WHEN he picked up the phone yesterday, Hank Steinbrenner was a little down, not because of the results of Joba Chamberlain’s first start – that’s only step one in what should be a long starting career, and Steinbrenner’s faith in Joba the Starter has never been stronger – but because of the way the Yankees have been playing.
“I’m down,” Steinbrenner said, “but we’ll fix it. We’re going to straighten this ship out. Our starting pitching is going to be OK, our hitters will come around, and the bullpen has to get its butt in gear. We’re still going to make a run in the end. But we got our work cut out for us.”
Steinbrenner said he and Brian Cashman are on the same page on what ails the Yankees, a key indication that Cashman, who is in the last year of his contract, will continue as general manager. Steinbrenner made it clear he has faith in Cashman.
Boss Junior also noted that the Yankees are paying for past mistakes, but that should not be read as a criticism of Cashman.
“A lot of mistakes have been made over the last seven years,” Steinbrenner said. “We got our hands full, but Brian and I are on the same page.”
He also exploded some recent reports that the Steinbrenner family could sell the team in a year or two.
“We are not selling,” he said. “I wouldn’t be getting an ulcer over how the team is doing if there were any plans to sell.” The goal remains the same. “We want to win,” Steinbrenner said.
You can expect the Yankees to improve the team’s pitching – starting with tomorrow’s draft, then in offseason free agency, which will include looking for a starter and bullpen help.
The Yankees need to develop their stars of the future through the organization in these changing times because teams are locking up their young talent.
“We’ve got to do it or I’ve got to find the people who can do it,” Steinbrenner said.
The Blue Jays’ approach to Chamberlain on Tuesday told you that Chamberlain will be a top of rotation guy, Steinbrenner noted.
“They had a good approach, they didn’t want to hit against him,” he said.
Steinbrenner would have preferred that first start to take place in the usual way, in spring training, but it is what it is.
“He was hyped up,” Steinbrenner said. “It was a media circus.”
Chamberlain learned from that start and should not make the same mistakes again.
“We’re all looking forward to his next 10 years or more in the rotation,” Steinbrenner said. “That’s the bottom line. Joba is special. The key for him is to just go out there with that quiet confidence.”
Said one NL scout at Tuesday’s 9-3 loss, “There’s no doubt Joba is a one or two, the Yankees are making the right move.”
It is the right move, one of the tough decisions they have had to make. You can be sure there are more to come.