WHY YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE JOBA'S GUTS

Make no mistake, the Joba bash fest is finished on Bleeding Yankee Blue. What I saw from Joba’s press conference 2 days ago was a man that was humbled. I saw a man that knew that there were 2 things he needed to do in life, care for his son, who he’s clearly crazy about, and win with the Yankees. Remember Adrienne in Rocky? “There’s one thing I want you to do for me…come here… Win!”

Joba Chamberlain is a winner. We can sit here and go down the list of misfortunes, but I’m done with that. This guy deserves to fix this for himself, for the Yankees and for the fans and despite what doctors and the Yankees may believe about when he can return to action in pinstripes, make no mistake, Joba Chamberlain will be back, somehow and some way.

In his press conference, which at sometimes was emotional, it became crystal clear to me that this man believes in himself and wants Yankeeland to embrace him again. After all, he wasn’t taking PED's and didn’t get caught doing cocaine in the bathroom. He was a dad that made a risky mistake, and grew up at that moment. So, now we need to embrace him, back him and trust that if he believes in himself, we should believe in him too.

Joba Chamberlain’s had a tough run, but the Yankees have always believed in him, if they didn’t Joba Chamberlain would have been gone after the bug incident in Cleveland. I say that sarcastically but it's true...the Yankees don’t always have patience. But once thing they do have is a lot invested in guys like Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, because, while Ian Kennedy seems to emerged as a successful pitcher in the National League, the Yankees never want to admit failure, and so, they’ll expect Joba and Phil to get on track and they will because Joba and Phil have had a hell of a journey. It’s almost not fair.

Joba loves his son, and that was a never in question. We all know that to be true, and he said something that makes plenty of sense: “I’m never going to look at anything I do with my son as reckless... you can look at anything, throwing him around in the pool...There’s a certain element of accidents in everyday life.” True, he also said “I felt like let I my team down, to be perfectly honest with you, and that’s the most frustrating part.” True again.

He's been saying that he expects to pitch this year. Can he? Probably not, but God bless him for wanting to get back out there. It’s that kind of confidence, love of team and pride that offered a Rudy moment for me. You know that Rudy moment? That moment where you’re watching the film Rudy and after fighting his way to at least dressing for Notre Dame and standing on the sidelines, his teammates start chanting “Rudy, Rudy” until little Rudy gets to run out on the field and make 1 tackle, even if it was just for a moment… his dream came true.

Right now, Joba’s my Rudy, because there’s been a lot said about Joba the past several days, but now you’re about to hear something new… courage. Joba’s got a ferocity and courage right now that will catapult him back on the mound no matter what, because he knows it’s that confidence and courage that the Yankees and the fans want. You have to love and respect that.

So Joba... it’s a clean slate right now, you’re forgiven. It’s time to climb the mountain and we’re here to root you on. Come on you big lug…reach the top… “Joba, Joba!”

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