Maybe it’s just a coincidence that Joba Chamberlain was recently placed on the DL due to right shoulder tendinitis — maybe this was simply a foregone conclusion.
The fact of the matter is the Yankees ownership wanted the fire-baller to be a starting pitcher, so they quickly tried to groom the reliever to try to handle a starting pitchers workload. The Steinbrenners raised eyebrows as many felt Joba’s best role was the setup man in New York. We now know Joba’s rush to the starting rotation was a foreshadowing of what was to come — a visit to Dr. James Andrews. Anybody in baseball knows that visiting with Dr. Andrews raises much concern for a pitchers future.
It dumbfounds me how mindless GM’s and ownership can think with a quick snap of a finger, a reliever can easily transfer to the starting rotation without any repercussions. The Red Sox faced a similar ordeal during Spring Training of last year. Remember how Jonathan Papelbon was supposed to be in the rotation , thus complete the best starting 5 in the game? The Red Sox quickly downed that idea when it was clear to not only the organization, but to Jonathan Papelbon himself that he wasn’t meant to be a starting pitcher. Papelbon is a closer and will always be a closer.
So where do the Yankees go from here? They are without Chien Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, and now down goes Joba. Their postseason hopes have taken a serious blow because of this injury.
The funny thing is it seemed as if the Yankees were being very cautious with Chamberlain last year. What it ultimately came down to was the senseless brains of the Steinbrenners and Brian Cashman.
If Joba comes back, Joe Girardi wants to make it clear that they will be extra cautious with Chamberlain, even through a tight pennant race or playoff series.
“You’re always careful with your players,” Girardi said. “You don’t want to jeopardize their long-term health. And we’re talking about a 22-year-old kid here.”
Too little, too late, Joe. The lesson is learned. We hope you enjoy watching the Red Sox and Rays in the playoffs from your living room home.
