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TAMPA— Early yesterday morning, the reclusive but widely popular Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain emerged from his winter burrow in the Yankees spring training facility, climbed to the top steps of the dugout and saw his shadow. Applause and cheers rose from the crowd of hundred who had gathered to witness this seemingly meaningless event, which, according to local legend, means there will be six more weeks of spring training.
“He’s never wrong,” insisted Yankee fan Carl Mathers on the jovial and portly pitcher’s ability to prognosticate the arrival of the regular season. “By him seeing his shadow today, you can bet that the season won’t start until early April.”
