JOBA MATURED FROM RULES & MISTAKES

Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record is my morning coffee reading. Good piece today about Joba Chamberlain and how he's grown up in front of our eyes. From his 2007 arrival, to his DUI in Nebraska to the bugs in Cleveland, to his Tommy John Surgery and trampoline mishap.  It feels like he's been with us for a lifetime, yet he turns 27 today.  Through it all, Joba has grown up...big time.  Check out a portion of Caldera's piece:

"Chamberlain would have arrived for the 2012 season a lot sooner after Tommy John surgery if it weren't for the trampoline accident that left him with a dislocated ankle – and much longer odds of pitching meaningful innings this year.

He says he never doubted his comeback. Rehab was a cinch compared to baring his emotions to his teammates.

'The hardest thing for me was sitting in front of them and apologizing because I thought I let them down to an extent,' Chamberlain said recently. 'But I always said, 'I'm going to pitch for you guys this year, I promise you that.'
 
'And not only am I going to pitch, but I'm going to help this team win in some way, shape or form,' Chamberlain said. 'Now, I feel I'm getting to where I want to be in that aspect.'

In his past 10 games, Chamberlain has yielded one earned run in nine innings, with 13 strikeouts and one walk. And he's been getting important outs in the midst of this manic September.

Girardi doesn't view Chamberlain's contributions now as an added bonus. 'He worked really hard to get where he's at and he's seemed to find his command and be more consistent,' Girardi said. 'And that's what we were hoping for.'

'The support I've had from my teammates is incredible,' Chamberlain said of this latest comeback. 'I can't thank them enough for sticking behind me.'"

Check out Caldera's full piece titled Joba Chamberlain has his own rule now, and that's to help Yankees win. And you can read BYB's piece on Joba from earlier in the week titled  WHAT JOBA MEANS TO THE YANKS NOW & BEYOND,a great piece by Steve Skinner.

Enjoy your Sunday!

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