DETROIT – If Joba Chamberlain’s yelling and screaming on the mound gets to the point where another team might take it out on another Yankee, Joe Girardi will talk about it with his stud reliever, but the manager firmly believes it’s simply a case of a pitcher showing emotion after tasting success.
“If we feel that [it puts his teammates in harm’s way], we will discuss that,” Girardi said. “I don’t think there is a problem . . . because he has done it since he came up and I don’t think he is showing anyone up. I am in the clubhouse and I know this kid’s heart.”
Thursday, Chamberlain shrugged off Dellucci’s criticism of his behavior on the mound.
“That’s who I am,” Chamberlain said. “Everybody knows that.”
Still, the subject was a hot topic yesterday when the debate raged coast to coast.
Because the Yankees were up three runs in the eighth when Chamberlain struck out Dellucci (who had beaten him with a three-run homer Tuesday night), then screamed and violently pumped his right fist in celebration, some believed the situation didn’t deserve such emotion.
“I don’t believe Joba is ever showing anybody up,” Girardi said. “That’s Joba’s emotion and you watch his father and you know where it comes from. It comes from Dad and all of us have characteristics of our parents that we never lose.”
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Alex Rodriguez will undergo an MRI exam on his strained right quadriceps Monday, and the Yankees will devise a rehab game schedule after they get the results.
“I would like to see him sprint before he gets in a game,” Girardi said of Rodriguez, who took batting practice in Tampa yesterday.
Asked if Rodriguez could return from the disabled list for next weekend’s Subway Series against the Mets at Yankee Stadium, the manager crossed his fingers.
“I hope so. Let’s see what progress he makes,” said Girardi, who likely would watch any morning games Rodriguez plays in Tampa next week with the extended spring training team because the Yankees will be in St. Petersburg playing the Rays.
Rodriguez took 57 swings, including several long homers, fielded 31 grounders at third base and ran in the outfield. He said the session was “good” and gave a thumb’s up.
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Catcher Jorge Posada took batting practice for the first time since going on the DL on April 28 with right rotator cuff tendinitis. Posada could start a light throwing program early next week. . . . Kyle Farnsworth‘s suspension for throwing near Boston’s Manny Ramirez‘s head in April was reduced from three games to one yesterday and he sat our last night’s game.