SNY voices quick to chide deliberate Joba Chamberlain
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SNY voices quick to chide deliberate Joba Chamberlain
The line was once reserved for Steve Trachsel. On Friday night, Keith Hernandez applied it to alleged phenom Joba Chamberlain.
"It's like watching paint dry with Joba out there, isn't it?" Hernandez, on SportsNet New York, asked with Carlos Beltran batting (3-2 count, third inning) and the bases loaded.
The needle Brian Bruney stuck Francisco Rodriguez with wasn't the only body-piercing during Round 1 of the Subway Series. SNY's voices stuck it to Joba pretty good during a 43-pitch third inning sans midges.
This wasn't a total bludgeon job. It was an exercise in frustration. It was not all audio dynamite. Throughout the inning, SNY's cameras alternated between the faces of Joe Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland. Their mugs were the picture of exasperation. Jorge Posada did not escape unscathed, either.
Ron Darling explained Posada's role in this constipated relationship. After the opinionated catcher made yet another trip to the mound ("How can this be?" Gary Cohen asked), Darling said: "There's been a problem all year ... Posada is one of those catchers who goes with a game plan and is very stubborn how he calls a game. He really doesn't want his pitchers to shake him off. And when that happens, a guy like Chamberlain will call him out."
Shortly after Darling's comment, Chamberlain shook off Posada four more times, causing the catcher to make another trip to the mound.
"Take him out to dinner," Hernandez said incredulously. "... How do you get into a rhythm with all these stops and starts?" What he meant to say: The next time Joba shakes him off, Posada should kick his tuchis.
Chamberlain walked Beltran, struck out David Wright, then hit Ryan Church, forcing in the go-ahead run.
"I feel like I'm watching an 'A Ball' game," Hernandez moaned.
With Gary Sheffield up, Hernandez continued chirping: "I played for managers who, the way Joba is pitching, shaking off Posada and throwing breaking balls, would just yank him on general principles."
Cohen: "This is dreadful."
An appropriate description. Will SNY mouths have any verbal bullets left if Joba pitches during Round 2 in a couple of weeks?
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SNY voices quick to chide deliberate Joba Chamberlain