A few thoughts on the state of the Yankees before today’s game at the House of Horrors, East Coast Edition — aka Tropicana Field.
Yes, yesterday wasn’t Joe Girardi’s finest hour — obviously, he pulled Phil Hughes too late, even though everybody and their grandmother knew that Mark Reynolds was going to go deep against him. And why he pulled Chris Dickerson — the Yanks’ star of the game — I don’t understand.
But can we talk about Joba Chamberlain for a second? I’m sick of hearing all the excuses for him. Maybe it’s not that the Yankees brought him back too soon, use him in the wrong spots, or any of the other excuses. Maybe he’s just not very good. And he never will be again.
If his name were John Chamberlain, Joba wouldn’t have a career at this point. It’s been a lifetime in baseball years since he was a difference-maker. Yet people seem still expect that he’s going to turn it around and show the promise he did in 2007. Perhaps it’s time to give up on that pipe dream. Whether he’s a starter or reliever, he is never going to live up to that, and he’s not even serviceable now as a middle reliever. I will not be surprised if the Yanks give up on him after this season.
Joba’s ERA is over 10 now. He’s looked terrible in pretty much every single game he is in. It’s painful to watch him any more. If the Yanks bring him back next year, it will be more of the same.
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