Joba Chamberlain’s work coming out of the bullpen since being called up on Aug. 7 was one of the main reasons the Yankees reached the postseason, but he isn’t sure what his role will be next year.
“They haven’t said anything,” Chamberlain said of the Yankees’ brass.
The Yankees have quite a list of things to figure out before wrestling with Chamberlain’s situation. Because he’s been in the majors for two months, Chamberlain didn’t offer an opinion on what Joe Torre’s fate should be, but who the manager is next season will ask a lot of him.
Though Chamberlain’s role next year is unclear, George Steinbrenner’s son, Hank, said Tuesday Chamberlain would be part of the starting rotation next year.
The 22-year-old right-hander, switched to a relief pitcher in the minors this season, said he didn’t have a preference where he was used next year.
“I’ll do the best I can [and] give everything I’ve got, whether it’s every fifth day or [I’ll] do whatever I have to do out of the bullpen,” Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain said he wants to know as quickly as possible.
“The earlier the better,” Chamberlain said about knowing his role next year. “I’m not going to prepare any different physically, but mentally [I need] to prepare for what’s going to happen and how I need to approach everything.”
If he is moved into the rotation, he will need to adjust, despite spending most of his baseball career as a starter.
“I’ve been a reliever and locked into doing that and trying to embrace that role,” Chamberlain said of the past few months, when he went 2-0, with 34 strikeouts, six walks and a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings pitched. “So it’s kind of hard to look back and see myself as a starter right now, just because I haven’t done it in a while.”
Chamberlain said he sees the advantages in both roles.
“Of course, [to] come out in Yankee Stadium, 55,000 people going crazy, that’s something you don’t get as a starter,” said Chamberlain, adding that he would need to work on his changeup if he became a starter. “But there are different things you get as a starter you don’t get as a reliever. [There’s] not one that’s better than the other, not one more important than the other.”
Either way, the precocious former Cornhusker, who burst onto the scene and played such a key role in the Yankees’ late-season run, will be just as integral to the team’s future – even after his struggles when he was swarmed by flying insects during Game 2 of the ALDS in Cleveland.
Chamberlain said it never crossed his mind that the outcome of Game 2 would be different, if the Lake Erie midges didn’t swarm him.
“Not one bit. It all happens for a reason, good or bad,” Chamberlain said.
While the Yankees sort out their house, Chamberlain said he intends to go back to Lincoln, Neb., in a few days.
“Get some time to slow things down and get my brain back in one piece,” Chamberlain said. “It’s been fun while it lasted, but it will be great to get away.”
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Count Ron Villone among those who can’t fathom the possibility of a new-look Yankees team.
“I can’t imagine, Mo [Rivera], Jorge [Posada], Joe [Torre] [being gone],” the left-hand reliever Villone said. “They’ve been staples.”
He praised Torre, even after the manager initially left Villone off of the postseason roster.
“You gotta go with what you think is right, what’s best for the team, not best for an individual,” Villone said. “If he did that, he wouldn’t have four rings.”
Villone said he wasn’t sure what his future holds.
“It’s too soon,” Villone said. “I think there are a lot bigger things than me [to figure out]. My situation will pan out, no matter what it is. I’d love to be here, but you never know.”