It wasn’t very pretty. It was simply disappointing.
With back-page hype and a sellout Bronx crowd, Joba Chamberlain’s starting debut was far from a huge success last night, especially compared to his past excellence as a reliever. Instead, Chamberlain delivered an erratic and deflating outing.
Pulled after 62 pitches – his limit was around 65 – Chamberlain lasted 2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) as the Yankees were pounded 9-3 by Toronto. Chamberlain actually allowed just one hit, fanned three and reached 100-mph five times. But he lacked control, issuing four walks and suffering through a 38-pitch first inning.
Chamberlain – a dominant and dynamic set-up man – exceeded his longest career relief outing by one-third of an inning. Assuming his second career start is Sunday versus Kansas City, we’ll have to see if the Joba Age can improve after a four-day layoff.
After Chamberlain exited, Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez were shelled, allowing a combined six runs in one-third of an inning. The Yanks have lost three straight and were tied for last place in the AL East, pending Baltimore’s game last night. Before the game, Joe Girardi explained that with 65 pitches for Chamberlain, the gas-throwing 22-year-old could go four innings or maybe five. In reality, it became 62 pitches against 12 batters.
Amped up with excitement, the Bronx fans were roaring before the night’s first pitch, and at 7:09 p.m. Chamberlain zipped a 96-mph fastball to Shannon Stewart for ball one. Stewart walked, and after Chamberlain struck out Marco Scutaro with a slider, he balked Stewart to second. A passed ball moved him to third, and Alex Rios’ RBI groundout made it 1-0 Blue Jays.
Rios’ groundout came on a 100-mph pitch, and starting with that one, Chamberlain unleashed three straight 100 mph-plus heaters, the last at 101. Chamberlain reached 100 mph on pitch 59, a promising sign.
Chamberlain had two outs and nobody on in the first but loaded the bases on a single and consecutive walks. Finally he blew away Rod Barajas on a 99-mph fastball – pitch No. 38.
Chamberlain was better in the second, tossing a 1-2-3 frame on 16 pitches, highlighted by another 99-mph whiff. With 54 pitches through two, however, he didn’t have much leeway in the third, lasting two batters.
On the first, Chamberlain got help from Bobby Abreu, who made a jumping catch against the wall. He then walked Rios on four pitches, ending his night. When he left, Chamberlain got a nice – albeit not huge – ovation, and on TV he appeared to be unhappy in the dugout, presumably about his performance.
Last night was Chamberlain’s first pro start since last July 25 against Triple-A Louisville, and moving him to the rotation is one of the most critical and controversial moves of the Yankee present and future.
“I think Joba was drafted as a starter,” Girardi said before the game. “I think Joba projects very well as a starter, a top-notch starter. And I think it’s the right move.”
While Chamberlain has a four-pitch arsenal, he barely showcased three last night, throwing no changeups and two curves. He fired nearly all fastballs (45) and sliders (15), even abandoning the slider midway through – 21 of his final 25 pitches were fastballs.