On the other side, it is frustrating and maddening to hear all the anti-Joba remarks.

1) stubborn – and just how many professional athletes are not stubborn. How do you think they got to this level. By being nice?

2) not bright – do you personally know him to make such a remark? Do you know his SAT scores, college GPA or his IQ?

3) comparing him to Hughes – prior to this year it was no doubt that Joba was the better pitcher. Hughes has been in the Yankee system longer, starting after high school. He came up in 2007 and for whatever reason was not successful and was sent down. He was also injured (not forthcoming about it) so he did spend more time in the minors. He is having an excellent year this in the bullpen. Good for him.

4) Don’t make this issue Joba v. Phil. Yankee fans should be ecstatic that there are two home grown – repeat – home grown pitchers who will head up the rotation in future years. What bragging rights when other fans say the Yankees buy their players.

5) I am in agreement that Joba’s pitching style was changed and that accounts for some of his miserable outings. When he has those excellent outings – is he the old Joba or the new one. There must be a compromise somewhere.

6) I also agree we have the luxury of the Joba Rules because the team is WINNING and in first place. The team is trying to build up his strength and IP for the post season.

7. Please have patience and understanding with Joba, and with Phil next year as he goes through the same growing pains.

I understand the team’s sense of urgency in 2007 to bring him up into the pen… I’ll even buy into the team’s sense of desperation to bring him into the rotation in 2008.

But the organization went into the 2009 season with the mindset that he would be on the opening day roster as a starting pitcher. Were other options considered? Did the team believe that sending him back down to AAA would be detrimental to his development or psyche?

I’m going through the Yankees roster and trying to compare him to other players his age, and looking at the stats in both the majors and minors, obviously the glaring difference is the innings pitched in the minors.

By skipping Chamberlain past those hundreds of innings pitched, the hours on the mound, the sessions in the pen, and the time spent with the coaches – who are there to instruct developing pitchers (as opposed to MLB coaches who, one would argue, are in place to guide already skilled players), they’ve done the player, and, ultimately, the organization, a huge disservice.

It seems that the kid is being set up for mediocrity and an unsatisfying career. One might argue that he might flourish more on a squad such as the Rays, which is loaded with youth, and, presumably, a coaching staff which is equipped with the skills to direct and instruct him, as opposed to just guiding and fine-tuning.

I wish Chamberlain nothing but the best, and I’ll continue rooting for both his and the team’s success, but I just question the team’s handling of him.

Of course, as many readers will be quick to point out, I’m sitting on a couch in my living room… so what do I know.

Billy,

I think there’s a clear divide on this board.

THose who are actually interested in Chamberlain’s progress, and those who are interested in making rash judgments based on nothing more than their own emotional whims.

You are right – such a stint just doesn’t stand up to yay or nay scrutiny. He had a nice changeup, a FB that was hittable, but that was throwing anyway to get ahead – that’s a
good thing – a change that was nasty, and relied less on his slider, which he used more judiciously. Didn’t throw his CB much.

Joba understands that his breaking stuff won’t stand up on it’s own – he must use his FB to make those other pitches work for him. I believe he threw with that in mind yesterday, despite the fact that his FB isn’t where it will eventually be, and where we’ve all seen it live.

OK, I’m pretty tired of this.

What ‘attitude’ are you referring to? Do you even have a tangible basis for that comment? The last game he pitched, he flagellated himself for killing the team. When they offered him an out because we nearly came back, he did not take the bait.

So, what attitude, I ask?

And it actually looks pretty good on paper.

We’re 17-8 in games started by Joba, or is it 18-8 after yesterday?

I sat pretty close to Joba and really like his change. It’s a good one – got swinging strikes on it’s diving action. If Hughes’ change was of that caliber, he’d be starting already. Next season BOTH these fine young arms will be in our rotation – people need to learn to let these kids breathe.

I agree with you Ghost, it’s pretty normal and people’s noses are out of joint because they can’t get past the glitz of the lasers he was hurling in short relief two years ago.

For two innings yesterday, he was attacking the hitters. The triple in the first inning was a choppy thing down the line and was helped by HInske’s misplay of it in the corner.

With a change like Joba has, and a slider that will be helped as his legs get stronger and by extension, his cofidence in his 4 seamer, these issues will begin to fade.

He worked off the FB yesterday, and although it wasn’t a plus-plus pitch for him, he was willing to throw it to try and get ahead. The velocity will come with the stamina.

This really is ST for Joba – he never was built up in real ST because of concern about his shoulder. The Yankees are correcting that error in judgment now, and we all just need to be patient.

Whoever said Joba belongs in the bullpen, you are still on some drug high from 2007. That was merely his introduction to the majors. You need to open your eyes.

You don’t take a pitcher with a change/slider/curve/FB combination – he can throw all for strikes – who has shown signs of brilliance to come, and waste his career in short relief.

Then his numbers might look like 7.0, 2ER, 5H, 5K or something similar. Which is a pretty decent line if you ask me.

Will we have Hughes rules next year?