1. I believe it was merely coincidence that the announcement that Joba Chamberlain was going to be stretched out for the rotation came a day after Mike Mussina’s worst start. But I do believe that Yankee officials thought in spring training that it would be Mussina’s place that Chamberlain would ultimately take. And I believe now that the Yankee hierarchy is still uncertain that Mussina is going to remain a dependable starter throwing his fastball at 85 mph. It will be interesting to see if the Yanks move toward full health and better overall rotation work what Joe Girardi will do to form a starting five. Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte are safe. Mussina is the most tenuous veteran. Darrell Rasner, it seems, is always going to have to succeed to keep his place (and so far, so great). And the Yanks still believe strongly in Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Girardi said on Wednesday night he is badly hoping he has to make the difficult decision of having seven healthy, successful starters and trying to figure out what to do about it. 2. I think the Yanks are going to keep churning through bullpen options to see if anyone can catch fire in the eighth inning. I would not be surprised if Girardi played matchup initially even without a lefty. My suspicion is that he is going to start using Edwar Ramirez as his situation lefty though Ramirez is righthanded. Ramirez’s changeup is potentially the best weapon in the Yankee pen to deal with lefty hitters. In recent weeks, the Yanks have promoted righties Mark Melancon, David Robertson, Daniel McCutchen and J.B. Cox to either Double-A or Triple-A, and they have Humberto Sanchez (the key part of the Gary Sheffield trade) working in extended spring after Tommy John surgery. All of them also will be options to replace Chamberlain if no one from the current group can handle the assignment.

3. Speaking of the current group: LaTroy Hawkins was hit with a three-game suspension for throwing at an Oriole hitter. To try to improve their situation, the Yanks are thinking of appealing and asking MLB to suspend Hawkins for 10 games instead.