New York Yankees: Why Joba/Youkilis ‘Ignoring Issue’ Is Nothing to Worry About
January 23, 2013 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
We all know that for the longest time, Joba Chamberlain and Kevin Youkilis haven’t liked each other.
It all goes back to Joba‘s rookie year when he threw over the head of Youkilis, a long-time member of the rival Boston Red Sox, during multiple games back in 2007.
The following year, Joba again threw behind Youkilis, which caused him to take a few steps out to the mound in disgust.
Now, the two are teammates on the Yankees.
Back in December, after Youkilis signed a one-year, $12 million offer from the Yankees to play third base, Joba called Youkilis to welcome him to the team and bury the hatchet on their rivalry of the past.
According to Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News, Youkilis has yet to return Joba‘s phone call.
“I did everything I can do,” said Chamberlain, who was in town to pick up a charity award. “I can’t control what Kevin Youkilis does, I can only control what I do and, you know what, we’ll go on from there.”
Fellow B/R Featured Columnist Stephen Skinner wrote on Wednesday whether or not this “thing” between Joba and Youkilis would carry over into the 2013 season and cause friction in the Yankee clubhouse.
Personally, I don’t see this “ignoring of a phone call” as an issue between the two, and I think this is the media blowing the topic out of proportion.
Back in December, Youkilis said that if he felt that playing with Chamberlain would be an issue, he wouldn‘t have signed with the Yankees in the first place.
“If it was that big a deal, I wouldn’t have been signing with the Yankees. But I don’t think it is that big of a deal. A lot of it is made out within the media and the fans.”
Whether or not the two still have bad blood from the past is irrelevant come April, because once the season starts, both guys need to check their pasts and egos at the door.
The only thing that will matter to these two players is helping the 2013 Yankees win another division title and get back to the playoffs, not whether or not someone didn’t answer a phone call.
And really, who cares if Youkilis didn’t call him back. Maybe Youkilis is on vacation, or maybe he doesn’t accept phone calls in the offseason. Or hey, maybe Youkilis has T-Mobile and can’t get service in his home.
However, when the two report for spring training, all eyes will be them to see how they handle being in the same locker room and wearing the same uniform.
They both know they’re professional baseball players and whatever feud that had in the past should stay there.
If not, and if Joba and Youkilis still actually have bad feelings towards one another, that would be a place where Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman would have to step in, sit these two down and work it out one way or another.
So, unless we see these two fistfighting in a locker room or on the field somewhere, there’s really no issue to worry about.
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