Monday, June 1, 2009

Does Joba have a shoulder problem?

Over on Baseball Prospectus John Perrotto has a weekend roundup column (membership required) and in this week's he mentions something troubling about Joba Chamberlain (hat-tip to River Ave. Blues):
The Yankees couldn’t move right-hander Joba Chamberlain from the rotation back to the bullpen if they wanted to at this time, because shoulder problems make it too difficult for him to warm up quickly.
RAB's Ben K. wonders about the legitimacy of the rumor:
If Joba had a known shoulder problem, the Yankees would not be trotting him out there every five days. They care too much about and are too focus on Joba’s future to risk his health in the short term. A shoulder problem, however, would explain the downward trend in fastball velocity Joba has been displaying since his August 2008 injury.
If the Yankees are dumb enough to have Joba start with a shoulder problem then they might just qualify for dumbest organization on the planet. It's bad enough when you tell two pitchers not to work on their legs like they normally would because you admittedly have no idea how to handle lisfranc injuries, but allowing a 23-year-old like Joba to pitch while injured takes things to a whole new level of stupid.

The Yankees couldn't be this stupid, could they?

24 comments:

  1. i sincerely hope not...if they are...they should all be fired...

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  2. I really hope theyre not that stupid. I feel like money is the number one priority and they overlook the more important things

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  3. The Yanks have been baying him for 3 years...now they are pitching him with a bum shoulder? Doesn't make any sense don't believe it.

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  4. It doesn't make much sense to me either, Anon, but then again you never know. People do stupid things.

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  5. Greg, is this the same shoulder issue that they've known about? I thought that this was one of the reasons for the "Joba Rules" (yes, and hats off to RAB for the word)? I believe that all the hype surrounding Joba has led to our (Yankee fans) anticipation/disappointment/and speculation around his performances. I have faith. I think we just need to be patient.

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  6. The shoulder they're talking about is his pitching shoulder, which is the one that bothered him last year.

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  7. So, wait, when Joba throws 100 pitches every five days, his velocity drops?

    What a fascinating turn of events.

    Hopefully Joba has something left when he's back in the bullpen after shoulder surgery.

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  8. The issue is that he may be pitching with a shoulder injury, which if that's the case many people need to lose their jobs.

    His velocity was fine as a starter in the minors. He was sitting at 96-97 as a starter in the minors. He really hasn't been the same since he had tendinitis last year.

    I think one of three things is going on; he's hurt, he's afraid he might get hurt and he's hesitant to throw as hard as he can, or his arm strength still isn't at 100%.

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  9. might be hes afraid to get hurt. It seems when he gets pumped up that velocity shoots up a bit (he might lose fear of injuring that shoulder). Id be very surprised if hed be pitching if they knew ANYTHING was bothering him in his shoulder.

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  10. a barking shoulder would explain some of his delivery problems. It was almost like he was hiding something and after each performance there were questions from many fans who were left shaking their heads. This is bad news... but maybe the light at the end of the tunnel for Hughes.

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  11. Joba threw roughly 80 innings as a starter in the minors, so if you're happy with that sample size, go nuts.

    Still the fact remains, tendonitis is caused by OVERUSE. When the Yankees STUPIDLY moved him from the bullpen to the rotation last year, his arm couldn't handle the increased workload, and his velocity and eventually his health suffered.

    It's stupid to even argue this, it's an agree-to-disagree situation until I'm eventually proven right.

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  12. the question is if hes back in the bullpen will he ever throw triple digits again? Or is that maybe why his shoulder problems developed? (going 95-97) as a starter to throwing everything he had as a reliever)

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  13. That's certainly a possibility, anon.

    Anyway, here's tonight's lineup, the game thread will be up in about 30 min.

    Jeter SS
    Swisher RF
    Teixeira 1B
    Rodriguez DH
    Posada C
    Cano 2B
    Cabrera LF
    Berroa 3B
    Gardner CF

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  14. Berroa is on tonight's line up. It's an evidence of how the people that handle this organitation do stupid things.

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  15. He shouldn't even be on the roster, let alone the starting lineup.

    NYSJ,

    Joba could be a great closer, and if that's what he eventually becomes I'm fine with that. It may end up happening. But he's always been a starter, he's got the stuff to be a very very good starter, and it would be foolish for the Yankees to not even try to let him develop into one.

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  16. Greg,

    I'm very familiar with the company line on Joba as a starter. It's a convenient way to avoid admitting you were wrong when Joba is eventually moved to the bullpen.

    There's no culpability in saying it the way you just did. I'd absolutely LOVE it if you were right and I was wrong on this, but I don't think that's the case.

    His longevity as a starter is a BIG concern that nobody in your corner seems to mention. He's already losing velocity and it's June 1. If he can't make it to the All-Star break this season, how long are you willing to ruin this kid?

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  17. Company line? Umm, ok?

    I don't think they're ruining him, you're just a whole lot more pessimistic regarding his ability to start than I am. You're convinced that he can't start, which is fine, Mike Francesa can do that to a person.

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  18. Yes, company line:

    "Joba has the stuff to be a starter, the Yankees would be stupid not to use him in that role."

    It ignores such things as his history of arm trouble and how his stuff isn't nearly as good when he starts, but whatever.

    And nice try with the Francesa crack, as if I can't make up my own mind based on what I see with my own two eyes.

    If you want to play it off like I'm just some jagoff that rehashes everything that fat idiot on WFAN spews, go right ahead, but you couldn't be more wrong. It's the easy way out for you to say that, though, so I get it.

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  19. If you're going to falsely accuse me of repeating some "company line" then I will accuse you of repeating some fat asses line. It's only fair.

    Joba has shown great stuff as a starter, not during his last start, but overall he's been a very good starter. 5-2, with a 3.25 ERA and is striking out 9.8 batters per nine. He's walked too many and wastes too many pitches, but then again so do most young pitchers. Bottom line, those are great numbers for a 23-year old.

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  20. If he finishes the season without his arm in a sling, I'll be impressed.

    I accept the possibility that I'm wrong about Joba, in fact I hope I am.

    Thus far, nobody in your camp has accepted the same possibility, and I can already see the reaction if Joba ends up back in the bullpen.

    "Well, it didn't work out, but you still had to try."

    You guys should have the stationary printed up now.

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  21. NYSJ,

    Of course I could be wrong.

    But yes, if it doesn't work I do believe the Yankees still had to try to let him develop into a starter.

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  22. I agree with Greg. Santana struggled coming up in the Twins at the beginning and developed into one of the best pitchers in baseball (he also started as a pretty good reliever)

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  23. This is sure a lot of speculation in response to a seemingly innocuous comment about Joba...

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  24. lol true, Rebel. But anything about Joba creates a lot of opinions.

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