Joba Chamberlain, RHP, N.Y. Yankees
Background: Scouts took a weight-and- see approach to Chamberlain at the University of Nebraska. At times he ballooned to about 300 pounds. The potential for injury frightened some teams. The Yankees plucked him with the 41st pick in the 2006 amateur draft. He has become a phenomenon.
What’s up: Tommy Boy, er, owner Hank Steinbrenner is getting his wish. Chamberlain, a late-inning force, is expected to make his first start Tuesday. Steinbrenner believed Chamberlain was wasting away in the bullpen, calling his relief role “stupid.” Steinbrenner compared Chamberlain’s talent to Boston ace Josh Beckett when explaining why the young right-hander should be in the rotation.
What’s next: Chamberlain was raised as a starter in the minor leagues, so this isn’t like renting Rosetta Stone and learning Spanish. He already knows the basics. The key is whether his stuff will remain effective when facing hitters for a third and fourth time during a game. “I hope he does great, but it is different. But he really does have electric stuff. It makes you go, ‘Wow!’ ” teammate LaTroy Hawkins said.
Renck’s take: Tommy Boy has the right idea. It’s the execution that’s flawed. Chamberlain should be starting, but the process should have begun in spring training, lengthening his pitch count to 70 pitches before backing him off. As it stands, Chamberlain will likely be good for only 60 pitches in his first couple of outings. And it’s hard to tell how his arm will respond. He had, in the words of one American League East scout, “scary medicals” coming out of college. That’s why a lot of folks thought he projected better as a reliever. The experiment makes sense. The timing? Not so much.
