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Elite
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God damn it, just when Joba was coming into his own as a reliever and looking like he could be the eventual successor to Mo, this shit happens. Hopefully he comes back better from this but our season is pretty much over now this season. Joba's hurt, Soriano's hurt, Feliciano's hurt and our starting pitching is struggling
NEW YORK -- Yankees setup man Joba Chamberlain has a torn ligament in his right elbow, manager Joe Girardi announced Thursday. He is likely going to miss the remainder of the season.
"My guess is he probably is going to have to have surgery," Girardi said.
Girardi thought Chamberlain would likely have Tommy John surgery, which would mean he would be out for the rest of the year.
Heading into the season, the Yankees bullpen was expected to be a strength with Chamberlain and Rafael Soriano getting the ball in front of elite closer Mariano Rivera.
Soriano, who was signed for three years and $35 million this offseason, has been a major disappointment and is on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation.
Soriano has not started throwing yet, Girardi said, and is not close to returning. David Robertson will be the Yankees' eighth-inning man for now, the manager said.
After Rivera and Robertson, the Yankees bullpen consists of Luis Ayala, Boone Logan, Jeff Marquez, Lance Pendleton and Amauri Sanit.
Besides Chamberlain and Soriano, the Yankees are without lefty specialists Pedro Feliciano and Damaso Marte. Both may be out for the rest of the season as well.
Chamberlain was placed on the disabled list on Wednesday after an MRI revealed that he had a strained flexor muscle. On Thursday, Chamberlain underwent a more intenstive exam, a dye contrast MRI.
When asked about the extent of the injury on Wednesday, Chamberlain said, "If you asked me to pitch today, I would tell you I could pitch today."
On Thursday, Girardi added, "He has no idea when this happened."
Before the latest diagnosis, the Yankees thought Chamberlain would miss two weeks to a month and then start a throwing program.
With Soriano out, Chamberlain had emerged as the team's setup man. In 28 2/3 innings, he had 12 holds and a 2.83 ERA.
"He pitched as well this year as he has in a couple of years," Girardi said.
Chamberlain was playing long toss before the injury. On Wednesday, the 25-year-old didn't think it was "serious."
"It sucks for me, but I could care less about myself," Chamberlain said. "Just the fact that I'm not gonna be out here helping my teammates. Not being there and the seventh and the eighth inning for these guys."
