Have to get used to saying that.

The sports media is having a field day criticizing Hank Steinbrenner for saying Joba Chamberlain should be in the Yankees rotation. Speculation has already begun on where Brian Cashman will end up after he quits the Bombers in righteous indignation over little Stein's meddling.

Nonsense.

First off, baseball is the family business. A business the senior Steinbrenner managed fairly well for a number of years. Was George wrong and rash and rude? Sometimes all at the same time. But there is a fair amount of hardware in the trophy case thanks to his spending and maybe just a little because he wasn't afraid to shake things up.

So now Hank can't follow in his dad's footsteps? Cashman is beyond criticism? Joe Girardi should have a lifetime contract free of suggestions from the big guy?

The media would portray Cashman and Girardi as modern day versions of Scarlett O'Hara. "Why, ah declair, ah must lie down. Mistah Steinbrenner has spoken most unkindly to me and ah believe ah have the vapors."

These guys are being paid to take orders, and they are also paid to have enough backbone to push back when the advice they are being offered is bad. Somehow I think the Yankee management team will survive.

And consider this. Hank Steinbrenner ended the Joe Torre years in the Bronx. It wasn't popular, it wasn't what the media wanted, but it was time and it needed to be done. And Hank did it. At this point last season New York was having similar pitching woes and imploded while the ever serene Torre took no risks.

It's April 2008 and the Yankees are 11-10. The professionals say Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy deserve patience while they struggle to bring their ERA's under 8.00. Steinbrenner says put Chamberlain in the rotation.

Why not?

The RedSox are 15-7, the Yankees 3 1/2 back. How far does New York fall behind while "the plan" for Chamberlain rocks along? 7 games? Ten games? Until you make the inevitable move and then listen to the same media types proclaim it is a sign of panic?

But what about the 8th inning? The 8th inning is just that. One inning. An inning you are either ahead or behind in. An inning that takes care of itself at 90% of the time no matter who the reliever is.

Why is it starters go seven, setup men bridge the 8th, and closers must be brought in during the 9th? Because mind numb managers have been programmed to repeat the formula by rote until they end up believing it. Which is one more reason why managers, including Joe Torre, seldom have any impact on the outcome of pennant races.

Imagine it is 1938. The Indians have a wild right hander named Bob Feller who can occasionally hit either side of 100 mph. What did they do with the 19 year old? They pitched him. And pitched him again until he struck out 240, walked 208, and somehow managed to learn what the game was about.

In 2008 a 22 year old is treated like a piece of porcelain. A pitcher who struck out 169 batters in 113 professional innings last season is reserved for portions of the game which do not determine the outcome. It is what 99% of GM's would do. It's what 95% of managers would do. And it is wrong, unnecessary, and ultimately will push back Chamberlain's progress as what everyone envisions him to be.

A starter.

If you go to the pond there's two things you can do. Fish or cut bait. Hank Steinbrenner wants to fish. And I'm alright with that.