JOBA VISITS DR. ANDREWS

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Joba is the latest young pitcher to visit the good doctor.

It's a peculiar position to be in as a fan when you learn that your star is heading to visit Dr. James Andrews. There's the side that says, "Great, he's going to consult with the best doctor in the world!" And then there's the side that considers, "So, he actually needs to see the best doctor in the world." It's like your motorcycle coming down with a weird sound, and requiring attention from West Coast Choppers, or being confused about your subsconscious impulses, and overhearing a friend say, "Is Freud still alive? Can we get him in?"

So when Yankees fans got the news that youngster Joba Chamberlain had to meet with the good doctor, there was certainly some concern. We know all about it. We've talked to the doctor a lot recently. Here, he told us everything you need to know about what he does, and then we learned about the idea of mileage on a young arm, which certainly concerns young Chamberlain.

Hopefully everything works out. It's never good to need to see the good doctor, but hey, at least it's Andrews.

(Ed's Note: Dr. Andrews often talks about the "violence" that is inherent in the pitching motion. It's one of the fastest body movements concievable, in fact. Now check the photo up top. It appears to be an optical illusion. The ball appears to be flying off Joba's hand, its likely destination well over the backstop. The reality, however, is that the ball was released when Chamberlain's arm was higher up, and at this point, his arm as it follows through is actually catching up with the released ball as it flies toward the plate. It's an amazing example of the arm speed involved in the process of pitching, and why, after thousands and thousands of repetitions, guys like Dr. Andrews are required.)

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