Joba has best spring performance, but unlikely to be starter
Last Updated: 6:31 PM, March 17, 2010
Posted: 4:51 PM, March 17, 2010
Comments: 30
PrintCLEARWATER, Fla. — Compared to his previous outing, this afternoon’s performance by Joba Chamberlain was an improvement and kept him in the hunt for the fifth starter’s spot.
Hours after not dismissing a question about the possibility of Chamberlain opening the season at Triple-A, Joe Girardi said Chamberlain was “outstanding’’ against the Phillies at Bright House Field. Chamberlain said, “That’s me.’’
Chamberlain threw three “regulation’’ innings, worked the bottom of the ninth even though the game was over and then went to the bullpen for 15 more pitches. In three innings against the Phillies’ JV, Chamberlain gave up two hits, a run, fanned three and walked one.
While it was enough to keep Chamberlain in the five-man race for the No. 5 starter spot that is being led by Alfredo Aceves and Phil Hughes, the outing likely won’t help Chamberlain avoid starting the season in the bullpen.
“I am going to fight with all my heart to win that job,’’ vowed Chamberlain, whose fastball was clocked at 92-93 mph and required 48 pitches to navigate the four frames.
Last Friday Girardi challenged Chamberlain to “step up and show us what you got.’’
According to Girardi, the right-hander delivered.
“He was outstanding, he worked quicker and attacked the zone,’’ Girardi said.
Chamberlain entered in the sixth and gave up a tainted run when Brian Bocock dumped a two-out double into short right field and scored on Dewayne Wise’s single to right. After a 16-pitch first frame, Chamberlain retired the Phils in order in the seventh on nine pitches. In the eighth he worked around a one-out walk to Raul Ibanez.
“I am back to having fun, I am embracing the challenge,’’ Chamberlain said. “The day off (Monday) was good for me, I thought about what I had to do. That’s me, attacking the zone.’’
How much did Girardi’s message help?
“Joe does a great job of motivating players and pushing them. Sometimes you need a kick in the rear,’’ Chamberlain said.’’
Some believe Chamberlain and Hughes in the bullpen make the Yankees a stronger team. But Chamberlain had pitched so poorly in the last game that the option of sending him to Triple-A was in the air before the game.
“We will discuss that (Triple-A) but he has had a lot of success out of the bullpen,’’ Girardi said. “We put him back there in the playoffs and he did a good job.’’
And apparently will get another chance to help the Yankees where he has been the best: in the pen.
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Comments (28)
Post Your CommentWORLD CHUMPION NEW YORK YANKEES
03/18/2010 1:09 PM
@Swifty/son
Jeter may have less errors than other shortstops, but that's because he doesn't have the range to get to balls deep in the hole that are routine for players like Omar Vizquel or Orlando Cabrera.
WORLD CHUMPION NEW YORK YANKEES
03/18/2010 1:07 PM
For all you Jeter haters out there, this one's for you:
DEREK JETER IS THE 2ND WORST INFIELDER OF ALL TIME
It's been proven time and time again that Derek Jeter is a below average infielder. The fact that guy has multiple Gold Gloves is a crime against humanity. He has no range whatsoever.
But even I didn't think he was this bad.
A study by the Hardball Times, a very good online publication, has determined that Jeter is the second worst infielder of all time. And that's going all the way back to 1871. Yikes.
But they're not the only ones who believe Jeter is overrated...
Despite winning four Gold Glove awards, Jeter's defense has been the subject of criticism from a number of sabermetricians, including Rob Neyer and the publication Baseball Prospectus.
The book The Fielding Bible by John Dewan contains an essay by Bill James in which he concludes that Jeter "was probably the most ineffective defensive player in the major leagues, at any position."
A 2008 study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that, from 2002 through 2005, Jeter was the worst defensive shortstop in the Major Leagues.
No Idea
03/18/2010 12:03 PM
"no reange ear" SON? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
day after day, the errors COMPLETELY undermine any posts
No Idea
03/18/2010 12:01 PM
FINALLY: SOMEONE POSTS THE TRUTH. POST OF THE DAY!
"DEREK JETER IS THE 2ND WORST INFIELDER OF ALL TIME
It's been proven time and time again that Derek Jeter is a below average infielder. The fact that guy has multiple Gold Gloves is a crime against humanity. He has no range whatsoever.
But even I didn't think he was this bad.
A study by the Hardball Times, a very good online publication, has determined that Jeter is the second worst infielder of all time. And that's going all the way back to 1871. Yikes."
WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK YANKEES
03/18/2010 9:12 AM
RE: "Hardball Times, a very good online publication"
HARDBALL TIMES ? AAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA... MORE LIKE... HIGH TIMES.
WHAT A UBERJETERENVIOUS JACK@SS...
WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK YANKEES
03/18/2010 8:43 AM
2009, 27 TIME AND DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK YANKEES !
AND THE HITS, AWARDS, AND RINGS JUST KEEP ON COMING !
2009 GOLD GLOVE AWARD (4)...
2009 SILVER SLUGGER AWARD (2)...
2009 ROBERTO CLEMENTE AWARD...
2009 HANK AARON AWARD (2)...
2009 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR...
2009 NY DAILY NEWS NEW YORKER OF THE YEAR...
2009 TWIB PLAY OF THE YEAR...
2009 TOPS THE AMERICAN LEAGUE WITH OVER 4.8 MILLION ALL STAR VOTES...
2009 PASSES LOU GHERIG TO BECOME THE YANKEES ALL TIME HITS LEADER...
2009 BECOMES THE ALL TIME MLB HITS LEADER FOR THE SS POSITION...
2009 .334 BA, 212 H, 107 R, 18 HR, 66 RBI, 30 SB, .406 OBP...
2009 MOVES INTO 18 PLACE ON THE AMERICAN LEAGUE'S ALL TIME HITS LIST...
2009 MOVES INTO 49 PLACE ON MLB'S ALL TIME HITS LIST...
2009 PLAYOFFS .344 BA, .432 OBP...
2009 WORLD SERIES .407 BA, .429 OBP, 3 2B, 11 H...
2009 FIFTH RING...
2009 CAPTAIN OF THE 27 TIME WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK YANKEES...
2009 DEREK JETER: THE BEST THERE IS, WAS, OR EVER WILL BE !
253 HITS AWAY FROM BECOMING ONLY THE 28th PLAYER IN MLB WITH 3000 HITS !
767 HITS AWAY FROM ROSE, COBB, AARON, MUSIAL AND DEREK JETER. TOP 5 !
DEREK JETER: A TRUE BASEBALL ICON !
THE FACE OF THE YANKEES AND BASEBALL, A TRUE AMERICAN SPORTS HERO,
AND A SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE WORLD WIDE.
THOSE ARE THE FACTS...
NOT SOME MADE UP RAMBLINGS OF ONE VERY BITTER & ENVIOUS JETER HATING LOSER !
HARD BALL TIMES ? AAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA... MORE LIKE... HIGH TIMES.
YANKEES FANS HAVE WATCHED JETER PLAY FOR 15 SEASONS, APPARENTLY YOU HAVE NOT.
THIS LOSER SPENDS EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO DOWN GRADE DEREK JETER.
THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PSYCHIATRIC TERM FOR SOMEONE LIKE THAT.
WHAT A JACK@SS... THAT'S IT !
SwiftRead
03/18/2010 4:13 AM
@New York Yankees
Jeter had 8 errors last year. Stick that in your "no reange ear" and turn it up!
The year prior last, in 2008, he had 12. No range? LOL.
Tsk Tsk. Haters never make sense.
SwiftRead
03/18/2010 4:10 AM
Chamberlain started more innings last year than Hughes has over the last 3 years combined. While Joba had a 4.7 ERA, Hughes had a 5.45 ERA starting last year.
The year prior, when Joba proved to be the best starter for the Yankees--earning a team-low 2.7 ERA--Hughes had a 7+ ERA as a starter in 2008.
Hughes would be limited to 150 innings. While Joba would have none. If anything, Joba has proved more valuable to the team in both the bull pen and the rotation over Hughes.
And on the biggest stage of all in the MLB, in the WSC, Joba had a 3 ERA while Hughes had a 16.25 ERA.