I really think it will benefit the Yankees rotation (not that it hasn't already), BUT it has benefited the bullpen as well- Gerardi gave the bullpen the chance to step up- Ramirez, Farnsworth, Veras and Geis continue to improve, and RIvera is...well- he's Rivera.

Might not make playoffs, but it seems things are falling into place.

I'm definitely pleased with the move itself and the results so far. Not that the Astros are a juggernaut or anything, but Joba kept his pitch count low and he was throwing a lot of strikes. Though I don't like the 4 BBs, I bet that will change with time and he learns how to better attack hitters after their first AB. Edwar Ramirez has been phenomenal, but he really needs to work on his fastball or else his changeup will become ineffective. Veras can throw fire, and he been placing it well as of late, but I'm going to wait a month or so before I really feel confident with him as a reliever and an 8th-inning guy (which is where it looks like he's heading). Farnsworth, I'm not too high on. Granted, he got the save last night, but I don't know if he's "improving"- it seems he always does this- string together a few good appearances and then blow up. I think he can be useful if the Yanks don't rely on him- he seems to wilt under pressure. Geise is a good story, but I think he might be too old to improve. If he can be a useful long inning guy, that would be huge- it would allow Ohlendorf to go back to being a one-inning guy (and maybe the 8th inning guy?). Sinkerballers are way more effective when they are strong, so that ball doesn't park itself in the wheelhouse- I was not a fan of using him for long stretches because of this, and I think we'll see him get better this year and next. And Rivera has been great- Girardi just needs to not use him 4 days in a row anymore. He's been able to avoid any aging as of yet, but there's no need to encourage it by tiring his arm out. I'm not extremely confident they'll make the playoffs this year, though I am more optimistic than some, but I am liking the long-term planning the organization has been doing. There is a dearth of young position players in the system, but they have so many good arms that they could flip one or two later on.

I don't have an opinion on whether or not the decision to move him now was the right one, both sides of the argument are very legitimate, but I do know one thing - that guy is a damn good pitcher.

It seems like pitching is such a mental thing these days, and any slight difference (whether its closing, starting, pitching certain innings, facing certain batters) can throw pitchers off and they aren't effective. But Jaba can do anything, in any situation, he's just a good pitcher. Stick him in the 8th, 9th, or have him start full time, and he'll get it done.

I'm a Met fan (unfortunately), and I don't appreciate the old, decrepit Yankees that are past their prime... but Jaba is someone I root for.

Keep it up, Jaba.

There is nothing more sweet to a Red Sox fans ears than Yankees might not make playoffs...in fact I get perverse joy from Yankee submission

Well, it worked for the red sox- missed the playoffs in '06, WS championship the next year. I'm not saying the Yanks are in line for a 2009 championship, but one of these years they are going to have to take their licks and let the young guys get their feet wet. If that means missing the playoffs, so be it. So much money is coming off the payroll after 2008 and then another sizable chunk in 2009, they will have a lot more flexibility moving forward. So, sacrifice a year or two of playoffs to better position the team for a future run, I'm all for it.