Joba Chamberlain hasn’t thrown a pitch in a decade, but he still has some heat left for an old Red Sox foe.
During a recent appearance on ‘The Eddie Mata Show’ the former Yankees flamethrower didn’t hesitate when asked which player he hated most during his 10-year career.
“Kevin Youkilis,” Chamberlain replied without blinking.
Chamberlain, 40, burst onto the scene with the Yankees in 2007 and overwhelmed hitters with a 100-mph fastball and a 0.38 ERA in 19 games.
That breakout came with drama, especially with the then-Red Sox first baseman.
The right-hander fired two fastballs over Youkilis’ head on August 30, 2007, earning him an ejection, a $1,000 fine and a two-game suspension for his “inappropriate actions.”
Then-Yankees skipper Joe Torre and Chamberlain insisted he wasn’t trying to hit Youkilis, with the rookie saying the throws:slippedfrom his hand.
The tension continued the following year when Youkilis collided with Chamberlain at home plate on July 8, 2008 on a wild pitch.
Weeks later, Chamberlain sent another heater close to his head – this time clipping Youkilis’ bat.
“So technically he didn’t hit him, but he went up [Youkilis] Far too often to be a coincidence,” said Yankees announcer Michael Kay during an August 20, 2012 YES Network broadcast repeating their previous problems – moments after Chamberlain actually hit Youkilis, who was then with the White Sox, in the backfield.
“I just didn’t like him,” Chamberlain said. “Evidently, [it started] When he was with the Red Sox, he never came for me.
During his career, Chamberlain struggled against Youkillis, with the three-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner hitting .333/.565/.900 with a home run and four RBIs against the right-hander in 23 at-bats.
After all their personal drama, the pair became teammates when the Yankees signed Youkilis as a free agent prior to the 2013 season in the wake of an Alex Rodriguez injury.
At the time, Chamberlain tried to play down their history, telling reporters that their clashes were exaggerated and that there was “nothing” between them.
“It’s one of those things where people made it a bigger deal than it was,” Chamberlain said, according to the Associated Press.
“There’s nothing wrong. There’s nothing between us. I’m glad he’s on our side. We’re two grown men. We play on the same team. Our only goal is to win.”
Despite his public praise, Chamberlain said Youkillis’ silence after initially reaching out did not sit well.
“Then he was my teammate and I was like, ‘Dude, it’s baseball. Between the lines it is what it is, but you’re my teammate,'” Chamberlain told Mata. “I called him right when he signed and he ignored me, ignored me, ignored me. He goes to spring training and he wants to be all buddy-buddy.”
Their stint as teammates was short-lived, however, as a recurring back injury limited Youkillis to just 28 games before undergoing season-ending surgery.
Youkilis, who signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Yankees, hit just .219 with 2 home runs and eight RBIs in what ended up being his final year in the majors.
“Then he’ll break his back and do nothing for us,” Chamberlain said.
“So that guy can fly a kite.”
#ExYankee #Joba #Chamberlain #names #Kevin #Youkilis #player #hates #fly #kite