Have you seen Melancon pitch? I don’t rely on Baseball America, or stats, I go to see our prospects as time and geography will allow. I am duly impressed with Mark Melancon, and he could easily help us tonight. They want him to incorporate his changeup more, fine, but with his 2 and 4 and curve, he could be getting it done for us now. Possibly, they are looking at him for a long role temporarily up here, and then they’ll shorten him up.

I don’t see him spending much more time in the minor leagues. All along, they had him ticketed for the ML bullpen after the All-Star Break. I think we will see him in the Bronx then.

As to your other point, that they could have stretched Joba out in relief, they could have, but it would not have been the best way for him to use all four pitches. It’s more conceivable that they would, now that he’s airing out his starter’s repertoire, shorten him up as he nears his IC, and have HIM come out of BP in long relief, as Hughes happened to against Cleveland in ALDS.

The Yankees have more options and flexibility than people generally recognize.

It’s amazing how sure people are that a player will excel in the MLB because of their minor league stats…

How is it a foregone conclusion that ”’the bridge’ is in good hands,” as you say?

This is simply not accurate, because if they wanted to they could have lengthened him in the ‘pen ala 2 or 3 inning stints througout the season-and he could have been used in a ton of high leverage spots…

But anyway, it’s a moot point now because there is just as much a need in the starting rotation and Joba, at least for now, is excelling in that role…

He pitched 112 last year and is already at 48 this year.

He would not have been able to take a regular turn in 2009 had they delayed the transition. Therefore, they weren’t willing to sacrifice TWO YEARS of his developement to fill the role of the setup man.

And as it happens, Mark Melancon is being groomed for that role, therefore they know “the bridge” is in good hands.

Joba only went to the pen because the pen was awful last year. He went to the rotation as soon as it was obvious his arm in the pen was a luxury the Yankees could no longer afford. I agree, IF the starter had done well, he’d still be in the set up for this year, but this year only.

Now for this team. EVERY lefty looks better against the Yanks because there are few if any hitters on this team better vs LHP. The lineup was a shakeup that didn’t work. Doesn’t make Giardi an idiot. My biggest argument was with Cano who is the youngest regular and finally swinging the bat well.. he certainly didn’t need any rest.

Some excellent points have been made on the fact that this team is more successful than they were last year at this time with far more injuries no significant newcomers. I think they are holding it together and hanging in there as well as can be expected, but if they don’t get a RH bat and LH reliever soon I’m gonna “Chacon” somebody.

For the person who suggested signing Bonds… go ahead and schedule the lobotomy.

It has nothing to do with the rest of the season unfolding.

Even if FEMA has to come in to salvage the bullpen, it was still the right move to put Joba in the rotation.

You could not have let that arm, confined to the eighth inning, wither away all season and have expected it to be accelerated enough to have Joba assume a spot in the starting rotation for 2009. That is just not how it’s done. The Yankees were NEVER going to leave him in the bullpen this season. Do not believe it.