Royals: Joba’s “Nothing Special”
Via the Post -
It was a stronger start by Joba Chamberlain, but the Royals seemed to have more shrugs than raves.
“Nothing like we haven’t faced before,” leadoff man David DeJesus said after Chamberlain threw 41/3 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) in the Yankees’ 6-3 win.
DeJesus called Chamberlain “all right,” saying, “Just a guy throwing hard.” DeJesus, who went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk off Chamberlain, said that when he faced the flamethrowing righty, he was missing his location with his off-speed pitches.
Kansas City right fielder Mark Teahen praised Chamberlain’s pitches but said that he was “more or less the same as he was as a reliever,” adding, “Nothing special.”
Chamberlain’s former college teammate at Nebraska, Royals third baseman Alex Gordon, faced Chamberlain once as a reliever before going 1-for-2 against him yesterday as a starter.
Said Gordon, “He looked the same.”
I have to be honest here. From a far, I’ve always liked David DeJesus and Mark Teahen. They seem like hard-nosed players. In fact, I’ve always had this feeling that, maybe, someday, they might play for the Yankees – even if it was as bench and/or part-time players later in their career. And, until now, I was looking forward to that day.
Hearing these comments now, well, they suggest that DeJesus and Teahen still have a few things to learn about this game. Even if what they are saying here might be true – at this stage in Joba’s career – you just don’t say it.
If I were Chamberlain, I would now go out and get myself a T-shirt that reads “Nothing special” on the front and “Just a guy throwing hard” on the back. There’s a Nike commerical in the making there for him with this one.
I don’t think it’s that big a deal. The truth is that Joba WAS nothing special yesterday. He improved over last Tuesday but he wasn’t as good as we all think he can be. This is just the Royals trying to say something to make themselves feel better about being 15 games under .500. Again.
How often do you hear opposing players praise a guy who gave up six baserunners in fewer than five innings? Yes Joba was better, mostly because he didn’t walk the park. But he was far from unhittable, and he isn’t Josh Beckett yet.
When he goes 8 and gives up two hits and one walk, then you might hear some praise from the other clubhouse.
Josh Beckett gets his ass kissed a lot for having had one good season. Josh Beckett isn’t Curt Schilling yet.
No, but in the playoffs he’s been pretty darn close.
Much ado about nothing…
What opposing players say doesn’t mean much, because a team that just got beat probably isn’t in the mood to praise a phenom. But saying “he’s the same as when he was a reliever — nothing special” is pretty stupid. If he’s out there throwing the same as when he was a reliever, and doing it over four+ innings instead of one, then that’s a great thing — since he was basically unhittable as a reliever. If Joba rocks it out every inning as a starter the same way he did as a reliever, then that would make him the best starter in baseball.
Plus, looking at his stuff and thinking it’s nothing special is absurd. Joba’s fastball and slider are potentially the best in baseball.