The Joba Debate Continues

No not that one; the bullpen-starter debate has been tabled. Now the airwaves are being filled with discussions of Joba Chamberlain's yelling, fist-pumping celebration routine. It really came into focus yesterday when Chamberlain struck out David Dellucci to end the 8th inning. The Yankees had a 3-run lead at the time. Perhaps it would have just been quickly forgotten, but Dellucci had hit a game winning 3-run home run against Chamberlain nights before. Dellucci, for one, was not happy.

"That's what gets him going and that's what everybody likes to see, but if a hitter was to do something like that they'd probably say it was 'bush (league)' and you shouldn't do it," Dellucci said. "It's kind of funny how a pitcher can get away with it."

"If he wants to yell and scream after a strikeout and dance around, I guess that gets him going," Dellucci said. "My home run was in a much bigger situation, more a key part of the game and I didn't dance around and scream."

Dellucci does have a point. We've had mixed feelings about the whole thing, probably because we've been caught up in Jobamania ourselves. But we only have to think about opponent's displays of celebration that have ticked us off over the years. Manny Ramirez's home run stare, Dennis Eckersley's over the top celebration when he recorded a save. The same for K-Rod and Ugie Urbina. And there's no doubt that Dellucci's game winner was a lot bigger situation than than yesterday's at-bat.

Needless to say the topic provided much fodder on Mike and the Mad Dog yesterday (Michael Kay was still talking about Joe Torre calling Jorge Posada), and as we waited for breakfast this morning, ESPN's First Take (Cold Pizza renamed, but just as bad) was about to discuss it as well.
Mariano Rivera's schooling of Joba could have an effect on all of this. Mo has been known to say something to the effect of "you don't want to do anything to motivate your opponent more than they already are." Sounds like sound advice.

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