Via Jim Baumbach, Darryl Strawberry has a few words of caution for Joba regarding his DUI arrest. Strawman, who’s problems are well documented and impacted what could have been a Hall of Fame career, suggests he seek out The Captain for advice because Jeter’s mastered the art of being a superstar in New York. I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again: Joba’s rise to stardom in NY was meteoric, but the fall from grace could be even swifter. Hopefully he realizes this. (h/t Seamus)

Popularity: 2% [?]

There is absolutely no way to excuse what Joba Chamberlain did over the weekend. Driving with a BAC nearly twice the legal limit isn’t something one can chalk up to youth. No one should drive drunk at 23, and no one should drive drunk at 53. But that doesn’t mean Anthony Rieber should go around penning columns like this one in which he asserts that Joba’s DUI could portend problems for his move into the rotation. I can’t even do this piece justice, but I can wonder: Is it really that hard to have a real baseball discourse in the pages of the New York City papers?

Update by Joe: In case you need to live vicariously through Joba, you can check out the details of his night out. Yippee. All this coverage of this incident really makes me want to just get back to talking baseball. We’ll go for that this afternoon.

Popularity: 5% [?]

From the self-proclaimed World Wide Leader:

“I want to apologize to the New York Yankees and the fans for an error in judgment and for putting myself in a difficult situation,” Chamberlain said in a statement released by his agent, Randy Hendricks. “I intend to properly resolve this situation, and do not intend to be in such a situation again. My goal is to focus on pitching for the Yankees in the 2009 season.”

The article goes on to say that Joba’s blood-alcohol level was unknown, and paperwork will be prepared Monday to determine what charges will be filed, if any. As reader Ben B. pointed out last night, there’s a mandatory minimum of 7 days in jail if found guilty, however he could receive less punishment if he’s put on probation.

Joba’s rise to borderline superstardom for the Yankees was meteoric, but a fall from grace can be even swifter. Hopefully Joba realizes this and learns from the mistake. This kind of behavior is inexcusable for anyone, especially someone with countless children looking up to him. Hopefully Harlan lays the smack down, and this is a one-time incident.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Title says it all. Joba was arrested for DUI early Saturday back home in Nebraska, thankfully no one was hurt. Idiot.

Update (11:15pm): PeteAbe will update this post with more info as it becomes available.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Was this really the best Hank Steinbrenner could do? The Yanks’ official impotent mouthpiece announced that Joba Chamberlain will start in 2009. “Everyone’s pretty much in agreement with that,” Hank said, thus confirming what we all knew four weeks ago.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Longtime RAB reader Jamal G. sends along this email:

Just listening in on WFAN, and Brian Cashman said Joba Chamberlain will be a starter for the entire 2009 season. So far, he says that CMW and Joba are the only pitchers guaranteed spots in the Major League rotation.

Booya. Cashman’s a genius.

Update: Here’s the link to the interview.

Popularity: 5% [?]

While George King was busy printing rumors about Joba’s shoulder, another Post reporter decided to ask the man himself. Joba says his shoulder is a-okay. He says he just couldn’t get loose on Sunday in Boston. There’s nothing wrong with that; it was raining and chilly. Plus, as anyone who ever participates in any athletic activity knows, some days, you just can’t get loose. There’s nothing to see here, people. Move along.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Just caught this over at Baseball Think Factory. While many assumed that Joe Girardi pulled Joba Chamberlain in the eighth inning of Sunday’s early game because he was trying to protect Mike Mussina’s 20th win, that might not be the whole truth. “Several people” said that Joba admitted his shoulder felt tight. This, of course, comes with the “anonymous source” caveat. One scout speculated that a tight shoulder could have been the reason for Joba’s diminished velocity in September, as well as the reason for his throwing more sliders.

Thankfully, Joba won’t be pitching again until mid-February, so if this is an issue he has plenty of time to deal with it. This winter should be all about conditioning and building strength in that shoulder. Hopefully, Joba can get to the point where he can become a full-time starter in 2009.

Popularity: 5% [?]

One of the larger issues the Yankees will have to deal with this off-season is what to do regarding the rotation next year, specifically with Joba Chamberlain. Hints and rumors abounded that the Yanks would employ a similar strategy as this year; that is, start him in the bullpen and transition him mid-year, so that he can stay under his innings cap. It seems the Yanks are believers in the 30-inning rule, so Joba would be limited to around 130 to 135 innings next year. Not exactly what you want from a front line starter.

Peter Abraham, writing in his paper, not on his blog, discussed the topic with Joe Girardi. It seems that the team might actually get creative with their use of Joba, rather than try for the simplest method of limiting his innings, which is what they did this year.

“Will the inning restrictions be there next year? Possibly,” Girardi said. “But he’s going to be a year stronger. He’s got 100 innings, and part of that was rehabbing a little bit. It’s something we’ll discuss.”
…
“There are a lot of different things where you can be creative,” Girardi said. “If you have depth in your rotation, (Chamberlain doesn’t) have to make 32 starts like everybody else. … You skip a start here, those type of things.”

That means having four other viable starters who can shoulder the load while Joba skips starts. It also means having a viable sixth option, since we know that injury can strike at any time. Just another sign that the Yankees will have a busy off-season in the pitching department.

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Yankees have two pitcher spots left to fill for the Arizona Fall League. There’s been some speculation that one of those spots could go to Joba Chamberlain, who could use a few more innings this year after missing a month with shoulder tendinitis. Today, Joel Sherman reports that the Yankees are “strongly weighing” the possibility of not only sending Joba to the AzFL, but also Ian Kennedy, who missed time in May with a back injury.

The Yanks would very much like all three of their young pitchers to get additional work to refine their repertoires and also to build innings so that they could be in position next year to take on expanded roles. But, especially in the case of Chamberlain, the Yanks are worried about putting too much on a pitcher who this year began spring as a starter, switched to the pen, moved to the rotation, went on the DL with shoulder tendinitis and returned to the bullpen. That is why the meetings include not just GM Brian Cashman, minor league head Mark Newman and minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras, but also consultations with trainers and doctors.

It’s good to know the team is being cautious. While the average fan probably thinks Joba should pitch this fall so that he can expand his innings limit for next year, we don’t have all the relevant information. They’ll have to get a real gauge on Joba’s shoulder before making any kind of decision on whether he pitches, ad what his role will be in the future.

Sherman also touches on Ian Kennedy, who was the losing pitcher in last night’s Bricktown Showdown. The Yankees are considering calling him up to make a start before the end of the season, but will only call him up if he’s penciled in. He could take Andy Pettitte’s final start after he closes down the Stadium, or he could take Pavano’s spot. At this point, there’s no reason to not give Kennedy another start. Why trot out an injured Pettitte or a healthy Carl Pavano (ha!)?

Popularity: 5% [?]