After three weeks into the season and posting a not-first-place 10-10 record in the American League East (oh, horrors), co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner is back on the mic again, giving ‘em ear-gasms sure to be added to the 2008 Bartlett’s Book of Quotations. He and Brian Cashman, the bombers’ general manager since 1997, entered into a public squabble over the role of young-gun hurler Joba Chamberlain, who is currently doing his damage out of the Yankee bullpen.
Although it has been a general assumption that the former All-American would eventually work his way into the rotation, Hank feels this transition period should be expedited. "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 said. "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."
Who will Hank drop the hammer on when the Yankees get
bounced in the Division Series again?
Cashman argues that Joba should stay in relief-mode, as it is where he is “needed most” to contribute best to the organization, along with the fact that he is currently on an innings limit. However, Youngsters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy have stumbled out of the gate in the Bronx rotation this season, both getting smoked for a combined 31 earned runs in just over 30 frames. Maybe Hank’s checkbook can overpay the Rocket again, or even summon Kevin Brown out of retirement….
And finally, while we're on topic, a real head-shaker:
