ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – If the Yankees go on to win their first World Series since 2000, they are going to need the Baby Yanks to shine in the spotlight.
Young talent makes this Yankees team different than the previous six pinstriped playoff teams. No one knows that better than Derek Jeter.
While the champagne celebration was in full swing Wednesday night, rookie sensation Joba Chamberlain spotted Jeter from across the clubhouse. Chamberlain was having the time of his life and as he came across the room he yelled, “Derek, I love you.”
The two players gave each other a congratulatory hug, but then Jeter, who knows better than anyone the challenges that lie ahead and how important Chamberlain is to the Yankees’ postseason hopes, told the right-hander, “We’re just getting started.”
A message was sent. Chamberlain received it loud and clear.
“We can’t be satisfied, this is just the start,” Chamberlain said last night, echoing Jeter’s comments after fellow rookie Phil Hughes and the B-Yankees beat the Devil Rays, 3-1 at Tropicana Field. Chamberlain pitched a scoreless eighth, dropping his ERA to 0.38. This marked the first time Chamberlain pitched on back-to-back nights.
“It was good to be put in that situation,” he said.
Chamberlain was pitching in the Hawaiian Winter League a year ago.
“It’s been a crazy year,” he said.
Jeter and all the veterans know how much they are going to have to lean on Chamberlain, Hughes, Melky Cabrera (who owns only three postseason at-bats) and Robinson Cano (a .206 hitter in the postseason).
The Yankees know they would not be in such a good spot without Chamberlain. They now have double-barreled action in the bullpen in Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera. Rivera said that in some ways this is like his early postseason days when Young Mo teamed with John Wetteland.
“It kind of seems like that,” Rivera said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to produce the whole playoffs. Definitely, the bullpen is stronger with him out there. To have a young arm like that is important but you also have to be careful, you don’t want to overuse him. There are a lot of decisions the front office has to make.”
The Yankees remain in the race for the AL East title. Whether they play the Indians or Angels, the longer Division Series format would be a plus for them and their pitchers because of built-in off days.
Asked if he has any advice for Chamberlain, Rivera said he is going to take it slow. “You don’t want to put too much in his head,” Rivera said. “You want to let him enjoy a good thing.”
The Yankees have not been to the World Series since 2003 and have not gotten past the first round of the playoffs since 2004. They have lost 10 of their last 13 postseason games.
“We haven’t accomplished anything yet,” said Jeter, who knows the addition of youth is vital to the Yankees’ success. “They have so much energy and that’s important, we need that.”
The Yankees will need every ounce of energy to succeed. “Phase one is accomplished, but the competition is fierce,” Brian Cashman said. “The four teams that are in really are the Fantastic Four in the American League. Our work is cut out for us and no doubt we know that.
“We dug ourselves a hole and now we’ve fought ourselves back to even. It’s back to zero-zero. Everybody starts at the same spot come October and we are thankful for that. We’ve got a second chance.”
Johnny Damon, who was down the wild-card road in 2004 with the Red Sox, said it’s too early to make a comparison between those world champion Red Sox and these Yankees.
“Going in, it’s got a similar ring to it,” Damon said. “We got some young guys who people don’t know and veterans who understand what it takes. We’ve overcome a lot. I don’t think anything is going to faze us.”
Damon said that October is a different beast than the regular season.
“One at-bat can make a difference in a game,” he said. “You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to do it at the right time.”