Joba Chamberlain, in more cautious times (AP)Not to get all judgmental here, but you'd think a pitcher with a history of injuries would take every precaution when it comes to not getting hurt.
No motorcycles.
No bungee jumping.
No standing too close to a frenzied Derek Jeter autograph mob.
Joba Chamberlain, however, does not own that level of risk aversion. As you might have heard by now, the New York Yankees pitcher suffered an open dislocation of his right ankle while jumping on a trampoline with his son. He's already had surgery on the injury and the details aren't for the squeamish as the bone reportedly broke through the skin.
Chamberlain has been recovering from Tommy John surgery and planned to return to the Yankees staff during the season. Now his entire 2012 season appears to be in jeopardy. He last appeared in a game on June 5, 2011.
There appears to be two initial reactions to this injury. One camp is saying that poor Joba can't catch a break, not even while being a good father and playing with his son. The other is asking what in the world a 26-year-old man who weighs at least 250 pounds was doing on a trampoline in the first place.
Though I've seen firsthand how important the father-son relationship is in the Chamberlain family, count me among the latter group. Yes, I'm a little bit biased as my mother always told me that nothing good ever came from jumping on a trampoline — I'm probably irrationally terrified of them — but Chamberlain had to make the smart play here. You can be just as good of a father from the side of the trampoline as you can be four feet above it.
A much healthier pitcher, too.
Make sure you're ready for opening day ...
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