Keeping Joba On A Leash

With the rapid rise of Joba Chamberlain, comes the peripheral distractions rewards of superstardom. The Yankees and Brian Cashman are confident in Chamberlain's character and ability to stay grounded. However, as a precaution, the organization decided to revisit the young fireballer's temperament as insurance.

From Baseball America:

"He’s kind of drinking from a fire hose right now," (Yankees general manager Brian) Cashman said at Legends Field.

"So much has happened for him because of the 24 innings of major-league work. It was 24 innings, so it’s incumbent on all of us around him who care about him, his father and everyone in the Yankee family to make sure that we slow it all down for him because sometimes that stuff can carry you away."

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"He’s really level-headed,” Cashman said. "I do trust this won’t have an adverse affect on him, but at the same time you have to manage it. You can’t trust that everybody can manage all of it. That’s why the support system is there, and hopefully with all the people that care about him, his life will continue as it was before Aug. 7, when we called him up to the big leagues.

"He’s a special individual and hopefully that will never change. He’s such a big kid, he does have his priorities straight, and that all goes to what his dad taught him. I’m hoping when he’s 40 years old and still playing this game that he still has that little kid in him, because that’s what people love about him."

For every Major League top prospect, it is better to be safe than sorry.