Duke Castiglione's Blog

Hank Steinbrenner comes out and tells the New York Times he wants Joba Chamberlain working as a starter. ""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," Steinbrenner told The New York Times. "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."

Now a couple things here.  First we in the media love this.  It's a great debate anyway ----should Joba start or relieve???----and than throw Hank stirring the pot into the mix and wow!!!

Hank fails to realize is some important things here.  It's a long-long season.  It's April 22 not September 22!  If Joba doesn't work as the set up guy last year the Yanks don't make the playoffs.  Joba won't be throwing 100 miles per hour for 9 straight innings.  Hitters will be facing Joba 3, 4 or even 5 times a game. He (Hank) publicly under minded his General Manager.  Told other potential trading partners---hey, I think we are desperate!!!!!  i.e if the Yanks were even interested in Roy Oswalt the price just went way up. 

Hank also preached patience with these young pitchers this past off season.  So now when he comes out and says these things how do you think Hughes and Kennedy---two still very young guys feel?  And what about Mussina?  He wants this borderline Hall of Fame pitcher to all the sudden start pitching like lefty Jamie Moyer???

Hank great for the media...maybe not so great for the Yankees