Joba's Unwritten Rule

The biggest topic on the NY baseball scene was been Joba Chamberlain, starter or reliever. Many Yankee fans tell me this guys is a legit future Ace with 4 plus pitches. Well right now he looks more like a two of clubs that can only throw in the low 90's, who's slider happy on a 3-2, & can't get through 5 on a good day. Instead of grooming him to be a front line starter or a back end closer, the Yankees pin-balled Joba back & forth & today the machine finally hit TILT!!!

In what was dubbed a "make or break" start to see if Chamberlain was worthy of being a starter in the postseason, Joba didn't get out the 4th. His official caddy (Alfredo Aceves), had to collect the final out of that inning. The final tally for Chamberlain was 3 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 hits, 4 BB, & 3 K's & booed mercilessly in the Bronx...did I mention the start was against the powerhouse Kansas City Royals?

I'm not sure who's plan it was to derail Chamberlain's career, but they've finally succeeded. Chamberlain doesn't know if he's coming or going at this point. & this weekend the Yankees will undoubtedly add more fuel to the fire by bringing him out of the bullpen. What the Yankees are doing kind of reminds me of what the Mets did with Gregg Jeffries in the late 80's early 90's. was he a 2B? A 3B? A top of the lineup guy, a middle of the lineup guy, or a bottom of the lineup guy? The Mets didn't know & at the end of 5 seasons neither did Jefferies. The Mets misuse of Jefferies, led him to write a letter to WFAN (the local Flagship station of the NY Mets) in May of 1991 voicing his displeasure with teammates who supposedly bickered to the media about his performance. Jefferies was later traded that off season to the Royals.

After looking at his numbers, closely examining 80% of his starts, including the 3 inning variety, & splitting his splits, I've come to the conclusion the Joba Chamberlain will be nothing more the a middle of the road pitcher going forward. Whether Cashman, Girardi, or the Steinbrenner's are to blame is irrelevant.