If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix it

.....not yet at least.

OK, so the Yankees are off to their usual slow start (12-11 as of 4/24), but they actually look better this April than some recent years. And for the most part, their slow start this year was due to their batting - or lack thereof - not their pitching.

Now Hank Steinbrenner, who, with his brother Hal has been handling most of the day-to-day responsibilities in running the Yanks since 2005, recently expressed strong conviction that he wants to move middle-reliever Joba Chamberlain into the starting rotation.

When I first heard this, I was gung ho; Joba has shown that his young arm and 100 mph fastball has a lot of potential. But then I did some reading.

Mike Mussina aside, who's had a slow 2-3 start thus far, New York's starting pitchers have been performing pretty well through April. Chien-Ming Wang is a perfect 4-0 after five starts and the veteran Andy Pettitte is 3-1 after four starts. If the Moose picks things up like I know he will, that gives the Yanks a solid starting rotation after you throw in the up-and-coming Phil Hughes and other youngsters like Ross Ohlendorf and Ian Kennedy.

Not to mention the Sandman Mariano Rivera who still lurks in the Yankees' bullpen, already with six saves under his belt this season in only eight tries.

Joba has consistently proven that he is very effective as a middle-relief pitcher and a great set-up man for Rivera. In 2007, Joba gave up only one hit for every two innings he pitched, posting an anemic 0.38 ERA through 24 innings pitched.

However, if Steinbrenner - who also expressed the notion that it is not just him who wants Joba as a starter, but the whole of the Yankees brass - does put Chamberlain into the rotation, there will be consequences. That 100 mph fastball will likely drop to an average of 94/95, which is still impressive, but not as untouchable as if he were only pitching two or three innings. Also, Joba can be much more effective for the Bombers when he pitches three times a week, rather than once every five games.

But I think what changed my mind the most is realizing what Joba can do for the Yankees a little further down the line if he remains a relief pitcher. Rivera, who has had an amazing career with the Yankees, is unfortunately, not getting any younger. When it comes time for him to hang it up, which is inevitably soon considering this is his 14th season in pinstripes, Joba could turn into a perfect replacement. Instead of rushing him into the starting rotation, the Yanks should keep him as middle-relief, and focus their efforts on improving the other young-guns already in the rotation.

Althought I disagree with Hank on this issue, I'm excited for the future of the Yankees organization with him at the helm and Girardi taking the reigns as manager. I'll leave you all with a quote from Hank, one which will hopefully culminate by season's end:

"Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of bullshit that is...That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans...Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."
- Steinbrenner in March 2008.

The Splendor, The Tradition.....The Masters

It began with a dream in 1931.

After his career ended, the legendary Bobby Jones, one of the greatest golfers the game has ever seen, began looking for land to develop a course that would truly highlight the ultimate golf experience. He found that available plot in Augusta, Georgia in 1931.

Teamed up with one of the great golf architects of the time, Dr. Alister Mackenzie, Jones designed and completed what would become the Augusta National Golf Club in 1933. A year later, the first Augusta National Invitation Tournament was held - later to become known as The Masters, despite protests by Mr. Jones.

One of the PGA TOUR's four annual Major championships, The Masters is the only tournament to be held at the same club each year. (The PGA Championship, The British Open and the U.S. Open all change venues from year to year.)

Being one of the most revered and tradition-filled tournaments in all of sports, The Masters embodies numerous annual traditions that players and past champions take part in.

The first, and most notable of these traditions, is the coveted Green Jacket. Members of the ultra-exclusive Augusta National have worn green jackets to the tournament since 1937, purchasing their jackets from the Brooks Uniform Company in New York. Starting with Sam Snead in 1949, winners of The Masters are awarded with a Green Jacket, and signifies membership to the club for one year. Although the jackets must be returned to Augusta after a year, they are made available to players when they visit the club.

Another tradition of The Masters is the Champions Dinner, started by Ben Hogan in 1952. Usually held on the Tuesday preceding each year's Masters tourney, the previous year's winner hosts a dinner for past champions. The winner chooses the meal, and pays for it.

Then there's the Par-3 Contest, held the Wednesday of Masters week each year. Started in 1960 and played on a smaller version of Augusta, which contains only par-3's, it is a fun and relaxing day for the players involved, who often bring their young children out on the course to caddy for them and even take some of their putts. Thought to be a curse if you win the Par-3 Contest - no one in the 48-year history of the event has ever won that year's Masters - players often spoil their rounds purposely to avoid becoming part of the curse.

Since it's impossible to talk about golf without mentioning Tiger Woods, he's on the hunt this year for his fifth Masters victory, having won the Green Jacket previously in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005. Tiger set a barrage of records when he first won the tournament in 1997, including youngest player ever to win (21 years, 104 days), widest winning margin (12 strokes) and lowest total score with a 270 (18-under par).

As of Friday at 2:50 p.m. the leaderboard is as follows:
1 T. Immelman -8 (68, 68)
2 B. Snedeker -7 (69, 68)
3 S. Flesch -5 (72, 67)
T4 S. Ames -4 (70, 70)
T4 P. Mickelson -4 (71, 3-under through 14)
T4 J. Rose -4 (68, even through 2)

Notables:
T20 T. Woods E (72, even through 3)
T31 E. Els +2 (74, even through 14)