At 7:43 last night, I commented here on the blog that I intended to do a column on Jason Giambi for today's Newsday. I figured it was time to check in on Giambi's horrid start to the 2008 season, and ponder whether the Yankees would actually consider releasing him.
When Giambi had a strong start to the game, beating out a double play in the first inning and ripping an opposite-field, RBI double in the fourth, I thought, "Perfect!" I began to put together a column reflecting my belief that, while Giambi has been anything but relentless when it comes to his work ethic, he is resilient. I was going to bet, and I'll do it now, that Giambi will indeed finish this 2008 season in a Yankees uniform, although I'll also bank on a visit to the disabled list.
Yet as I was finishing up this column, David Dellucci came up as a pinch hitter against Joba Chamberlain with two outs and two on in the eighth inning. And the next thing I knew, I was calling Newsday's king of the night, Jeff Weinberg, and informing him that I was going to have to write about Joba. When someone as popular and buzzworth as Chamberlain picks up the first regular-season blown save of his career, and allows his first ever runs at Yankee Stadium, that's not something to be ignored. Even if the game-turning homer takes place at 10:00 and you have to have the column in by 11:15.
Here is the column. The point I attempted to make was that, whether he winds up as a reliever or a starter _ and I think it's a no-brainer that he should be a starter _ Chamberlain has some growing up to do.
So that's a brief glimpse into the nature of my job. Next week, I'll explain to you how I choose my clothes.
Jim Baumbach and Anthony Rieber debate this issue on their Final Score blog. Anthony disagrees with me regarding active collusion. Here's my response to Anthony: 1) The teams didn't need to have any conversations with the commissioner's office on this. It goes without saying that Bud Selig doesn't want Bonds around. So I doubt there's a paper trail. 2) Even if there is a paper trail, I don't see how the Players Association gets ahold of it.
Comments (15)
You article in today's paper is excellent. Excellent. Right on the mark about many different things. I noted a week or two ago that I thought it was ridiculous another young pitcher had shaken off the catcher three different times. I always don't like the excessive fist pumping, etc. It's bush.
Joba threw a high fastball right down the middle of the plate. Dellucci is a good enough player that you can't get away with throwing a pitch like that when he was obviously sitting on a fastball. He got around on it like Reggie. The very next batter, Joba threw two 96 mph fastballs at the knees for strikes, including strike three.
I am not going to second guess Girardi for not taking him out in favor of Rivera. Joba blew it with the pitch, but this too shall pass. It's part of the game and a long season. It certainly is tough to lose a game like this, especially after getting some good pitching from Farnsworth and contributions from Giambi.
Ken, just remember this. Nobody knows for sure if Joba can be a ace pitcher. Neither you or I know. Let's say Joba stuggles as a starter and the bullpen blows leads left and right in front of Rivera in the next 2 years. Then the people like me will be yelling and screaming for Joba to be in the pen after seeing him as a starter. Nothing is certain.
I am not crying about Bonds being unemployed but if Bud Selig and Don Fehr can still have jobs after letting PEDs infest the game, then Bonds should too.
Great column today, Ken (although I really would've enjoyed commenting on a column about why Jason Giambi should be DFA'd LOL).
I didn't like Joba's fist pumping and I didn't like him shaking off Molina last night. I like the kid okay, but his cockiness does bother me. Between some of the things I've seen on the field from him and some of the stuff I've read about off the field, I just wonder how many times Derek or Jorge or Mo or Andy have had to say something to him about acting like a professional.
Barry Bonds has himself to blame. He turn people off including the media. If he had acted like Jeter for his career, then people would have like him. Instead he didn't really care about the fans. The Steriods situation, he bought this on himself. Bonds took steriods beacuse he wanted to hit home runs. Now teams don't wanted him beacuse of the baggage he brings, and all the American League teams have DH spots that are filled.
Dennis is right--Bonds isn't out of the game because he took roids and hGH, he's out because he's a miserable human being. Remember when he was Bobby Bonilla's teammate on the Pirates and everyone looked at Bobby Bo as the good guy of those two?
As far as Giambi, 2 years or so ago he was an emaciated "former" juice user who claimed he only dropped "20 lbs." during the off season. He had an awful year, he was sick etc. etc., and the next year he came back looking like he did before "losing 20 lbs." Nobody has ever questioned this. How did he get "back into shape"? Why is he getting a free ride? Because he is a good guy like Lenny Dykstra was a good guy when he took the magic vitamins in the early 90's?
Giambi comment.
I remember a couple of years ago at the BBWAA dinner in New York when all the award winners showed up except Bonds. Ken, were you president of the group that year? The audience was told Bonds couldn't attend but had sent a videotaped acceptance. On came the tape and the hearty laughs followed. Bonds was wearing a skin tight black ski cap and looked more like a cat burglar than MVP player. If I was an owner, GM or player, I wouldn't want him near my team, especially now.
Sure Giambi will finish the year with New York, unless he drops below .150 for an extended period. If he does that, I agree with Ken, he will be put on the disabled list to save him the humiliation of release, etc.
The Mets find new ways to lose every day. They are lucky the division is pretty weak.
Joba, Reyes et al - I believe in the Jim Brown axiom,
When you do something well, act like you've been there before.
Celebrate when you win the World Series.
Joba - Challenge the batter on a 3-2 count to start an inning, do not go with a curve ball in the dirt looking for a strikeout.
Bonds - Yes he is not a pleasant fellow, but the law applies to even those we hate. We've had numerous posts re: stats on Ken's blog, and Bonds' sabremetric numbers were off the charts last year. What would his replacement value be to a team? If not, at what pont does clubhouse and team unity trump the numbers?
I think Joba is affected mentally and emotionally by his father's illness. Don't underestimate the power Joba gets from that close relationship. He will need to really grow up when the time comes.
I was at the dinner that year, Jim. I thought Bonds came off as rather cheerful, black ski cap or no black ski cap. He came the first year I emceed it, in 2003, and he couldn't have been more pleasant.
Bob, there's no doubt that Barry has immense value as a hitter. But I can tell you from first-hand experience, covering the Giants for about two weeks last year: Bonds was far and away the best player on that team, and yet they couldn't wait to get rid of him. I'm not surprised that the Giants are performing slightly better than people thought, because I will bet you it's a much looser clubhouse.
How do we quantify how a great but high maintenance players like Bonds who sap strength from his teammates? Does this show up in projected wins?
I feel like sabremetrics is science and scouts are religion and I am trying to argue for intelligent design!
Ken, you remember correctly: Bonds was cheerful. But, everyone still laughed hysterically. At the dinner, men wore business suits and many went black tie. Women wore their finest. Meanwhile, Bonds wore a black ski cap and looked like he had just worked out. He didn't have the common sense to dress appropriately. That was the point. Sure, he's a great hitter and could help someone right now. But, I don't blame anyone for not wanting him.
Second point: The Yankees clearly gave Posada a fourth year as a reward for his faifthful service. I don't think the Mets would have ever given him $40+ million over three years, especially because the NL doesn't have a DH and he is completely unproven at 1B. The Yankees overpaid after his career year. I hope they don't keep first base "open" for him and fail to go after Teixeira. Let Posada play 65-75 games at catcher, 65-75 games at DH and the rest at 1B or taking a break. I don't think he's been very good at 1B anyway. Ken, I disagree with your competition on this one.
Ken,
What about the horse's head in the bed? Surely that would leave a blood trail?
Fair point, Anthony. I stand corrected.