Future Yankee Closer...

Before I explain what the heck that is to the left, I wanted to thank everyone for reading this little blog on Thursday. There was a veritable explosion of interest, 100 hits. If you take away the 82 times I checked to see how many hits, about 18 people actually read this thing. For that I am eternally grateful, truly.

Now, how's about a little baseball talk?

The man you see in the picture is Joba Chamberlain. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has relegated Joba to the pen.

Basically, he and Phil Hughes fought it out for the role of 5th starter. Winner gets to start during the regular season, loser gets moved to the bullpen for the 8th. Joba lost.

I think it's for the best. The key to the Yankees five World Series titles since 1996, hasn't been the JILLION dollars they spend on free agents, contrary to popular opinion.

The Yankees not-so-secret weapon has been the man with one pitch, Mariano Rivera. Take away his cut-fastball, and that Yankees probably have 2 less titles. That's no exaggeration. Mo, or even the THREAT of Mo, has been influencing games for over a decade.

But he can't pitch forever.

The Yankees have to start thinking about life after Mo.

That's where this decision comes into play.

There's a term thrown around sports a lot called swag. It's often used (and misused) in terms of the "U." Believe it or not, Mariano has swag. It's just a cool, calm swag. He doesn't have to say anything, but when 'Enter Sandman' starts playing, and he runs out of the pen, half of the batters have struck out already.

Joba has had moments of swag. When he first came up, Joba took over New York. A pudgy kid from Nebraska throwing ABSOLUTE gas. Then, not so much. He's been pitching a bit like a cowardly lion (oh we've come full circle now). I personally believe the attack of the bugs in Cleveland a few years ago impacted Joba.

Time to get old Joba back.

He needs to just let it rip in the 8th.

Intimidate batters. Throw the occassional brushback pitch.

And study Mariano.

As for Phil Hughes, I think he's a more fully developed pitcher. He's got more of an arsenal, if he can stay healthy.

I have to hand it to Joe Girardi, he made the right call.