New York Yankees

Mark Newman was nailed with a DUI the other day, but unlike former Yankee executive Steve Swindall it appears that Newman’s status within the organization is secure. Or at least he’s giving interviews and acting as if everything is all right.

There was some concern over over Derek Jeter’s right hand yesterday after he came up visibly sore on a diving play in the fourth inning.

It didn’t appear to be a big deal at the time, and manager Joe Girardi said he didn’t even notice Jeter’s discomfort.

But when it comes to The Captain, injuries are almost literally the only thing that can hold him back.

The spring training statistics of the five guys battling for the fifth spot in the rotation (in order of least to most likely to win the job):

Chad Gaudin

0-2 (W-L), 7.71 ERA, 3 GP, 2 GS, 7.0 IP, 9 Hits, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K

Career as Starter: 21-28 (W-L), 4.72 ERA

Going into spring training, the Yankees were trying to figure out who their fifth starter was going to be.

The two favorites going in were Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, with Chad Gaudin, Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves as the longshots.

It's already the middle of March, halfway through the 2010 spring training season, and I am making a case now as to who the fifth starter should and needs to be starting now and going into the future.

Hughes needs to be made the fifth starter and Joba to be put back into the bullpen for good. It's where he really belongs.

So far this spring the Yankees have not had to deal with major injuries to their pitching staff and while that is fantastic, it’s bad for Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre, if they want to stay in the Bronx.

As the season draws closer the Yankees have a big decision coming up as to who they are going to pick to be their fifth starter this year. Despite my belief that it would be a waste to go with anyone other than Joba Chamberlain , there is a very real chance that he could get passed over especially considering he hasn’t really pitched all that well this spring.

Damaso Marte has certainly had mixed results during his Yankee career, but he was lights-out in the playoffs last year, especially in big spots against Ryan Howard in the World Series.

Consider yesterday payback as he couldn’t even get an out in the fifth inning yesterday as he gave up three runs on a Jayson

Werth homer, four hits, and was removed from the game after Howard hit a liner off his back.

The 2010 season is almost upon us. Baseball season is getting much closer to being back.

We're about two weeks away to Easter Sunday on April 4, when Opening Night will kickoff the season on ESPN, and what a game to open up with between the defending World Series Champions New York Yankees and rival Boston Red Sox.

But there will be 29 other teams trying to do what the Yankees did this past November, which is win the World Series. Eight teams only get a chance every year to qualify to win, so who will be the teams this season to step up and challenge the Yankees?

The primary line of thought is that the Yankees' pitcher that loses the fifth starter battle will be used as the primary eighth inning pitcher.

This is likely to be the case, but is that the right decision? Could Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes use more development against Triple-A hitters?

With Hughes, I think the answer is an obvious no. He has a ton of minor league experience and has already dominated the Triple-A level. I don't think Hughes has anything to learn in the minors.