Still classless huh, trisha?

Sure. Any inning can be the difference between winning and losing a game.

I don’t recall any of the serious posters on here suggesting that Joba should move to the rotation and that “the rest would take care of itself.” Nor do I recall any of those posters saying that the need for good relief in late innings was overrated. I do recall several people saying that the importance of the 8th inning above all others was being overrated by those who were arguing that Joba had to stay in the bullpen. Which is a good point.

No one wants his or her opinion misrepresented in the least flattering light just so someone can take a shot on a baseball blog.

“Well we have seen the unraveling of games because we don’t have the solid 8th inning man there anymore.”

We’ve seen far more games lost because of poor starting pitching, both in games in which the starter was blown out early and games like tonight’s in which the starter coughed up multiple leads. I didn’t watch most of tonight’s game, but when I turned it on the game was tied and Farnsworth was just about to let the Twins go ahead. How would Joba pitching in a tie game have guaranteed a Yankee victory?

“Did the Joba to the rotation supporters think that the tooth fairy was going to show up to pitch the 8th for the Yankees?”

Did you not read the serious arguments that were made by the proponents of moving Joba to the rotation? Because that’s not a serious response. Nobody suggested any such thing.

It is possible to hold the view that Joba should be in the rotation while simultaneously holding the view that Farnsworth and Hawkins aren’t reliable. One’s views about Joba do not make one responsible for the shortcomings of Farns and Hawkins.

“The problem here is that there are too many GMs on this blog…”

If so, for whom is that a problem?

“I will posit that it is better to be positive than negative, optimistic than pessimistic, and to take a long view of a long season and not behead every player based on the current view.”

And I will posit that on Pete Abe’s LuHud Yankee blog, critical and realistic thoughts about the current state of the team and its players are both allowed and encouraged. Intelligent discussion makes for a more interesting comments section than pure rooting. There’s room for both.

Trisha, that was funny! But I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them did!

I guess I should feel honored that someone is impersonating me on the blog. Didn’t know I was that popular.

Anyway, I was out with a friend for dinner and just as they were bringing us the appetizers I saw Kyle Farnsworth jogging in from the bullpen. Needless to say, I ended up bringing most of my meal home.

Words cannot describe how bad this guy is in any sort of pressure situation. Its almost a given he’s going to give up a run.

Hawkins hasn’t pitched in awhile, I wonder if he’s got some issue or if Girardi just has no use for him anymore. I guess he can sit next to Chris Britton.

Every bad start Pettitte has makes me think more and more that this might be his last year.

I know. Believe me, I know.

I’d still give almost anything for one more shot with him on the hill and all the money on the table.

(No Cashman didn’t realize what every mathematician would tell you: in a blind auction you allocate half the commodity’s worth to the bid. Theo recognized this. Cashman didn’t)

2) Scavenging from the Marlins 2003 World Series team– Beckett vs. Pavano

3) Or if you must, examine a more perfect parallel because they were trades: Beckett v. Vasquez. As for free-agents, heck I’d take Clement vs. Pavano, too, at least Clement had 1/2 of one good season.

4) Trading for the Diamondback World Series MVP’s– Schilling vs. Johnson

5) Abreu vs. Drew– Cashman wins this one.

6) Acquiring A-Rod after the Red Sox couldn’t. Enough Said. Cashman takes this one too.

7) The Ortiz Non-Tender. Enough said.

Most recently, Theo outmaneuvered Cashman on Santana. The Red Sox didn’t want him and didn’t want the Yankees to acquire him.

By my accounting it’s Theo 6-2.

–Cashman fancies himself a baseball-intellectual in the vein of Beane, Esptein, Byrne, and all the other Beane disciples. He isn’t. Cashman’s neither as intelligent nor as savvy or polished. Did you listen to the way Espstein flattered Cashman this winter out at William Patterson college. Theo had Cashman eating out of his hand. Beautiful. Machiavelli himself wouldn’t have handled that one beter.

Cashman is what he is. A Steinbrenner crony. He’s the best of the lot, the best that’s come along since Stick, but he’s a crony nonetheless. If his family hadn’t known the Steinbrenner, he’d never have gotten the job nor stuck around as long.

What’s the difference between Henry and Steinbrenners? Henry hires on merit. The Steinbrenners fetishize loyalty.

I’d still take Cashman to the alternatives though. Damon Oppenheim was one of the most vociferous advocates of signing TOny Wommack.

Listen to Theo on the radio and then listen to Cashman. Who inspires more faith?

Pettitte threw away Game 6 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

…I’m just saying.