CLEARWATER, Fla. — Compared with his previous outing, yesterday’s performance by Joba Chamberlain was an improvement and kept him in the hunt for the fifth starter’s spot.
Yet how good was it? Hours after not dismissing a question about the possibility of Chamberlain opening the season at Triple-A, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Chamberlain was “outstanding” against the Phillies at Bright House Field.
Chamberlain, who was pleased with his outing said, “That’s me.”
The chorus from the scouting fraternity wasn’t as complimentary.
“He wasn’t as bad as he has been, but he had trouble repeating his delivery and his arm slot was moving,” said a scout who watched the 6-2 Phillies’ win. “He has got to command his fastball and get better movement on his four-seamer. He looks tentative at times.”
Chamberlain threw three “regulation” innings, then worked the bottom of the ninth, though the game was over and then went to the bullpen for 15 more pitches. In the three true innings against the Phillies’ junior varsity, Chamberlain gave up two hits, a run, fanned three and walked one.
Though it was enough to keep Chamberlain in the five-man race for the No. 5 starter spot that is being led by Alfredo Aceves and Phil Hughes, the outing likely will not help Chamberlain avoid starting the season in the bullpen.
“I am going to fight with all my heart to win that job,” said Chamberlain, whose fastball was clocked at 92-93 mph and who required 48 pitches to navigate the four innings.
Last Friday, Girardi challenged Chamberlain to “step up and show us what you got.”
Girardi said the right-hander delivered.
“He was outstanding, he worked quicker and attacked the zone,” said Girardi, who admitted that Chamberlain told him this past winter that he wanted to start.
What was the difference from Chamberlain’s last outing when the Tigers spanked him for six runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings on March 10 in Lakeland?
“Pace, his mechanics were good and he had fastball command,” said Girardi, differing from the scout who wasn’t impressed with the command.
Chamberlain entered in the sixth and gave up a tainted run when Brian Bocock dumped a two-out double into short right field and scored on Dewayne Wise’s single to right.
After a 16-pitch first frame, Chamberlain retired the Phillies in order in the seventh on nine pitches. In the eighth, he worked around a one-out walk to Raul Ibanez.
“I am back to having fun. I am embracing the challenge,” Chamberlain said. “The day off [Monday] was good for me.”
How much did Girardi’s message help?
“Joe does a great job of motivating players and pushing them,” Chamberlain said. “Sometimes you need a kick in the rear.”
Because Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte worked together yesterday, it’s likely that Pettitte will pitch in a minor league game Monday, and Chamberlain will start against the Phillies at Bright House Field.
Girardi said he believes whoever doesn’t cop the No. 5 spot will be bummed. But despite the conversation with Girardi about a desire to start, Chamberlain said he isn’t consumed by what happens if he isn’t the winner.
“You can’t think like that,” Chamberlain said. “That only sets you up for failure.”
Some believe Chamberlain and Hughes in the bullpen make the Yankees a stronger team. But Chamberlain had pitched so poorly in the last game that the option of sending him to Triple-A was in the air before the game.
“We will discuss that [Triple-A], but he has had a lot of success out of the bullpen,” Girardi said. “We put him back there in the playoffs and he did a good job.”
And he apparently will get another chance to help the Yankees where he has been the best — in the bullpen.