burnett).”
http://www.baseball-reference......7250.shtml
If Joba can’t record an out today then there is a problem. I like how Hughes is bringing up the rear and hitting his spots he just needs some extra time dominating at AAA to get his confidence up.
“SJ there was a player called Raja Bell of the BobCats and spoke w/ Wade and LeBron and etc. you know the stars of the NBA, the feedback to him was every superstar athlete that doesn’t play in NYC right now is 2nd and 3rd guessing coming here because of what Arod is going through”
Raja Bell needs no introduction. and Kobe knows who he is
signed, life-long Suns fan
“Joba getting too complacent?”
Certainly begs to ask the question, don’t know if he still feels that hunger considering he was penciled in for the 5 spot. More puzzling to me is that in his first spring start the radar gun showed 88mph and that was it. I didn’t see the second game but he was clearly wild in that one.
I’m not ready to panic but he has to turn in some decent outings in Spring, nothing should be set in stone, last season proved that when Hughes and Kennedy were given rotation spots with no fallback options. At least if Joba struggles he can go to the pen and Hughes, Aceves, or someone else can provide innings from the 5 spot, unlike last season.
I think you want to see some improvement from Joba. And you want to see his mph increase slightly. By the third time out I don’t think you still want to see him throwing 88.
I understand it is too early to judge Joba. Another 10 days will let us know more.
The decrease in velocity *could* be a sign of injury. So could the mechanic problems to compensate for it.
I just hope if Joba *was* hurting he would tell someone. I’m not so sure he would.
Vets don’t fess up when they are hurt – what makes you think a young starter who is finally getting into the starting rotation would?
He has a big upside and future – pitching hurt would be dumb.
As usual just got to skim the posts. I always consider it a great sign when there is talk other than baseball (basketball, whatever) because it tells me that at least some portion of the forum is chill.
As for me – I ain’t afraid of no damn team!
Yankees all the way baby.
They got the goods to carry it all the way.
AND THEY WILL.
As you were!
Oh yeah I’d like to add a shout out to Team Italy!
Bravissimo connazionali!!!
Wasn’t Joba taken out of his last game abruptly last year with shoulder issues?
I seem to remember him sitting on the bench afterward with a goofy look on his face.
I think you want to see some improvement from Joba. And you want to see his mph increase slightly. By the third time out I don’t think you still want to see him throwing 88.
Most definitely you expect to, if he struggles again then questions must be asked does he deserve the 5th spot if Hughes continues to improve in his starts and Chamberlain doesn’t. I still want to see Joba turn in a solid performance because there are still those convinced he should be in the pen and won’t survive as a starter, for whatever reasons.
NBA talk is so depressing as a Knicks fan.
We’ve basically put the entire teams in the hands of 2010 when in reality, we may not get anybody. And we have no future at all unless you think Gallinari and Wilson Chandler will lead us to the promise land.
I also see guys like Bosh and Amare joining Wade or LeBron in whatever city they’re in to try and win a ring, so we may not even get the 2nd tier guys.
‘Raja Bell needs no introduction. and Kobe knows who he is
signed, life-long Suns fan’
BTW look at this video and tell me that Heat team doesn’t look like it’s turning into the 90′s Chicago Bulls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2okxHW6cGfQ
“Wasn’t Joba taken out of his last game abruptly last year with shoulder issues?
I seem to remember him sitting on the bench afterward with a goofy look on his face.”
If I remember correctly I think it was tendinitis, not a big deal for pitchers and some rest will usually deal with it.
If Joba has been playing hurt/injured, then Phil Hughes will take his place in the rotation until he’s healed. There I’ve solved it. By the way, I think tonight’s game is important only to try to figure out whether or Joba is playing injured. IMO he’s far too good a pitcher to have nothing but bad outings. I’d never kick him out of the rotation for bad outings minus injury. Never. But I think it is important to determine whether something else is going on here.
Is all.
Joba getting complacent???
Huh? What???
More inane amateur psychology. Stop looking for something wrong. He just doesn’t have control.
If he’s even a teeny tiny complacent now… My Lord… What will happen in a couple years if he’s an established starter? Well, I for one, hope he doesn’t start taking cheeseburgers and his TV remote to the mound with him…
Seeing some improvement from Joba would be nice, but if not-it’s not the end of the world. Just get your work in today Joba.
Radio Daze:
“A Francesa-Kellerman pairing, a marriage of huge egos, would make for interesting radio and fireworks.”
Daily news speculates Kellerman – Mike F. pairing.
interesting Mike F’s head will explode when max starts with his saber stats.
WFAN should sign him for any slot. Maybe get rid of Carton who is THE WORST EVER.
Kobe knows him well.
He often tells Raja what it is like to play in the finals.
boomer esaison and his sidekick on WFAN this AM were sure that Joba has structural damage in his arm and that is why he is pitching bad so far. the sidekick (cant recall his name) feels the Yanks missed an injury on him – the same way they missed AROD injury.
Yes, Joba needs to pitch well tonite.
Something people seem to forget: Joba has proven exactly nothing yet. Yes, he’s shown flashes of greatness. But he’s done nothing yet.
Another thing that makes me laugh is when people way “we need that 98 MPH fastball in the starting rotation!”. Except for one thing. Joba NEVER threw 98 as a starter, either in the minors or in college. He pretty much sat low to mid 90′s. As is very often the case (see Scott Proctor, Ross Ohlendorf, Phil Coke and a million others) when a starting pitcher is moved to a bullpen role, he experiences a spike in velocity, usually 2-3 MPH. That is exactly what happened with Chamberlain.
In the end, Chamberlain is a terrific prospect, and I’d leave him as a starter, with or without a 98 MPH fastball. Low to mid 90′s is fine with good secondary stuff and command. That should all come in time. But I am concerned about his tendinitis last year, and his ability to stay healthy as a starter. He is a work in progress, and people need to remember that.
Uncle Ellsworth
They won’t get rid of Carton, after all they need the under 18 demographic.
Control stuff doesn’t bother me this early. The velocity is a concern though. Barely scratching 90
Couldn’t agree more, Pete. People need to earn their way. And everyone needs to be paid less, as an aside.
Francesa desperately needs someone who is actually funny on that program. He just hates everyone, and it makes listening pretty painful. Thank goodness Kay and Co are on across the dial, Kay has great access to the yankees plus he’s a headcase in a funny way, it makes for great radio.
Hey calm down people Joba is a power pitcher they take time to build up arm strength, unless his hurt I’m not worried one bit…..
Phil Hughes is banging on the door with both fists? That’ll probably put him on the DL for the year.