It appears that fans are taking the news of Joba being a sent to the bullpen much harder than he is himself. Check out some of these quotes:
“Right now, I have to embrace the role that I’m in,” Chamberlain said. “I can’t think about being a starter at this point. For me to help this team now, it’s being in the bullpen and trying to figure out a way to get guys out there. It’s unfair to my team to think about something else when this is my job right now.”
While admitting that there was some disappointment in the decision, Chamberlain said that he is “excited” about the assignment, and the Yankees plan to have him pitch a relief inning on Saturday against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., to begin his adjustment process.
“I can’t think about being a starter at this point. It’s unfair to my team to think about something else when this is my job now,” Chamberlain said. As to the constant debate, “I don’t know if it’s ever going to end.”
Chamberlain is expected to step back into the primary setup role, and he’s scheduled to begin that transition today, with an inning of relief against the Tigers at Lakeland.
On Friday, a day after manager Joe Girardi chose Hughes as his No. 5 starter, Chamberlain took the news in stride. “It’s really nothing new for me,” he said. “Just click back in that other mode and go from there.
“It could be worse. They could talk about sending me down.”
I think it’s safe to say we can call off the suicide watch. I posted on March 21st an exchange between Mo and Joba that seemed to indicate that Joba wants to be in the bullpen, but brushed it off at the time as two guys who were just kidding around. Now I’m not so sure.
Mark Feinsand also reports that he’s anxious to get his fastball back to where it was back in 07/08. There have always been whispers about Joba’s conditioning and needing the occasional kick in the butt to do what it takes to be a successful starter on this team. Is it crazy to think that Joba really likes being a reliever? The swashbuckler who comes out of the pen, throwing gas, blowing away hitters and saving the day for his team and 50,000 fans? It’s where he found the most success, he took the town by storm back in 07 and he clearly gets amped up in a way that he doesn’t as a starter. We all saw that in the playoffs last year. He wouldn’t be the first, the Red Sox wanted Jonathan Papelbon to be a starter, and went into Spring Training of 08 with him preparing to be in the rotation. But midway through camp Paps told them his heart was really in the bullpen, and that was the end of it. As fans, we can all discuss his value in various roles based on statistical measures, but at the end of the day the game is played by human beings. Maybe this one just likes being the hero who saves the day. One thing is for sure though, he got over his ‘disappointment’ really quick.
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15 Responses to Joba not overly disappointed about role
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TIQ IQ
I totally deserve a hat tip for making the same Pappelbon reference and for saying perhaps they sat down with Joba after the season and discussed this. Seriously though, the real interesting part to me was the “getting my fastball back up…” This seems like hes already thinking like a reliever. Maybe going to the pen would actually be best for him; I said yesterday that the organization is too smart to take 60 innings over 200. It seems like there is something that the fans don’t know about going on.
Instead of a h/t, how about we just say great minds think alike? Works for me.
Or maybe it’s all just media posturing — a way to fan the flames a bit.
The posturing was when the Yanks claimed this was an even competition, and now writers with good sources like Feinsand and Sherman are saying it was Hughes’ to lose all along. That should tell you something about what the Yanks think internally.
He’s disappointed.
Can you be “excitied”and disappointed at the same time? I can’t.
So why assume that excitement is the one he is telling the truth about? (And anyhow, pretty sure most people can feel two emotions at the same time. It’s called feeling conflicted, it is a normal human emotion).
This may be a little off-topic so I apologize but,I was watching the MLB network this morning and they were talking about young prospects and pitchers and I couldn’t help wonder if Hughes and/or Joba will ever be top-of-the-rotation pitchers? I don’t know do you think that they can be TORPs?
Yes, in both cases but, (in Jobas case) only if they really want to be.
You are reading into stuff again. He said he cant dwell on it for the team’s sake, and that he can just click back in because he has been in the role before. He has also said many times, quite clearly, that he wants to be a starter. He’s just being a good teammate here (although people wont remember it next time he pitches poorly and doesnt cry and tear his garments).
Mo, with all due respect I think you are in deep, deep denial about what just happened here. All indications are it was Hughes’ job to lose. What does that tell you about what the Yanks really think about Joba? If they had confidence in Joba, why trade for Vasquez? They don’t trust Joba with the #5 spot, and frankly a winning team could put Sidney Ponson as their #5 and be fine.
We are talking about his mentality here, not the team’s. And I think you are inventing something not there.
Also, about the team’s mentality, it is very clear that they believe, right now, Hughes>Joba. I simply still believe that they think he can be a starter, and that he isnt in the bullpen forever. If I see a quote from the GM otherwise, I’ll change my mind. But I dont think it is denial to say that there is still a solid chance Joba is a starter in the future. It simply makes sense for 2011.
Agree, Joba as a starter is the best for the team and himself.
Of course he’s disappointed about it but he isn’t going to create more waves about it because then he’ll come off as selfish
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