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Any shift would probably only be made for 2009, and I think the anonymous Yankee sources believe that the issue will be mooted by the fact that Rivera is healthy. Consequently, stating that Joba is a fallback position may merely be some type of psychological safety blanket to ward off fears of the unthinkable: that Mo may be done at a time when the Yankees have invested megabucks to return to the WS.

Over the longer term, once Melancon progresses and demonstrates that he is the heir apparent to Mo, and Joba shows that he is durable enough to start, the talk about Joba to the pen will finally end.

I agree. Joba is right for the closer's job. Mixing my analogies? I see Joba as a sprinter; he may not be as good as a distance runner. I easily see Joba being much more effective knowing he can let it loose for 3 or 4 outs as opposed to pacing himself for 18 to 21 outs. None of the other arms, Melancon excluded, seem to have the makekup and the stuff than Joba has to work as a closer. True, Bruney will get in any batter's face, I love the guy, but his stuff is not on Joba's level.

I don't see Joba being really damaged by being jerked around. He's a young and bright star on the biggest stage in baseball. The only question is what starring role does he get to play. The kid will stick, regardless.

Mo seems stronger this year, which is pretty scary if you're not a Yankee. Yep, his body will eventually give it up, but I don't see that happening just yet.

I honestly think that any shift for Joba would happen in 2010, not 2009. Andy will depart, Melancon will be ready, hopefully, and either Hughes or Kennedy will be waiting to step up to the majors.

How is Joba a sprinter if he has been an effective starter in college, the mLs, and for part of a season in the MLs?

The biggest mistake the Yankees made was to use him as a reliever for an even a portion of the 2007 season.

We should make mistakes like this more often: at his inception in the majors - as a reliever - 1 ER, 12 hits, 34Ks in 24 innings. Followed by 12 holds with a 2.28 ERA. But after 12 starts, his ERA is 3.44 and he's hobbled with rotator cuff tendinitis and the DL.

Joba pumps himself up, hard, when he goes out there. He is dominant when he does that as a reliever. His numbers as a starter are somewhat worse. He seems to need the short term adrenaline dump to dominate. Small sample size? Yes, but those are the numbers.

Pitchers switch roles all the time when they get to the bigs - sometimes for the better, sometimes not. I argue his relieving is better for him and for the team. I also argue that rotator cuff issues indicate that his more effective pitching motion may only be sustainable for short bursts rather than extended appearances. If that's the case, his longevity is better insured with a reliever's role.

Im sorry, but Ive yet to see an argument for keeping Joba in the pen that makes a lick of sense.

Joba has already proven that he can be a lights out Major league starter. A #1 or even #3 starter is worlds more valuable than any reliever, no exceptions. I mean, the Mets picked up 2 solid closers just this off-season, how many bonafide Aces have they picked up in the last decade? Joba holds his velocity late into games, has good control, gets lots of swings-and-misses and has 4 solid pitches. Hes a prototypical Ace, and yet everyone wants the Yankees to play down his abilities. I just wont ever understand it.

As for the injury, we'll see how that shakes out. You cant just assume he cant start because of some tendonitis, and then relegate him to a far less valuable and easier to fill role.

From my viewpoint, a great closer is very valuable in the way they shorten games. Mo has been one of the greats at that, he'll need to be replaced. I see Joba filling that role exceptionally well - better than anyone else in Wilkes-Barre. I also suspect that it's harder to find a truly great closer than it is to find or grow a #3 starter.

There's really no way to "convince" anyone of an opposite opinion. We'll just have to wait and see how Joba develops and in what role or roles he does so. We also need to see how Hughes, Ike and Melancon come along and watch the injury situation for the currently projected rotation.

The Mets lost a huge number of games last year that they were winning or tied late in the game. That is why they went for the two closers.

To answer your question they added Santana, arguably the best or 2nd best pitcher when healthy in baseball just last year.

As a Sox fan, I would rather they move him to the closer role. I get the value of Mo all these years. But I believe more strongly in getting the lead to the guys at the end of the game and that is having talent at the top of the rotation.

What I keep getting back to in this argument is the fact that 99% of closers are failed starters. Rivera was lousy as a starter, but he is one of the best relievers ever. It's easier to face a guy once versus multiple times and Rivera is the best in the business. Look at Phil Coke, who appears to be coming into his own since joining the bullpen. Joba has 12 starts and a 2.76 ERA. Small sample size, but I think he could be a very, very good starter based on that.

Of course if he breaks down or can't handle starting you move him to the pen, but when a guy has four pitches I think you do everything you can to make him part of the rotation first.

Plus, if BL wants him in the pen you know the Yankees are doing the right thing by keeping him in the rotation. ;-)

doh! I should have argued the other side...

My point, belabored hugely by now, is that Joba may be more valuable and more effective as a closer than as a starter. Yep, he could be a decent #3 or # 4 guy - or better - or he could be the second coming of Mo, which is huge. Either way, either way, either way, I'm (bleeped gerundive) delighted he's a Yankee, but we'll see what we see when we see it, prob not before then. LOL.

And ... you really have to watch out for those Sox fans who hide out in New Braves territory as they are rumored to be very sneaky fellows. ;-)

My somewhat rhetorical question was, how many ace pitchers have the Mets landed in the last decade versus how many guys they have had who could effectively or potentially close games.

The answer is one or two versus around a dozen.

Finally, I dont see anyone projecting Joba's ceiling as a #3 or #4 starter. If that was the case, it would be a totally different situation. Joba has the makeup, stamina and stuff to be a #1 starter, as evidenced by his performance last year. Huge difference.