Thoughts on Friday Night with Joba and Yanks

I hope Joba Chamberlain does not throw the ball anywhere near Kevin Youkilis tonight.
If he brushes Youkilis back with a pitch near his head, I would not be surprised if Youkilis loses his temper and some sort of brawl begins. I don't expect Chamberlain to do this. It would be stupid and inexcusable.

Chamberlain has thrown the ball in the direction of Youkilis' head or way inside on FOUR occasions between August, 2007 and July, 2008. He threw two of those pitches back-to-back at Youkilis during one at-bat in 2007! Both pitches went behind Youkilis. That's how inside they were! That got Chamberlain suspended for two games.

I have never -- ever -- heard of any pitcher doing anything like this -- in terms of throwing this many bad "brushback" pitches at one player on an opposing team - in my lifetime. I've heard no baseball writer give any example that compares to this record Chamberlain has with Youkilis.

If Chamberlain throws at Youkilis tonight, I strongly believe he should be not only thrown out of the game and suspended for far more than two games, but penalized SEVERELY.

More on this series later.