Is Joba Chamberlain The Reason For Derek Jeter's Recent Struggles? [BLOG]
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
On Aug. 5, 2014 Joba Chamberlain plunked Derek Jeter on his left elbow with a 93 mph fastball.
After Chamberlain hit Jeter he apologized and gave this quote: "I've never felt worse in my life. Oh man, it was awful. I mean, obviously he's so good that you got to get in there a little bit to make sure he stays off the stuff and can't go to right field. But I've literally never ever felt worse in my life, personally and on a baseball field. I've known Derek for a long time and he means a lot to me. Like I said, I don't think I've ever felt worse as a person and as a baseball player than I did after that pitch."
Maybe Chamberlain was onto something. Many people in Detroit felt like Chamberlain didn't have to apologize and nor should he have.
In a FoxSports.com story that was published Monday night at 8 p.m. states that the Yankees have now benched Jeter. Why would the Yankees bench Jeter at the end of his final season, you may ask? It's all based on production.
Right now Jeter is on a 0-24 streak and Fox Sports put out this gem:
Jeter is hitting .167 (22 for 132) with no homers and 10 RBI since former Yankees teammate Joba Chamberlain hit him near the left elbow with a 93-mph pitch during the 10th inning of a game against Detroit on Aug. 5. Before getting hit, Jeter was batting .277 with three homers and 30 RBI.
So what do you think... is Chamberlain to blame for the Jeter's recent slide?
