Joba Rules in the hate category!

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

What a big surprise, the voters say Joba Chamberlain is the player on the Yankees who is hated the most. 

Looks like all has been forgiven in Red Sox Nation with Johnny Damon, huh?

I guess Joba should be honored that Sox fans hate him. That means they know who he is and deep down -- it's OK to admit it -- are afraid because he's got the skill to beat the BoSox. 

If you think Chamberlain's mound demeanor is over the top -- you can probably expect another fist pump or two when he punches out Ortiz, Bay, Varitek, Lowell, Pedroia, Youkilis or whoever the next time -- well you need to loosen up ... a lot.

Joba feeds off the energy of a ballgame. For the baseball conservatives out there, and it appears like Red Sox Nation is completely uptight now, Joba isn't your guy ... I understand. You like the player that doesn't say boo and doesn't show emotion. That's fine, too, in my book.

Well, I like the guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve. Chamberlain is fiery with swagger, he tries to pump himself up, that's how he motivates himself. That's how I played so obviously I appreciate players that actually look like they care about the game and are obviously having fun doing it.

Papelbon is Boston's version of Chamberlain. But I'm willing to go out on a limb and say Sox fans love it when Papelbon goes through his 9th-inning routine of fist-pumping. If he was a boxer, he's have a first-round TKO in every fight.

I don't think either guy tries to show anyone up, they just play with more emotion that the average Joe. If players or fans take it the wrong way, well, who really cares.

I know Joba DOES throw at people from time to time, but so do a lot of guys ... Josh Beckett, perhaps Red Sox fans? Joba tries to own the inside part of the plate, like most power pitches should anyway. I know he's not at the level of Roger Clemens or Nolan Ryan -- no need to even have that discussion -- but Joba doesn't want people digging in on him. Clemens and Ryan were pretty -- major understatement -- good at intimidating people weren't they? I guess when you've got a 94 mph-plus heater, batters shouldn't feel too comfortable digging in.

Anyway, Sox fans think Joba's a punk. It's just a little more motivation for No. 62 when he pitches against the Sox. 

Here's a major fist pump to the Nation!