JOBA SET FOR BOSOX SLUGGERS
By DAN MARTIN
Posted: 3:44 am
July 6, 2008
Although he didn't face the Red Sox coming out of the Yankees bullpen this season, Joba Chamberlain went up against them three times last year and gave up one run in 4 1/3 innings. It was enough to give him a taste of what the rivalry, and the Boston offense, are about as he prepares to start against the Red Sox tonight.
"They have a great lineup," Chamberlain said before the Yankees' 2-1 victory yesterday at Yankee Stadium. "There's no getting around that. But I have to attack them just like I would anyone else."
Chamberlain didn't do a good job of attacking his last opponent, the Rangers, tying a career-high by giving up four walks in just four innings in a 3-2 loss Tuesday.
Boston has more prowess then Texas at the plate. Nevertheless, manager Joe Girardi is confident that Chamberlain will be in better shape against the Red Sox than he was versus the Rangers because of his past experience.
"He has seen their hitters before," Girardi said. "He understands how to attack them. The big thing was that Texas was patient. When [the count is] 0-1, 0-2, teams change. You don't want to be down 0-2 to Joba Chamberlain."
The Yankees need Chamberlain to stay ahead in the count not just to be effective, but also to stay in the game, because the entire rotation has struggled to pitch deep into games.
"You can't put added pressure on yourself," Chamberlain said. "The more you do that, the harder you try to throw and the more things get out of control."
Even though his performance against the Rangers wasn't up to par, he believes he's better because of it.
"It could have been a lot worse," Chamberlain said. "I need to do what I did to get out of those jams more consistently. You learn from it and try to fix it."
Tonight would be a good time for that to happen.
