DUNEDIN, Fla. – Joba Chamberlain’s pedestrian spring came to an earsplitting finish yesterday at Knology Park. Officially shifted from starter to reliever the day before, Chamberlain responded by looking like the stud he was for seven big league weeks last season.
Chamberlain faced three Blue Jay minor leaguers in the seventh inning of a 7-2 Yankees victory and needed just 11 pitches (nine strikes) to record three Ks.
“It was coming,” Sean Shoffit said of Chamberlain’s fastball, three of which were clocked at 96 mph and none below 94. “It was noise and he had some fuzz on it.”
The naysayers will point to Ryan Patterson, who played against Chamberlain in Hawaii and in the minors last year, Anthony Hatch and Shoffit not being big leaguers and they would be wrong. That’s how impressive Chamberlain was in his new/old role.
“He was explosive,” one of the many scouts sitting behind home plate said of Chamberlain, who started the day with a 6.14 ERA and had given up eight hits and four walks in 7 1/3 innings and only fanned four. “He looked well rested and his delivery was a lot smoother than I had seen it.”
The worst kept secret in Yankees camp was that Chamberlain, 22, was competing for a spot in the rotation. Even though he was on a starter’s schedule the Yankees decided before spring training that they were going to leave Chamberlain where he dominated big league hitters a year ago. In 19 games Chamberlain was 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA. He allowed 12 hits and six walks in 24 innings and fanned 34.
Yesterday, Chamberlain looked like he was born to relieve.
“It felt great,” said Chamberlain, who entered from the left-field bullpen to a rousing ovation. “It’s like riding a bike. It didn’t take long to get going.”
With Chamberlain throwing darts like yesterday and Mariano Rivera waiting to work the ninth, the Yankees appear to be OK at the end game. Not only does Chamberlain provide cover for Rivera, his presence keeps the Yankees from having to use the unreliable Kyle Farnsworth in the eighth inning.
“I was able to be more aggressive and attack the zone,” Chamberlain said of knowing he was working one frame instead of three or four. “I let my ability take over. The slider was what I was used to knowing. It’s getting better and I am being more aggressive with it. My arm feels fantastic.”
Ian Kennedy, who entered camp as the favorite for the fifth starter’s spot and solidified it when Chamberlain was shifted to the pen, is pleased to have Chamberlain lurking late.
“I am happy with him in the bullpen,” said Kennedy, who allowed one run and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. “I can go six (innings), Joba pitch the seventh and eighth and Mo the ninth.”
Kennedy is one-third of Generation Trey the Yankees are going to lean heavily on. Phil Hughes and Chamberlain are the other two.
Until yesterday, none had delivered a jaw-dropping performance. Then Chamberlain turned back the clock to August/September and reminded everyone who watched it how filthy he can be.
The reason many believe Chamberlain can eventually be a No. 1 starter is because he has a curveball and change-up to go with the fastball and slider. But as a reliever he won’t get too many chances to attack hitters with four pitches. So, his fastball and slider will be as close as traffic and weather on the radio.
“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” Chamberlain said of his money pitches.
Yet, he could have been talking about where he excelled last year and where the Yankees smartly have put him this season.