Joba Proving to Be Human After All

Remember when the Yankees were loaded with young guns? Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain. The Yankees are coming! The Yankees are coming!

Hasn’t exactly panned out that way, has it?

Kennedy was a disaster in 2008, compiling an 8.17 ERA and 1.92 WHIP
in 10 games in the big leagues. He’s only made four Triple-A
appearances this season and is currently on the DL after having an aneurysm removed from his right pitching arm.

Hughes was inconsistent as a starter in 2008, but found his groove in ’09 before being moved to the bullpen when Chien-Ming Wang
was activated off the disabled list. Hughes has been dominant as a
reliever, picking up four holds in his last 10 appearances while not
allowing an earned run since June 10, when he let up two in a 6-5 loss
to the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Chamberlain was supposed to be the savior, the heir apparent to Mariano Rivera.
Busting onto the scene in 2007, Joba was virtually unhittable,
gathering a 0.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 12.75 K/9 ratio in 24 innings of
work as the Yankees’ eighth-inning setup man.

Then came the switch to starter.

Now come the growing pains.

In primarily a starting role in 2008, Chamberlain was effective on
the Bronx bump, going 4-3 with a 2.60 ERA, though he was held to strict
pitch counts and innings limits. This season has been a bit different
for the flame-throwing right-hander. He’s struggled some of late,
causing the Bronx to go into a bit of a panic.

Joba has stumbled over his last five starts,
going 1-1 while allowing 15 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings of work (5.26
ERA). He’s struggled with his command, allowing 14 walks in his last
six starts (29 2/3 innings,  4.34 BB/9).

So he’s human, so what? At 23 years old, the road to major league
dominance isn’t always paved as nicely as Dorothy’s path to Oz.

But still, those that devour huge slices of pizza and live in the
big city can’t help but stare north, both geographically and in the AL
East standings, where their beloved Bombers sit three games back of
Boston.

Whereas the Yankees’ young hurlers have unimpressed, the Red Sox’ equivalencies have been impressive. Manny Delcarmen (2.41 ERA), Daniel Bard (2.55) and Jon Lester (8-6,
3.87 ERA, 10.34 K/9) have been vital pieces to the Red Sox’ puzzle, one
that owns the AL’s best record at the All-Star break.

Like his Yankee counterparts, Justin Masterson has
waned a bit (4.98 ERA) since being last season’s go-to, eighth-inning
postseason stopper. But luckily for him, his budding bullpen buddies
have picked up the slack.

New York’s David Robertson (3.57 ERA) has achieved
similar success to Delcarmen, but like Delcarmen, he has faltered with
inherited base runners in big spots. Alfredo Aceves
(2.43 ERA, 0.89 WHIP) has been the most versatile Yankees reliever,
pitching in both long and middle relief while also making a spot start.
Aceves emergence onto the scene at the end of last season is a major
reason why the Yankees aren’t more than three games back this season.

But what about the aforementioned Big Three that we heard so much about two and three years ago?

Player development has been the storied difference between the
Yankees and Red Sox in recent years. The Red Sox have outdueled their
bitter rivals in that category, especially on the mound, which has
resulted in a pair of World Series trophies since the Yankees’ last won
a title.

But there’s still 74 games remaining in 2009, and three games ago, both teams were tied atop the toughest division in baseball.

Will Joba regain his 2007 form? Will any of the Sox’ young studs slip down the stretch?

There’s only one way to find out. Stay tuned.