The Captain's Blog

In response to a perceived slight from Rivera, Chamberlain was unable to turn the other cheek (Photo: AP)

If Joba Chamberlain makes a lot of noise, but Mariano Rivera isn’t there to hear it, does the story generate headlines?

Before last night’s game, the Yankees’ emotional middle reliever and calm closer had a brief exchange triggered by Chamberlain’s ebullient interaction with family and fans, while Rivera was giving a somber interview to reporters. Unable to concentrate on the questions being asked, Rivera reportedly called out for Chamberlain to keep it down, but the request was met with indignation.

From Chamberlain’s standpoint, the recap above is probably a tad pejorative. After all, the right hander was simply trying to communicate with his family, which, for ball players who spend most of the year away from home, is often a rare and cherished opportunity. Considered in that context, it’s easy to see why Mariano’s mild scolding might ruffle Joba. After all, no one likes to be admonished, especially in front of family.

Although Chamberlain’s feelings can be excused, his actions can not. As a teammate for seven years, there was no reason for Chamberlain to misconstrue Rivera’s request. Also, the middle reliever needs to realize that when he is on the field in uniform, he is doing his job. That doesn’t mean he can’t socialize before a game, but when a teammate is actually working (in this case, doing an interview), his personal time must take deference to business.

In addition, even if Rivera’s admonishment was out of line, and Joba felt compelled to express displeasure, it should have been done away from the ears of the fans and media. Instead, the 27-year old middle reliever showed no such restraint, opting instead to snidely mock Rivera’s request and then confront the 43-year old closer in front of a group of reporters eager to let everyone else in on what should have been a private moment.

Over his 19-year career, Rivera has earned a well deserved reputation for professionalism and class. Meanwhile, in his seven tumultuous years, Chamberlain has often exhibited questionable judgment and commitment. As a result, there is no moral high ground for Chamberlain in a dispute with Rivera. If the roles were reversed, chances are people would say Chamberlain had no business telling Rivera to quiet down, but that double standard exists for a reason.

Rivera and Chamberlain’s disagreement will likely be blown out of proportion by the media, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a significant story. Rivera is such a respected figure in the game, any sign of disrespect from a teammate is deserving of headline treatment. Also, by refusing to apologize for the outburst, Chamberlain ensured the story would have legs. Does being teammates mean never having to say your sorry? That might be Joba’s interpretation, but for his sake, hopefully Rivera and the other respected members of the clubhouse don’t find his silence deafening.

How the media and fans react to the incident is largely irrelevant. What counts is how Chamberlain’s actions are received in the clubhouse, and, considering the veteran leadership on the team, chances are there won’t be any fallout. However, that doesn’t mean Chamberlain’s imprudence is without cost. Ultimately, it’s hard not to wonder whether his talent is being constrained by a less than ideal attitude, and, if so, the only one guilty of muting the right hander is Chamberlain himself.