Once again Joba improved in his last start, going 6 strong, allowing 1 ER against a potent Houston Astro lineup. He hasn't yet won a start, but the Yankees have won two of Joba's three starts - a sure sign of effective starting pitching. And now with the possibility that Chien-Ming Wang missing the balance of the season, the transformation of Joba to the rotation appears to have been the smart move.

Also, the reins appear to be off now as there is no predetermined pitch count on Chamberlain for the remainder of his starts, but, although Joba routinely went over 120 pitches in his collegiate starts, I sincerely doubt the Yankees will let Joba go more than 110 pitches in any of his major league starts this season. The Yankees just baby their pitchers way too much.

I heard an interview yesterday with Patrick Venditte, the Yankees 20th round draft pick this year who will be pitching with the Staten Island Yankees. Venditte is a pitcher who throws both right and left handed. He is training in Tampa and stated the Yanks are taking it easy with him regarding the amount of work he receives. They do with all pitchers - even when they are used to heavy workloads prior to entering the system.

So, even though Joba doesn't have a strict pitch limit, he will have an internal limit and will not be overextended.

John Maine - once again Willie Randolph did not let Maine go longer in his start. During the first game Sunday, knowing his bullpen is terrible, Willie pulls Maine after two singles put runners at 1st and 3rd for the Texas Rangers with one out. Pedro Feliciano proceeds to throw a wild pitch, and allows a single to drive in a run. Then Joe Smith adds fuel to the fire by giving up the two run homer. Maine should be allowed to finish what he started.

Even Willie recently said he was going to let his starters go longer (probably to rest the bullpen) but should let his starters go because they are the best pitchers. When the pressure mounted...Willie wilted.

Maine has reached 7 innings in only one of his starts (8.1 on May 7th) and is 27 years old. He is not young anymore. Guys his age and his stamina (only 3 starts with less than 100 pitches) can throw more plus the starters (normally a teams best pitchers) need to be allowed to clean up their own mess later in games. If they aren't able to get out of jams when things get tough, how will they learn? Can't let a terrible bullpen continue to blow games, especially when a capable starter is on the hill.

But, Willie does this all the time. He pulled Johan Santana after 7 innings (and no runs!) last week and the Mets bullpen blew the game. Mike Pelfrey was pulled after giving up a leadoff single in the 9th inning a day earlier and, after the bullpen lost another lead, the Mets were lucky to win in extra innings. Managers continue to go to their bullpens late in games because they really can't get second guessed on these decisions - until now.

While my thoughts are the Mets troubles are mainly Omar Minaya's fault, Willie's inability to handle his pitching staff is all on his own shoulders. He needs to let his starters go longer, no matter the situation.