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Lost amid the painting of Jeter as a villain, the Sawx trying to lure Mo, and the Cliff Lee sweepstakes...the Yanks bullpen that in my humble opinion was pretty pathetic outside of Mo.

David Robertson's alleged "deceptive 91mph fastball" fooled no one. While Kerry Wood was great in a short stretch leading into the playoffs, the playoffs were a different story. Very erratic. No one knows where Joba Chamberlain's head is. Anyone feel Boone "Boom-Boom" Logan is the answer?

One idea is to use Nova much like the Yankees used Hughes. When Girardi used him, it worked until it went one inning too long in the playoffs against Texas. However, I am not sure that's enough...

How do you think the Yanks pen looks? Do they need to go after someone like Gregg? Should they just remain pat and fill from the minors?

They really should look to sign somebody, I don't know if they can trust anyone currently in the bullpen.

Like you said, another possibility is the farm system. Somebody like Brackman could come up and fire mid-upper 90s out of the bullpen and assume the role. But again, I don't think they go into the season relying on that situation.

Well, tha's just it. Lost in off-season was how godawful the bullpen was. The Yankees expected the starters to go long and even CC wasn't very sharp. The road to Mo is where it starts and this is the issue inbetween 2001-2008. and continues to be so in 2010.

brackman?

I don't think you can count out Robertson or Joba just yet. Robertson was dominant for a 2 month stretch during the year, he just needs to show some consistency. Hopefully the new pitching coach can straighten out Joba and have him throwing like he did in the 2nd half of '07.

Hope? Hope the new coach can straighten him out. He throws 91mph. In a tight game in Boston or in Tampa or in Toronto...you "HOPE" that he cannot give up a run tying RBI or home run?

And how much longer do you need to see from Joba. How long has this kid been around? Roger Clemens was pitching with the Yankees when Joba debuted. Since then Hughes has surpassed him and his star has been diminished to the point of being a middle reliever.

Right now, Kerry Wood is more valuable than Joba.

Give me something...c'mon.

Rumor has it the Yankees spoke with Kerry Wood's agent. Told him that if he is looking for closer money, he won't get that in NY but setup dollars are available. So I think they are in a holding pattern for him. Also the Yankees want to keep picks and not give them up for a guy like Downs.

My guess is that it's Robertson/Joba/committee early and Brackman late. -Jitpal

With Wood's injury history I don't think anyone is going to give him closer money and definitely not across multiple years. So Wood is still an option I'd imagine. Right now, he'd be the best one...the most guaranteed one. Sign him to a multi-year "setup man" deal while start digging the minors for a closer and setup man in waiting.