Joba Chamberlain

Joba Chamberlain
Chamberlain pitching for the Yankees on April 24, 2011
New York Yankees – No. 62
Pitcher
Born: (1985-09-23) September 23, 1985 Lincoln, Nebraska
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 7, 2007 for the New York Yankees
Career statistics (through April 27, 2013)
Win–loss record	21–13
Earned run average	3.74
Strikeouts	415
WHIP	1.35
Teams
New York Yankees (2007–present)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2009)

Justin Louis "Joba" Chamberlain (pron.: /ˈdʒɒbə/ JOB-ə; born Justin Louis Heath; September 23, 1985) is an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, Chamberlain plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. He debuted in MLB in 2007.

Early life

Chamberlain was born and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chamberlain's parents, Harlan Chamberlain and Jackie Standley, were never married and split up when Joba was 18 months old. Some sources say that Harlan obtained full custody of Joba when Joba was 3 years old, but Standley claims that Joba lived with her most of the time until Joba was 10 when she had Joba's surname legally changed from Heath, her maiden name, to Chamberlain. Standley began abusing drugs when Joba was 4 or 5 and says that she and Joba currently speak to each other only rarely.

Chamberlain's father was born on the Winnebago Indian Reservation, but had to leave to be treated for polio. Chamberlain still has family living on American Indian reservations. As of 2008, he was one of only three active non-Hispanic Native American players in Major League Baseball, with the others being Kyle Lohse of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox.

When Joba (then Justin) was a little boy, his two-year-old cousin was unable to pronounce her brother (Joba's other cousin) Joshua's name correctly, pronouncing it as Joba instead. Harlan Chamberlain heard this and liked the nickname, so he began referring to Justin (instead of cousin Joshua) as Joba. Harlan said the name was "dynamic." Joba agreed, and eventually had his name legally changed.

Joba served as a ball boy and bat boy for Lincoln Northeast High School's state championship baseball team, and eventually graduated from Northeast. He did not jump straight to college; to help pay the bills, Joba briefly worked for the city of Lincoln's maintenance department.

Amateur baseball career

High school

He played American Legion baseball over the summer of 2004 for Coach Steve Eckman, going 4–4 with a 1.36 ERA, as he struck out 137 hitters and walked only 21 en route to all-state honors. He recorded 21 strikeouts over 12 shutout innings in a matchup against future fellow Nebraska star Johnny Dorn’s team, a 15-inning game won by Grand Island, 1–0. He also hit .505 with 11 homers, 11 doubles and 37 RBIs as a two-way performer. At Lincoln Northeast High School for coaches Bill Fagler and Doug Kaltenberger he garnered second-team Super State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star, going 3–2 with a 3.35 ERA, as he struck out 29 in 31.1 innings as a senior.

College

Chamberlain started his college career playing for the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers under coach Damon Day, leading the team in ERA (5.23), opponents batting average (.250), strikeouts (49), and complete games (4) in just 8 starts as a freshman, before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He helped the Cornhuskers reach the 2005 College World Series and helped lead Nebraska to their first College World Series win, going 10–2 with a 2.81 ERA for the year; his 2005 stats included 5 double-digit strikeout games. Triceps tendinitis limited his 2006 season but he still pitched in 14 games, posting a 6–5 record with a 3.93 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 89.1 innings.

During 2004-2005, Chamberlain pitched for the Nebraska Bruins of the National Baseball Congress. In 2005, he started six games, recording a 5–0 record and a 1.59 ERA.

Professional baseball career

Minor leagues (2006–2007)

Chamberlain was drafted 41st overall by the New York Yankees in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft; the Yankees received that draft pick as free agent compensation for Tom Gordon, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Chamberlain did not pitch in the organized minors during the 2006 season, but pitched in the winter league in Hawaii, posting a 2.63 ERA for the West Oahu CaneFires.

Before the 2007 season, Baseball America ranked Chamberlain as the 4th-best prospect in the pitching-rich Yankee organization, and the 75th-best prospect in Major League Baseball, and ranked his fastball as the best in the Yankee farm system.

He spent the first part of his 2007 season on the Single-A Advanced Tampa Yankees in the Florida State League. He went 4–0 with a 2.03 ERA in 7 games, and had 51 strikeouts and 11 walks. He was then promoted to the Double-A Trenton Thunder in the Eastern League, where he was 4–2 in 7 games with a 3.43 ERA and 64 strikeouts. He was named to the U.S. Team in the 2007 All-Star Futures Game July 8 at AT&T Park. Chamberlain pitched the third inning, striking out one, walking one, and allowing a hit and an earned run. On July 24, 2007, Chamberlain was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and made his first start the next day, striking out 10 in 5 innings and earning his first Triple-A victory. While the Yankees still saw him as a starter in the future, the team announced on July 29, 2007, that Chamberlain would be moved to the Scranton-Wilkes Barre bullpen, and he made his first appearance the next day, striking out the side in 1 inning pitched and hitting 100 on the radar gun three times. On August 1, Joba went back to Trenton to make a relief appearance, striking out 2 batters in a 1–2–3 8th inning. He then came back to Scranton, pitching 2 innings and striking out 5 batters.

Major leagues (2007–present)

2007

On August 7, 2007, the Yankees purchased Chamberlain's contract, elevating him to the major leagues for the first time in his career. In his debut, a Yankees victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Chamberlain struck out the first batter he faced and went on to pitch two scoreless innings, striking out two.

Chamberlain's usage in games was initially restricted by what were referred to as the "Joba Rules," which prevented him from pitching on consecutive days and gave him an additional day of rest for each inning pitched in an outing.

On August 30, 2007, during a game vs the Boston Red Sox, Chamberlain threw two pitches over the head of Kevin Youkilis. Chamberlain was subsequently ejected for the first time in his Major League career. The next day, Chamberlain was sentenced to a two game suspension and a $1,000 fine.

In Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS against the Cleveland Indians, Chamberlain was pitching in the bottom of the eighth with the Yankees leading 1–0. Suddenly, a host of small insects swarmed the field. He was repeatedly sprayed down with insect repellent, which had no apparent deterrent effect on the midges. Chamberlain threw 2 wild pitches, yielding the tying run. The Indians went on to win the game 2–1. The Yankees would then lose the Division Series against the Indians in 4 games in the best-of-five series.

2008

Chamberlain during 2008 spring training

On March 20, 2008, the Yankees announced that Chamberlain would start the season in the bullpen. Manager Joe Girardi stated that Chamberlain would be used 'without restrictions' but that the team's use of Chamberlain would be guided by common sense.

Chamberlain was granted a leave of absence on April 13, 2008, when he received news that his father, Harlan, was in the hospital after collapsing at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska. At the time of his leave, Joba had a record of 1–0, with a 0.00 ERA, six strikeouts, and 3 holds in 4 games and 5⅓ innings pitched. Chamberlain returned from the bereavement in time for the 2nd game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 19, 2008. On April 20, Hank Steinbrenner announced that he wanted Chamberlain to be moved into the rotation.

In May Girardi announced Chamberlain was being transitioned into the starting rotation. On June 3, Chamberlain made his first MLB start against Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays lasting only 2⅓ innings while allowing 2 runs, a hit and 4 walks. One June 25, Chamberlain earned his first career win as a starter, throwing 6⅔ scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, en route to a 10–0 Yankees victory.

On July 25, Chamberlain threw 7 shutout innings against the Red Sox, out dueling Red Sox ace Josh Beckett, allowing only 3 hits and striking out 9. The Yankees won the game 1–0.

On August 4, Chamberlain injured his shoulder in a game against the Texas Rangers and was placed on the 15-day disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman later acknowledged that this injury had a lasting effect.

Chamberlain ended the season with a 3–1 record and eight no-decisions.

2009

Chamberlain during the 2009 ALCS

Chamberlain learned about his role in the Yankees rotation in November, and stated that knowing about the team's plans to use him as a starter rather than as a reliever who would move into a starting role at some point in the middle of the season (as was the case in 2008) changes his mental approach to preparing for the season, and makes things easier on him. During the All-Star break, Chamberlain went back home to Lincoln, Nebraska to get his mind off things by playing with his son so he could "be himself" and get more confidence on the mound. Chamberlain continued to struggle in the second half of the season. The Yankees considered demoting him to the minor leagues and leaving him off of the postseason roster, but the Yankees kept Chamberlain on the roster in a set-up role as the Yankees went with a three man starting rotation en route to winning the 2009 World Series.

2010

Heading into the new season, before Spring Training Yankees Manager Joe Girardi had declared that there would be competition for the 5th spot in the Yankees starting rotation. The favorites were most notably Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. Towards the end of Spring Training, Hughes was declared the winner, which sent Chamberlain back to the bullpen. From the start of the season through July Chamberlain struggled, with an ERA over 5. His performance improved in August and September; in Chamberlain's last 28 appearances of the 2010 regular season, his ERA was 2.38.

2011

The Yankees ruled out using Chamberlain as a starting pitcher in 2011 arguing that his pitches have greater velocity when he pitches in relief. At the beginning of the season, he was moved to the seventh-inning role to accommodate Rafael Soriano. He would later become the set-up man to Mariano Rivera briefly after Soriano went on the disabled list. Chamberlain himself was placed on the disabled list on June 8 due to an elbow injury. He had Tommy John surgery performed to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow and was placed on injured reserve.

2012

In January 2012, the Yankees and Chamberlain agreed on a 1-year non-guaranteed contract worth approximately $1.675 million.

On March 22, 2012, Chamberlain severely injured his right leg while bouncing on a trampoline in a Tampa jump center. He suffered an open dislocation of his ankle. Initial reports indicated that he had lost so much blood that onlookers at the scene feared that he might bleed to death. However, Chamberlain himself later discredited these accusations during a press conference stating that he never suffered any life threatening injury nor did he lose much blood.

Chamberlain began the 2012 season on the 60-day disabled list due to the ankle injury and recovering from the Tommy John surgery he previously had. He returned on August 1, 2012 against the Baltimore Orioles.

In the top 12th inning of Game 4 of the 2012 ALDS, Chamberlain was struck in the elbow by a broken bat by Matt Wieters of the Orioles. He was forced to leave the game.

2013

On May 2, 2013, Chamberlain was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain.

Personal life

Chamberlain has one son, Karter. Chamberlain made an appearance in the season 2 episode 15 episode of Man v. Food which airs on the Travel Channel. The episode was filmed in Brooklyn and featured Chamberlain coaching host Adam Richman through an eating challenge.

DUI conviction

On October 18, 2008 at 1:00 a.m., Chamberlain was arrested in Nebraska for suspicion of driving under the influence, speeding and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. A Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson said Chamberlain was stopped for speeding on U.S. Route 77 near his hometown of Lincoln. His arrest was captured on police video, which later aired on the "Drivers 13" episode of truTV Presents: World's Dumbest.... His arraignment was postponed four times: in December 2008, January 2009, and twice in March 2009, all by Chamberlain's request. He pleaded guilty to drunk driving and was sentenced to probation on April 1, 2009.

Awards

• 2005 3rd Team All-American
• 2005 1st Team All Big 12
• 2005 Big 12 Newcomer Pitcher of the Year
• 2005 2nd Team All Midwest Region
• 2005 Big 12 Pitcher of the Week (2005-03-01)
• 2005 National Pitcher of the Week (2005-01-03)
• 2005 Big 12 Pitcher of the Week (2005-04-25)
• 2006 1st Team Preseason All-American
• 2006 Hawaiian Winter Post-Season All-Star
• 2007 FSL Pitcher of the Week (2007-05-14)
• 2007 FSL Pitcher of the Week (2007-05-28)
• 2007 EL Pitcher of the Week (2007-06-18)

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Joba Chamberlain on Twitter
• Minor League Baseball stats
• Huskers.com Awards, Bio, and Stats
• Joba's First MLB Interview – Audio file on blog