As someone mentioned, Hank really said nothing new. Hard to believe he didn’t understand the nature of using Joba in the BP to build up his innings AS WELL as get us some good relief.

Cashman and all his supporting staff know what they are doing. Whatever is being done with Joba and the rest of the SR was carefully thought out, with many different expertise, opinions and issues considered before the ‘final decision’ was arrived at. Of course, even though they sepnd millions on trying to get the best baseball people, it ain’t easy for them to be as smart as the McLovin/Anti-Mussina group.

And I’m sure Cashman is working on fallback positions, whether it’s keeping a very close eye on the farm, or shaking the branches of the trade market.

How is that different than what we’ve been hearing all along?

The plan was to move him to the rotation later in the year and then keep him there but not to exceed his innings cap.

He then said they need him in the rotation now.

True statement when you consider how three of the starters so far have combined for a 1-7 record. But he did not say that they would put him in the roto right away.

This was at most a “shot across the bow” to Hughes, Kennedy, and Moose. A little saber attling if you will.
He was letting those guys know he wasn’t happy with their performance so far and for them to remember they have a guy who can take their place if necessary.

All this kerfuffle on ESPN et al, is just that.

I thought Buck Showalter was hilarious this morning on ESPN. He stated that Joba needed to be in the pen because he and Mariano would lock down the 8th and 9th and that the Yanks needed to fix the rotation and then Joba in the pen wouldn’t be an issue. DUH! As if it is that easy to “fix” the rotation.Let’s just wave a magic wand and have Hughes and Kennedy pitch like they did last September, all the time.

I have a marketing professor who likes to say; “Wishful thinking isn’t planning”. Buck especially should know better than to say something like that.

Anyone who thinks that Joe Girardi didn’t come into this with his eyes wide open isn’t thinking. Girardi has been around and with the Yankee organization for a while. He knows the nuances of playing for the Yankees, and he was certainly aware of the nuances of managing the Yankees. And if there were to be any surprises in who the Steinbrenner boys were by nature – and I highly doubt that – Cashman would have filled him in thoroughly. With all of that information, Joe gladly and willingly signed on the dotted line. And I’m still thrilled that he did.

You may have already noticed (and instances were already pointed out) that Hank has blithered about a number of things and then retreated to a better way of doing things. This would mean that between Hal and Cash, the guy is able to be reasoned with.

So when and if Joba goes to the rotation, I’m all for it. I’ve been a Yankee fan for a very long time and the one thing that I have come away with year after year, despite final outcomes, is that the Yankee braintrust has knowledge and resources that greatly exceed mine. So when a decision is made, especially since George has calmed down and now with Hank and Hal confabing with Cashman et al, I trust a lot of time and energy and baseball acumen has gone into whatever decision it is. That gives me great personal comfort as my greatest joy is to be able to watch the games with a feeling of security that the smartest moves have already taken place, and I just have to sit back and wait for it to come together. And when it doesn’t, I know that some very savvy people are on the job.

The fact that this kind of media teapot tempest is pretty much standard operating procedure for the Yankees is why I don’t think this is a big deal for Cashman.

I think he’ll stick around for years to come.