Joba Chamberlain, SP, New York Yankees
On September 16, the Yankees took a 3-run lead over the Red Sox at Fenway Park in the eighth inning on a Derek Jeter home run. Chamberlain had just pitched a scoreless seventh inning, and was asked to hold onto the lead in the eighth. Chamberlain gave up a solo home run to Mike Lowell, making the score 4-2. Mariano Rivera came in to save the game, giving Chamberlain and the Yankees the win.
That game proved significant because it was the only time in the regular season that Chamberlain allowed an earned run. In 24 regular season innings, Chamberlain allowed just one earned run.
Now, with Rivera signed on for another three years ($500,000 per save?), the word is that Chamberlain will join the starting rotation. This presents an interesting situation for fantasy baseball owners. Will you think the unthinkable and put Chamberlain up there with Johan Santana? It’s not likely, but it’s at least a small possibility that they can put up similar statistics.
A safer prediction might be to place Chamberlain in the same category (statistics-wise, risk/reward-wise) as Francisco Liriano. He’s got the heat, the control, the composure (unless the bugs get out of control). Does he have the endurance?
The main point I want to stress is not to overpick a starting pitcher of good quality, whether that’s Liriano, Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, or Fausto Carmona, as long as someone like Chamberlain is on the board (see One Question You Must Ask Yourself Before Every Pick).
Bottom line: Given the large amount of injury risks that many top pitchers are facing, it’s not out of the question to take Chamberlain high, perhaps even after Felix Hernandez.
Projection: 159 IP, 13-5, 167 K, 3.12 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
|