Didn’t do the Job-a

Well, Joba Chamberlain didn’t get the job done. He lasted only two-and-one-third innings and threw 62 pitches in a 9-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees and Blue Jays were tied when Chamberlain exited the contest, but Toronto blew it open with a six-run seventh inning.

Chamberlain threw 37 pitches in the first inning and walked four batters before being pulled by manager Joe Girardi.

While it’s still too early to tell if Chamberlain will succeed as a starter for the Yankees, I will say that the hype surrounding the young right-hander should at least cool off a little. But, leave it up to Hank Steinbrenner to keep everyone’s hopes up about Chamberlain. Steinbrenner was quoted after the game saying, “It was a first step, that’s all.” Really Hank? I thought his first step was starting out in the bullpen and his second step was being prepped to be a starter by expanding the number of pitches he threw as a reliever. Wouldn’t this be his third step? I guess the fourth step is lasting five innings to be a pitcher of record in a winning situation and the fifth step must be getting a win. But, then again, I’m sure Hank thinks it’s all just a first step until Chamberlain can finally pitch well or get a win.

Oh, and in case you are wondering. After Chamberlain left the contest, the New York bullpen surrendered 11 hits, seven runs and walked six Blue Jay hitters.

I hear Joel Zumaya threw a couple of pitches over 100 MPH tonight in a rehab appearance. Maybe we should start talking about him now and leave this Chamberlain mess alone.