In Anaheim just before the All-Star break, Joba Chamberlain was the hottest topic around the Yankees. In three starts, he had allowed 27 hits in 13 1/3 innings. He was going backwards.I completely agree with Teixeira. The Joba we've seen since the break is a much different Joba than we've seen since injuring himself in Texas last year. The velocity on his fastball has improved, and more importantly he's challenging hitters and throwing strikes. He also isn't shaking off Posada nearly as much as he was earlier in the year, which has kept him in a good rhythm on the mound. After three days in Nebraska the kid looks like a pitcher, not just a thrower.Four days in Nebraska, one important mechanical adjustment and three starts later, Chamberlain is 3-0 with an 0.83 E.R.A. In 21 2/3 innings, he’s allowed just eight hits. That’s progress.
“He’s growing up before our eyes,” said Mark Teixeira, who hit one of the Yankees’ three homers in a 6-2 win over the Rays. “I love seeing the progress he’s made. You hope that a young kid like that keeps getting better, and I think that’s what we’re seeing.”
While Joba's innings limit is still an issue this team will have to deal with, the questions of whether Joba can be a successful MLB starter should be put to bed. We all have seen what this kid can do now. Consistency will likely still be a problem for the 23-year-old Chamberlain, but eventually I think this is the Joba we will be seeing regularly over the next 10+ years.
we may have our own halladay in the making. with just ajax and montero, those 2 should get us a good pitcher from some team. Look at Garza, tampa gave up delmon young i think and got back a very good pitcher. we should montero or ajax to get back a quality pitcher.
ReplyDeleteThey got Bartlett in that deal too.
ReplyDeleteI think the difference is he is letting Posada call the game and he is just concentrating on the pitch he going to throw. very little shake offs in the last few starts--go yanks
ReplyDeleteI agree. That's definitely been a big part of it.
ReplyDeleteI second the first anon's comment. Why trade away a kid who has the potential to be the best pitcher in baseball for the next decade and change for the best pitcher in baseball right now for a maximum of 5-6 years of declining Halladay.
ReplyDeleteThe kid is special. We analyze him with a magnifying glass and dont realize how young he is and how much he still can grow. Lets keep our young pitching that can dominate for years to come.
ReplyDeleteThe only question for me now is his health. I have been concerned since Joba first came up about his pitching style-- somewhat jerky, maybe leading to arm/shoulder troubles. I want to be very wrong about this. I have always been a 'Joba to the pen' guy, but you can't help but love what he's showing as a starter.
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