After the Yankees imploded against the Indians on Saturday, ESPN 1050 radio host John Rothstein asked fans whether CC Sabathia or Joba Chamberlain’s recent struggles were more concerning.

Sabathia gave up five runs in six innings against the Indians Saturday and in his previous start he gave up five earned runs in five innings against the Mets. He is 0-2 in his last four starts and the Yankees are 0-4 in those games, although he pitched well against Boston on May 18, but, ironically, Joba and the bullpen blew the lead that Sabathia handed them.

Joba gave up four runs while only getting one out against the Indians Saturday. He gave up three earned runs in consecutive outings on May 16 against the Twins and May 18 against the Red Sox. Sometimes he comes into games and blows the opposition away, but other times he gets hit hard.

Sabathia has a proven track record and I can’t say I’m concerned with this recent patch of rough starts. He’s a big game pitcher, which we saw in the playoffs last year, and a string of a few poor starts in late May isn’t alarming unless it becomes habitual for a much longer period. Once he strings together three or four quality starts, we’ll forget about this rough patch.

To answer Rothstein’s question, not only does Joba concern me more, but the entire bullpen concerns me. Mariano is Mariano and I expect him to eventually find his groove and pitch like his normal self, but the rest of the bullpen is shaky. The loss of Aceves really hurts this bullpen. Aceves is a guy that Girardi has a lot of faith in and has been a great player for the Yankees in whatever role they put him in. His absence is noticeable and nobody has stepped up in his place. If a 6-run lead isn’t safe to deliver to the bullpen, than no lead is. The blame is on both Girardi and the bullpen. Girardi’s micromanaging may be a large reason for the bullpen’s struggles too, but guys need to get outs. Girardi should let some guys get more than one out, most notably Marte who Girardi uses oddly sometimes, but the pitchers have to get the outs that Girardi asks them to get no matter if it’s one out or six outs. But remember, Girardi managed like this last year and how did that turn out for the Yankees? 

I think that eventually the bullpen is going to settle down and start holding leads. Once Aceves comes back and Mariano hits his stride, the rest of the bullpen will fall into place. I’d also like to see the Yankees bring up Jonathan Albaladejo who has a 1.46 ERA in Triple-A. Maybe he could add some life to the ‘pen. For now, let’s hope the Yankees can give the bullpen a 6-run lead everyday because I’ll bet more times than not, they’ll hold that lead.

I find it funny how media members write and talk about how the contract situations of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi could become distractions. The media is the reason why it could potentially become a distraction! Not only are they going to ask those three guys about their contract situations frequently, but they’re going to ask other players and members of the Yankees organization about it frequently which creates a distraction. It wouldn’t be a big deal or turn into a distraction if the media left it alone. 

All three guys are going to handle their situations with class no matter how they feel. No matter how they feel on the inside, they are not going to let it affect their attitude or on-field capabilities. 

Blame the media for blowing this up. Derek Jeter, who is already in Tampa, said he will wait to address the issue until everyone arrives at Spring Training. He will call a press conference at that time. What is Jeter going to say at the press conference? Nothing. He’s going to ask the media to not ask him about it again and say it will be handled when it’s handled. A ploy to get the media to stop asking him questions about it.

If the media does turn this into a distraction then put some of the blame on the Yankees. They are a veteran team coming off of a World Series title. It’s hard to imagine it affects the team’s play. 

The fan wouldn’t make this a big deal if the media didn’t. We all know how iconic of figures Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are to the Yankees. I really don’t see how the Yankees don’t come to terms with them plus their manager. The Yankees aren’t negotiating contracts with them now because it goes against there policy. If Jeter and Rivera aren’t reasons to break policy, the policy is never going to be broken. 

Joe Girardi led the Yankees to its 27th World Series title in 2009. Even if things don’t go well for the Yankees in 2010, he isn’t deserving of a dismissal. Mariano Rivera is 40 years old. Give him what he wants. He won’t be asking for more than a two-year deal. Derek Jeter is where things get tricky. He supposedly is going to want A-Rod type of money. I honestly think the Yankees are going to do what they need to do to keep Jeter in pinstripes. Is that a hope? Yes, but I don’t see how the Steinbrenners let Derek Jeter, captain of the Yankees, play anywhere else. 

The Yankees have let veteran players walk before. Just look at this off-season. They didn’t re-sign Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon. A few years ago they didn’t want to guarantee Bernie Williams a major league roster spot. Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are different. Remember, Bernie had a few down years strung together before the Yankees made that decision. Jeter and Rivera are coming off very good seasons. Poor showings in 2010 doesn’t necessarily change the way the Yankees look at the two icons, but it will have some affect on their next contracts, however, I don’t see a major drop in production from either player.  

The media is going to drill this issue throughout Spring Training. Let’s hope it tapers off during the regular season, but it’s doubtful. Fans, have faith the Yankees will do the right things with Jeter, Rivera and Girardi. No matter how the Yankees have dealt with veterans in the past, not negotiating now doesn’t mean they won’t get something done after 2010.

Let’s worry about it when the time comes because making a big deal of it now won’t change the Yankees’ stance on when to negotiate. They are going to negotiate on their watch. It doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for any of the three, it just means it’s not time to extend the road further right now.

If Joba Chamberlain wins the fifth starting spot in the Yankees’ rotation he won’t have any inning restrictions. “Joba Rules” have been called off and the young pitcher will be able to let it fly in 2010.

Yankees pitching coach, Dave Eiland, told the NY Daily News, “He’s just going to go out and pitch and he’ll be the one who’ll dictate when he comes out as far as getting hit or getting tired or losing his stuff. He’s not going to have any restrictions, so Joe (Girardi) and I are not going to have to go into the game thinking, ‘Oh, he’s got 85 pitches or six innings or whatever comes first.’ We don’t have to game plan it out. The kid gloves are off, and he’s just going to go out and pitch and he knows that and he’s going to come in and be all geared up to win that job, as are the other guys. Competition should bring out the best in everyone.”

Joba will be competing with Phil Hughes, Chad Gaudin, and Sergio Mitre for the fifth starting spot, but Hughes poses the biggest threat for Joba. If Hughes wins the spot expect him to be on an inning limits. Joba will pitch out of the bullpen in that case.

Phil Hughes pitched great as the Yankees setup man during the regular season and had some postseason struggles in that same role. Joba was sent to the bullpen for the playoffs and by the end of the World Series he was one of Joe Girardi’s go-to guys out of the ‘pen. Both players can get the job done out of the bullpen, but it makes more sense to have Joba become the fifth starter because of him not having inning limitations anymore. 

It’s about time the Yankees make a decision on who Joba Chamberlain is. Is he a starter? Is he a setup man? Is he the heir to Mariano? Stop jerking the kid around and choose his roll. 

My personal belief is that Joba should be the fifth starter and Hughes should work as the setup man. After 2010 the Yankees may need to fill holes left by Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte (neither has made a decision of retirement after 2010 though). The man who the Yankees choose to put in the bullpen this year could step into either role (starter or closer) in 2011 and stay there for a long time.

The Yankees are the World Series champions for the 27th time in their storied history and there’s no better time to take a look at the upcoming offseason than the day after the season ended. As the team vies for title number 28, all signs point toward Joe Girardi changing his uniform number from 27 to 28 (Yankees don’t want to stay at #27 for long) for 2010 as that’s the next goal of this franchise.

The last time the Yankees came off a World Series championship they made minor adjustments. The biggest move they made between 2000 and 2001 was the free agent signing of Mike Mussina. The Yankees won’t make a big splash in this year’s free agency because there are no major superstars in this year’s free agent class (led by Matt Holliday) and there’s not many placed the Yankees can upgrade (they are the champs for a reason).

The Yankees will start in-house with three guys that could hit the free agent market. They need to make a decision on what to do with 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, catalyst Johnny Damon, and gritty veteran pitcher Andy Pettitte. It doesn’t seem likely the Yankees will bring back both Damon and Matsui. Damon can still run and play the field but Matsui is a pure hitter and will always hit no matter how bad his knees are. Both players have said they would like to return to the Yankees. If they aren’t retained, retirement is not on the minds of Damon or Matsui. The fact that the Yankees have some aging stars under contract would lead you to believe the Yankees are less inclined to retain Matsui as their DH. As for Pettitte, it would make sense for the Yankees to bring him back in 2010 after the season he had in 2009. The question is whether Pettitte wants to come back. He could ride off into retirement as a winner with five rings if he decides his career is over.

Th next order of business, which we may already know the answer to, is what to do with Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. It is almost certain they will both start the season as starters but if the Yankees land a veteran starting pitcher, one of them, more likely Hughes, could land back in the bullpen. This is an unlikely circumstance and expect to see both players preparing to be starters in 2010.

The Yankees went hard after free agents CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira last offseason because they knew this year’s free agent class didn’t have many marquee, superstar names. The Bombers can never be counted out during free agency but they won’t be signing three top tier free agents like last year. A middle ground starting pitcher could be somewhere to look at, as well as a corner outfielder.

The 2010 Yankees team will look similar to the 2009 World Series champion team.

Joe Girardi has been criticized for some of his decisions during the playoffs this year but in game three of the World Series he made all the right moves. It starts with making the decision to go with Sabathia in game four. That put some pressure on the Phillies in game three, knowing it would be Blanton against Sabathia in the next game. Then Girardi went ahead and started Nick Swisher in right field. Girardi benched Swisher in game two. How did Swisher thank Girardi? A 2-4 game with a double, solo home run, and two runs scored. Girardi used his bullpen well too. Joba gave him a solid 7th inning. Damaso Marte shut down the Phillies in the 8th and Girardi chose to take out Phil Hughes after giving up a solo home run in the 9th with one out. Mariano Rivera came in the got the final two outs. Girardi will also get credit for putting Matsui in to pinch hit. It was an obvious move but Matsui made it look great with a tack on solo home run.

Girardi made all the right moves in game three and the Yankees are up 2-1 in the World Series over the Phillies. With Sabathia ready to go in game four, the Yankees have a great shot at going up 3-1.

The Yankees and Phillies have boarded the Amtrak to Philadelphia both having one won game each in the Bronx. Both managers have some decisions to make for the upcoming games in the NL stadium.

With no DH, Girardi loses Matsui’s bat in the lineup. Matsui hasn’t played the field at all this season and his only appearances during regular season interleague play came as a pinch hitter late in games. Don’t expect to see Matsui in the outfield for any of the games at Citizens Bank Park. He will be a nice bat off the bench for Girardi.

Beyond game three, neither team has confirmed their starting pitchers. CC Sabathia will most likely go for the Yankees in game four and the Phillies have to choose between Joe Blanton and Cliff Lee. If Charlie Manuel goes with Lee, it would be on three days rest, the same amount of rest Sabathia would be pitching on.

Girardi also has a decision to make on who plays right field. Jerry Hairston Jr. went 1-3 in game two as the Yankees right fielder. Girardi can stick with Hairston, go back to Swisher, or go to the bench. Eric Hinske is a possibility. Brett Gardner could play center field and Melky Cabrera could move to right field. Girardi would rather keep Gardner on the bench and use him as a pinch runner late in games. It worked in game two when he went from first to third on a single and scored the Yankees third run on a single.

Girardi and Manuel will have their hands full answered the media based on their managerial decisions the rest of the series. Both managers will hope they make the right decisions. The only way the series doesn’t go back to the Bronx is if one team wins all the games in Philly. These teams are so good that this series may go the full seven games.

AJ Burnett showed up in game two and pitched a masterpiece when everyone said he could be hit or miss in the start. He also did exactly what Girardi and the Yankees wanted; handed the ball straight to Mariano. Mo came in for two innings and held the Phillies down in the Yankees 3-1 win. Pedro Martinez made his return to Yankee stadium and the Yankees made sure he didn’t go home happy.

The turning point in the game was when catcher Jose Molina picked Jason Werth off of first base with a snap throw in the top of the 4th. The Yankees were down a run already and the stadium was quiet. Molina’s pickoff got the crowd going and put some life into the stadium. Mark Teixeira lead off the bottom of the 4th with a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1.

Hideki Matsui gave the Yankees the lead in the 6th with a solo home run that allowed Burnett to have the chance to get the win. Burnett went seven strong, giving up just one run, which came when A-Rod misplayed a ball in the 2nd inning. Burnett also struck out nine batters. The Yankees added some insurance in the 7th when Posada hit a liner up the middle to drive in Brett Gardner.

The World Series is tied at one game a piece as the series heads to Philadelphia for games three, four and five. Lefties Andy Pettitte and Cole Hamels go for their respective teams in game three.

The Yankees need to finish off the Angels in game six. There can be no game seven. The job has to get done tonight. There is so much moaning and groaning around New York right now about if the Yankees blow this series then Girardi needs to be fired. Everyone stop. Finish it tonight Yanks. Let the articles in Sunday morning’s papers be about the Yankees and Phillies’ World Series matchup. Not about the all or nothing game seven that would be Sunday night.

I don’t want to hear people calling for Girardi’s head until it’s over. I don’t want to hear about Burnett’s inability to pitch with men on base. I don’t want to hear about Nick Swisher’s dreadful postseason (which the Yankees should put Melky in right, Gardner in center and Swisher on the bench for game six). Not yet. I don’t want to hear about it being a failure if the $200+ billion Yankees don’t win the World Series. I don’t want to hear those things until the Yankees are done and right now, they have a 3-2 ALCS series lead and have two chances to put it away. Do it tonight, Yanks. Quiet the masses. Worry about the Angels now and the Phillies once Mo gets that final out.

The Yankees would like to avoid a game seven by all means and close out the ALCS in game six behind their southpaw Andy Pettitte. That’s because, if the series goes to a game seven, and the Yankees win, CC Sabathia would not be available to start game one of the World Series. AJ Burnett would be the game one starter.

An argument can be made that Yankees manager Joe Girardi shouldn’t have let Burnett go out to the mound to start the 7th inning. The top of the 7th was long and Burnett didn’t have his best stuff, although he hadn’t given up a run since the first inning. With a two run lead and nine outs to go, Girardi should have mixed and matched pitchers in the 7th, went to Hughes in the 8th and Mariano in the 9th. Mariano could have even came in during the 8th inning.

Girardi went with Burnett to start the 7th and Burnett put the first two batters on base before Girardi pulled him for Damaso Marte. Marte was able to get two outs without giving up a run and Phil Hughes came on to get the last out. Hughes couldn’t hold the lead. He gave up two hits and three runs. Two of the runs were charged to Burnett and the other run was charged to Hughes. The Angels took a 7-6 lead and Hughes ended up getting the loss. Burnett put those first two runners on base but Hughes needed just one out and the Yankees would have preserved the 6-4 lead.

Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain have been getting hit hard this postseason. Hughes has given up nine hits in 4.2 innings with a 5.79 ERA. Joba has given up seven hits in 2.2 innings with a 3.38 ERA. These guys haven’t pitched up to their ability lately, especially Hughes. He was lights out during the regular season but has had his struggles here in October.

Mariano Rivera is always lights out. Mo got some big outs in the ninth inning after two men were able to get aboard off of Joba with only one out. Mo got the final two outs and kept the Yankees within one run of the Angels. After seeing the way Hughes and Joba have been getting hit, Girardi might think about bringing Rivera in for two inning saves.

I can’t fault Girardi for the way the game turned out. If Hughes gets that last out this discussion doesn’t happen. Hughes has been reliabl,e but his reliability is diminishing with the way he’s been pitching this postseason.

The series heads back to the Bronx and the Yankees need to win game six to preserve Sabathia for game one of the World Series. A small lead late by the Yankees may force Girardi to put in Rivera for the final six outs.