by Digger

New Boss Hank Steinbrenner needed only 20 games into his first season as Yankees President to sound like former Boss George.

Yankees (10-10) baseball 2008 has been inconsistent early on and Boss Hank is not happy. Boss Hank barked aloud stating his desire for New York sensation Joba Chamberlain's immediate insertion into the Yanks very thin starting rotation.

Steinbrenner was quoted in a New York Times interview: "I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now. There is no question about it, you don't have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a set-up guy. You just don't do that. You have to be an idiot to do that."

How quickly times change while remaining the same. Last season, Chamberlain saved the day upon his arrival into big league baseball. His 100 mph fastball left hitters baffled and speachless. He was an instant hit in New York. Joba was to be eased along into major league play for a few reasons... or so we were told in '07. First, they didn't want their star rookie crumbling in New York's spotlight. Mission accomplished. Second, their bullpen was blowing games left and right... Joba stepped in as set up man for Mariano Rivera and the Yanks started winning. Mission accomplished. If it wasn't for a bug filled Cleveland night last October, Yanks might have advanced to play Boston for the AL crown.

There was much speculation leading up to spring training of where Joba would fit in with Yankee plans. Starter? Set-up man? Eventual replacement for Rivera? It didn't take long for Cashman and Manager Girardi to let the world know Joba would begin '08 as Mariano's set up man while youngsters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are to be given every opportunity as fourth and fifth starters. This has not worked out yet to Steinbrenner's satisfaction. Hughes is 0-3, 8.82 and Kennedy 0-2, 9.64. These kind of results will keep the Yanks out of Boston's (14-7) rear view mirror. Unless these kids turn it around ... Bronx jeers will be heard all around town.

This off season the Yankees had a golden opportunity to trade for baseball's premier left handed starter Johan Santana. GM Brian Cashman and top Yank officials balked at parting with future talent required by Santana's former team (Minnesota Twins) to get a deal finalized. Melky Cabrerra, Hughes and Kennedy were some of the names New York was unwilling to part with... this will haunt the Yanks for years to come. Santana was eventually traded to cross town rival New York Mets. Had the Yanks successfully landed Santana, they would have been a force for years. There's no chance this current rotation can keep pace with Boston... maybe not even Tampa Bay.

GM Cashman will be the first fired. He staked his future by not pulling the trigger on this deal by flatly stating this teams future rests with young home grown talent. Funny (sad for Yank fans) this is a GM who had no problems chasing down old pro's (Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens) but passes on the games best left handed starter still well within his prime????????? Just imagine Santana, Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain. Yanks would win 105 games... no doubt.

Back to Boss Hank's statement. Missing out on Santana was a mistake. Ok, old news... onward and upward. This team really had no solid game plan for Joba. 2008 is underway. If the Yanks were to suddenly pull Joba from bullpen duties then they'll be without anyone to set up Rivera. Perhaps a rejuvinated Bruney can handle it but this is a big "IF" question. Also, in order for Joba to set his arm up for surviving 6 or 7 innings, he'll have to be sent down to prepare for extended innings (stamina). Very poorly handled by Boss Hank, GM Cashman and Mgr Girardi. Initially, it was said Joba would begin the year as a reliever and upped to starter come June. Bad plan folks. Point is... what is the point of this kind of move? It's either one or the other but both roles is ludicrous and benefits no one in New York.

Yankees big bats have been silent (27 few runs than Boston) and untimely in April. This doesn't help a team with the third worst American League ERA (4.60). Robinson Cano (.169), Jason Giambi (.109), Johnny Damon (.215) and Jorge Posada's sore shoulder have disrupted what should have been one of the best AL lineups 1 thru 9.

It's going to be a long year in NY (All World All Sports previously predicted 3rd place finish). Get used to a new Boss screaming and making headlines as a new Bronx Zoo chapter is written. This is historic Yankee Stadium's final season... not quite the send off New Yorkers had in mind.