THE Joba Rules morphed closer toward the Joba Suggestions yesterday. However, if they do not evolve further for the playoffs to allow the righty to work whenever needed, they just might unleash the Chamberlain Conflict within the Yankees’ organization.
After Joba Chamberlain was deployed in yet another new fashion, with just one day off after a two-inning stint and to register a save, Mike Mussina strongly stated that the fireballing righty must be allowed to pitch daily in October.
“When you put on a uniform in the postseason, you’re available every day,” Mussina said. “That’s just simply the way it is.”
When asked if this represented a team-wide view, Mussina said, “I am pretty sure you can take a survey, and it would be the same opinion.”
In those responses, you could see how Chamberlain’s usage pattern might instigate discord within the organization. No player fighting for a championship or manager trying to save his job wants to be dictated to by upper management about how a player can be used, not when it could mean the difference between the Canyon of Heroes or not.
However, general manager Brian Cashman is entrusted to balance both the present and a future in which he wants a healthy, overpowering Chamberlain in the rotation. So as the overseer of the Joba Rules, he was hardly thrilled about Mussina’s sentiments, saying by phone last night, “Mike needs to worry about doing his job and we will do our job. “At the end of the day, we [upper management] know what we are doing.”
In general, Cashman has become ornery on this subject. He does not like that it is even publicly discussed. As part of Chamberlain’s promotion in early August, he implored all those involved to keep how the rookie would be used “in house.” But, to Cashman’s chagrin, Joe Torre has responded to media inquiries about plans for Chamberlain. Cashman says he does not want to provide the opposition any clues to the availability of any of his players, including Chamberlain. “If Luis Vizcaino were unavailable [for a playoff game], do you think we should tell our opponent?” Cashman asked.
But the Chamberlain matter has stirred great intrigue. He came with great fanfare and has more than fulfilled the hype with an 0.42 ERA and 31 strikeouts in his first 212/3 innings. “If the kid were not here, I do not know where we would be, right now,” Mussina said.
However, the curiosity is about more than that. Remember that Cashman only authorized the promotion with the rules attached. And it is generally understood within the organization that the rules were established because of concern that Torre, who has a penchant to overwork favored relievers, would tax a kid who had never before relieved.
It is also clear Torre has never been fully comfortable with the rules. In fact, he often misinterprets just when he could use Chamberlain. For example, Torre, Cashman and minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras, the author of the rules, had a conference call on Friday in which it was determined that rather than two days off following a two-inning stint (like Friday night’s), Chamberlain could return after one off day as long as he was limited to fewer than 25 pitches.
Torre, though, told the media before yesterday’s game that Chamberlain was unavailable. And Cashman said he had to inform Torre that Chamberlain could pitch, which necessitated another conference call with Contreras just to verify that about a half-hour before the first pitch. Chamberlain did end up pitching and closing yesterday because Mariano Rivera had been used on consecutive days and three times in four days. He dominated by going four up, four down.
Cashman said the rules have been constantly evolving because Chamberlain has handled the transition so well, and that they would continue to evolve. However, he refused to say if Chamberlain would be available daily to a manager who just might have to win a championship to preserve his job.
“If we want to do what we want to do come October, we are going to need him [every day],” Mussina said. “Joe believes in him and Joe wants to use him.”
If Torre can’t use him in obvious situations in October, the Joba Rules very well may become the Chamberlain Conflict.