Joba Process Continues ... #62 Throws 62 Pitches

"It was the first step, that's all"  ...  Hank Steinbrenner

New York, June 3, 2008 ... Yankee Stadium had the feel of a Playoff or World Series game last night, as Joba Chamberlain made his first major league start against the Toronto Blue Jays. This was a major event that had the attention of the whole baseball world, and it was fitting that the pitching mound was once again "center stage" for another historic moment at the most famous and historic venue in the history of all sports, Yankee Stadium.

There was a buzz in the crowd, and the air was electric as Joba ran to the pitchers mound to take his warm-up pitches before the start of this game. The overflowing crowd was standing and cheering with the excitement of hope, and the energy of the moment could be felt from everywhere this event was being viewed. 

Joba Chamberlain was ready, as the cheering of the crowd grew louder, bringing the engery level to its peak. Shannon Stewart stepped-up to the plate, as Joba set himself on the mound to deliver his first pitch. Outside for a ball. Chamberlain's first pitch as a starter was now in the books; and, the process continues. 

This start didn't totally turn out as expected, though, as it took Joba 38 pitches to get out of the first inning.

Stewart walked [on 8 pitches] leading off the inning. Chamberlain then struck-out Marco Scutaro [swinging] on a high, hanging slider, Joba's 14th pitch of the inning. Alex Rios was the next batter, and on a pick-off attempt to first, Joba balked Stewart to second. On the third pitch of his at bat, Rios swung and missed at a ball, down and in, which deflected off catcher, Jose Molina's glove, for a passed ball, that advanced Stewart to third. Rios then grounded out to second on the next pitch [18th of the inning], driving home the first run of the game.

That was the second out, and Joba had a chance to complete his first inning as a starter without any further damage. After a ball to clean-up hitter, Scott Rolen, Joba got Rolen to swing and miss at the next two pitches, to bring the count to (1-2). On the 22th pitch of the inning, Rolen singled on a ball that was not hit very hard, but found its way through the right side of the infield.

So, the inning continued ... 

Chamberlain then walked Matt Stairs on a (3-2) pitch; and, also, Lyle Overbay on a (3-2) pitch, to load the bases. More importantly, Joba threw six pitches to each batter, upping his total to [34].

The extreme pitch total up to this point was one thing, but a base hit by the next batter could have really put this game out of reach. This is when Joba showed his brilliance as the dominate pitcher he is. 

Chamberlain threw a strike, on the first pitch, to 7th place hitter, Rod Barajas. Next pitch, strike two. The crowd was really into this at bat, standing and cheering, as Barajas fouled-off the third pitch to keep the count at (0-2). The runners on all three bases took a lead, as the cheering of the Yankee Stadium crowd grew louder and louder. Joba poised himself on the mound, and reared back to make his next pitch. A [99 mph] fastball exploded from the valuable right arm of Joba Chamberlain, and Rod Barajas swung and missed, "strike-three" !!! 

Joba walked to the dugout, as the Stadium crowd roared with its approval. The final pitch of the strikeout was the 38th pitch thrown by Chamberlain in the first inning. But, getting out of the base-loaded jam without allowing any more runs to score was a major victory for Joba; and, regardless of what anyone may think of Chamberlain's performance, this was Joba's shining moment of the game. He battled hard in that first inning, and worked himself out of a very tough situation.

The Yankees scored two runs in the bottom of the first, on a lead-off triple by Johnny Damon; Alex Rodriguez getting on base after being hit-by-a-pitch by Blue Jays starter, Roy Halladay; and, then, two, nice, opposite field singles by Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi, to give the Yanks a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the second, Chamberlain retired the side in order, getting Brad Wilkerson to fly out to left [on 6 pitches]; A [5 pitch] strikeout of David Eckstein, for the second out of the inning; and, then, after getting behind Shannon Stewart, (3-1), Joba got Stewart to fly out to right field, on the 5th pitch of the at-bat.

Joba threw 16 pitches in the second inning, bringing his total up to 54.

The score remained 2-1, as Joba came out to pitch the 3th inning.

The first batter up, Marco Scutaro, hit a long fly ball to right field [on a 2-1 pitch], and Bobby Abreu drifted back to the wall, as the wind was carrying the ball towards the right field stands. Abreu waited until the last minute, and then leaped up to make a spectacular catch, robbing Scutaro of at least a double. Bobby had a big smile on his face, after he threw the ball into the infield; and, Joba pumped his arm up in the air, as he looked in Abreu's direction, to give his approval of the great play that recorded the first out of the inning.

The pitch count was now up to 58, as Chamberlain faced the next batter, Alex Rios. Joba walked Rios on four pitches, which would finish his night, as Manager Joe Girardi walked to the mound to take Joba out of the game. Number 62 completed his task, throwing 62 pitches on this special night.

Joba Chamberlain entered the dugout to a standing ovation from the crowd. It was a show of appreciation for the awesome effort Joba gave on the mound tonight. It wasn't the kind of performance everyone expected from Joba, as the plan called for him to pitch at least four innings; maybe five. But, this start was part of the "process" of building Chamberlain's arm strength, and increasing his innings. 

There will be many more starts in Joba Chamberlain's career; and, in the future, the focus will not be on his pitch count. The focus will be on his "win" total, and when the word "ace" will be used to describe his status on the Yankees pitching staff.