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Yankees' Chamberlain In Complete Control

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 26, 2008

TAMPA - To reach Mariano Rivera in the Yankees locker room, you have to get past Joba Chamberlain.

Get used to it.

New York's charismatic 22-year-old right-hander is slated to open the season as Rivera's set-up man, but club officials acknowledge Chamberlain's future rests as a starter.

It's quite a future.

"Not only does he have a big arm, but he has command," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Monday. "The guys who have good command usually have good mechanics and are able to stay around a long time."

Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy represent the next generation of Yankee hurlers and Chamberlain will open Friday's exhibition opener against the University of South Florida.

The 41st pick in the 2006 draft, Chamberlain is the highest-drafted Native American in baseball history.

He has expanded his repertoire by adding a changeup to a 98-mph fastball and a crackling slider that limited major-league batters to a .145 average last year in 19 relief appearances.

"Joba's like a big kid," said captain Derek Jeter. "You've got to remember he's only 22. He's sort of wide-eyed, but he's not overwhelmed. He's not lacking in confidence at all. He likes to have fun, and that's played a big part in his success."

Chamberlain's nipple rings and array of tattoos illustrate his free spirit, but what lies underneath is a tough, focused competitor.

"All you've got to do is watch me pitch," he said. "Simple as that. If you can't figure out that the game means a lot to me, you're not looking."

Chamberlain's control is particularly impressive for a power pitcher. He struck out 34 and walked only six in 24 regular-season innings in the majors after overwhelming minor-league batters at three different levels last summer.

"He's got all the tools and the attitude to be really, really good," said 39-year-old Mike Mussina, an enthusiastic mentor for New York's tantalizing trio. "The question is will it pan out that way? Let him go out there and do some pitching and we'll know the answer in a couple of years."

By that point, Mussina could be retired and Chamberlain could be an All-Star.

"I haven't had time to think about how I got here so fast," he said. "I've been thrown right in the fire ... and that's the way I want it to be."

Chamberlain is already a favorite with Legends Field fans and his teammates rarely pass up a chance to check him out on the mound.

"You don't realize how special it is to be a Yankee until you actually get here." he said. "We don't have a million writers in here every day because nobody cares about our team."

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be

reached at (813) 259-7833

or ikaufman@tampatrib.com.

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