Forget the bullpen, Joba to the minors?
July 6, 2009, 12:20 pmYesterday, after another ineffective outing that depleted the team’s bullpen and which led to him being booed as he walked off of the Yankee Stadium mound, Joba Chamberlain—the beloved son of the Bronx—said the following regarding his performance.
“At the end of the day,” he said, explaining why the boos didn’t bother him, “the sun comes up, and I’ve still got a job. I give everything I have every time I go out. If that’s not enough, then I don’t know what is.”
Joba also underplayed his poor performance with a string of conflicting statements. First he said:
“I did a good job today [of attacking hitters], I felt like,” he said. “They’re great hitters. I threw good pitches and they put good swings on it. They’ve been doing it all year. They’re going to continue to do it.”
But then he said:
“It’s a win at the end of the day,” Chamberlain told reporters. “I didn’t throw well at all, but at the end of the day, 10 to 8, the Yankees win. There’s really not much to be mad about.”
Which one is it, Joba? Nonsensical statements aside, the final comment seems to be the most damning. It’s okay to have a rough outing, especially when you’re a 23-year old, however, one must admit to it and thank his offense for bailing him out. What Joba has done instead is say, “Hey, what I did was okay as long as we got the win.” Well, I’ll tell you what, I’m sure his teammates don’t think that way. They’re not going to score 10 runs for you every night and it’s not like doing so is an easy feat either. Joe Girardi seemed to realize that, noting that he would have “animated” conversations with Joba in the upcoming days about his performance.
But, what if that’s not enough to get through to Joba?
Mike over at RAB has a great writeup on what the Yankees could do in order to make a point and in order to help Joba develop as a pitcher, though it’s an opinion that’s sure to turn a few heads. He thinks the Yankees should actually send Joba down to the minors (Triple-A)—an idea that likely won’t occur but one that I agree with wholeheartedly. Here’s Mike’s take on the situation.
It’s time to ship Joba to Triple-A. Call up Sergio Mitre, move Phil Hughes or Al Aceves into the rotation, do whatever has to be done to soak up those innings, but right now it’s best for Joba to pitch in an environment that’s geared more toward development than production. Make him carry around his own bags and twiddle his thumbs on the bus. Make him watch 35-year-old Jason Johnson pitch with a torn labrum just because it might be the last chance he gets to chase his dream. Have him sit and watch good friend Ian Kennedy rehab from an aneurysm that could have potentially ended his career. Give him a dose of reality, and let him realize just how fortunate he is.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Joba needs to know that this is real and that you have to work for everything in this game. The sun comes up everyday, yes, yet that doesn’t mean you should have a job in the big leagues if you cannot perform at an expected level (see Homer Bailey, Ricky Nolasco, etc.). Not only would the demotion put things in perspective for Joba, but he would also be able to work on his pitching style while with Scranton, away from the media glare that he has grown accustomed to. Sure, it would cause some problems for the Yankees’ pitching staff, however, if it helps to rectify Joba’s issues (e.g., failing to attack the zone, failing to throw strikes, throwing bad pitches in bad counts, etc.), it seems worth it in the long-run.
What hat do you think?
Well folks, we are witnessing the destruction of a young pitcher with the potential to become the best setup man since Mo in 1996 and eventually the closer. This is what happens when you cater to the wishes of young players (hey, everyone wants to start) – Joba belongs in the pen – but it is probably too late as his confidence and aura of invincibility are gone. Meanwhile they have Hughes out there, who is at least twice as good a starter as Joba. Maybe Cashman and Girardi should go Texas and talk to Nolan Ryan. Ryan does not consider a quality start to be less than 7 innings, makes pitchers who are taken out of games stay on bench to watch rest of game, and has eliminated pitch counts in the minors. If Joba and others are spoiled, Cashman has no one to blame but himself.
And by the way, can we get rid of Eiland? He was brought here because of the young pitchers – once again, coddling them to no avail. Let’s get someone that the veterans respect – look once again to Texas with Maddox, Yes, Ryan is laying the blueprint for the future.
Interesting theory, Tom. Ryan is basically taking the pitching formula back to what it was years ago. I still think Joba needs to remain a starter, however. The team basically needs to take the no bull approach with him the way they did with Ian Kennedy. Also, Joba is a young guy that was rushed to the big leagues in order to fulfill a short-term need. More seasoning at the Triple-A level couldn’t possibly hurt him. I think that should be considered the next step rather than moving him back to the bullpen.
[...] In 23 August innings, Joba gave up 21 ER. Though the calendar has mercifully flipped, in 13 September innings, Joba has given up 12 ER. His continued ineffectiveness, coupled with the assertion that he is “fine, man,” truly bothers me. Owning up to one’s failures is essential in the game of baseball. Joba has failed to exhibit such maturity throughout the season. [...]