During last night's Yankee game, YES Network announcers Michael Kay and Paul O'Neill spent most of the inning Joba Chamberlain pitched talking about the inning he pitched on Monday night. After striking out Frank Thomas to end the eighth frame, Chamberlain pumped his fist. That led to a discussion about whether or not the young fella was showing up the old guy, discussion Thomas tried to stamp out."He was pumped up, did a good job, and he struck me out in a big situation. So go ahead."And that's that.
Except the New York media can't let sleeping dogs lie. The tabloids this morning featured stories about fist pumps (or the lack thereof) and how that's just Joba being Joba. Kay and O'Neill were also predictably homeriffic about it comparing Chamberlain's celebration favorably to ones by Dennis Eckersley. Those other celebrations weren't kosher because they're premeditated and it's that premeditation that means you're showing the other guy up.
Of course they'd have the opposite opinion if it were Jonathan Papelbon but so what. It's like having kids. You can talk about your own kids for hours at a time but when others do it, you lose interest. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just the truth. There's no reason why Chamberlain shouldn't pump his fist after getting a big strikeout. There's no reason to expect it won't rub someone the wrong way at some point. Talking about it all the time, on either side, is just a waste of time and energy.
ADVERTISEMENT
_thumbnail.jpg "NASCAR Cowboy Hats")
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I don't see the problem at all. Anyone that has watched him do it can see that he's just excited - it's not grandstanding. Any batter that would be offended by that needs to simmer down.
Posted at 12:19PM on Apr 4th 2008 by Yankees Chick
2. Hey YC, remember that sentiment the next time Michael Kay whines that no pitchers on the Yankees have any stones because they won't throw at Manny Ramirez after he watches his homerun/flyout.
Posted at 12:42PM on Apr 4th 2008 by Mike
3. Hey Josh, did you even listen to the game? He said that Paprlbon and K-rod do the same type of thing that Joba does and it is fine since it is on emotion, not on wanting to show up the batter. So he doesn't have the opposite opinion about Papelbon unlike what you said.
Posted at 10:37PM on Apr 4th 2008 by matt B
4. The fist is a sign of victory, not a .....facial"I struck yr ass out take that btch" thing...leave it alone. Joba is a good guy.
I'll give you one Frank....Next time, if you take Joba 466 ft, pump that fist as you round first big guy!!!
You deserve it and you ARE.. THE BIG HURT!!
Posted at 1:35PM on Apr 5th 2008 by john