THE RISE OF JOBA CHAMBERLAIN

Joba Chamberlain is back! Well, not back, but very close. And no, this is not some strange cruel joke on Yankees fans. The latest out of Yankeeland is that Joba has just 2 more appearances before he rejoins the Yankees. Read about it HERE. According to George King III:


"If Chamberlain comes out of Tuesday's exercise healthy there is a good chance he will work Wednesday. Then after a couple of days off he could make one more minor league start before coming off the DL and joining the Yankees."

Remember, in March Joba was working his way back from Tommy John’s surgery. Originally, he was expected back just before the All-Star Break. Then the news hit that he was hospitalized with an open dislocation in his right ankle. (Read BYB's piece here titled WHY JOBA CHAMBERLAIN NEEDS TOUGH LOVE.) Who could forget, he'd gotten hurt while playing on a trampoline with his son and would require surgery. At the time, it was dark and it was clear the season for Joba was over.

However, Joba seemed optimistic. To the surprise of most fans, he tweeted in May that he had been playing catch. What would this mean for his recovery? Would it be possible for him to come back this season? Well, at the time, no one was sure, except Joba, who has the fire! After promising to return and working his butt off, it now seems more then possible he will return. I'm psyched. So is Girardi who said "Everything went smoothly."

It's amazing, Cashman originally said that Joba wouldn’t return until early August. Seems there is now a possibility that he will be back as early as the end of the week...in July. And none too soon. I cannot wait to see Joba on the mound in the Bronx. Joba, you're close, make sure you stay clear of trampoline's this week!

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer




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