Is Chamberlain injury last straw for ‘08 Yanks?
The loss of Joba Chamberlain for any period of time could be devastating for the Yankees who may finally have one injury too many. I’m amazed at how the Yanks have pieced together a respectable year after losing Posada, Matsui, Wang, Hughes et al for extended periods. They even made some brilliant moves at the trade deadline–getting Pudge, Marte, Naday and Sexon for virtually nothing. But losing Joba may be too much.
The latest word on the Joba Chamberlain injury is that he’s out for at least 15 days after which he’ll begin rehabbing. In other words, the MRI results he got were not the worst possible, and surgery seems avoidable for now. But with only 6 or so weeks left in the season and with the yanks 6.5 and 3.5 out of the division and wildcard respectively, things look grim. To make up that kind of ground, they yanks need to go on a tear of epic proportions, and we all know how difficult that can be with an inconsistent starting rotation.
That said, Colorado pulled off such a tear last year with a group of pitchers headed up by Jeff Francis, so stranger things have happened not that long ago. But the real issue is that there are three good teams in the Yanks’ division for the first time in a long time, and only two of them can play in October. In addition, the the Twins and Rangers can’t be overlooked as playoff contenders, so the bottom line is that the Yanks will need to trend on a .700 winning percentage to even think about the postseason. Again, not impossible, but very difficult given the lack of pop in the offense and the lack of consistency by the pitching.
One final thought: it would really twist the knife into the fans if the Yanks can’t somehow rally and play October baseball in the last year of the Stadium. If this does happen, check out these autographed bats and get yourself a nice souvenir to dull the pain.
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1 comment
They’re the Yankees! If any team could overcome an injured player this late in the game, it’s them!
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