Hank Steinbrenner has a message for Johnny Damon after he spoke out against the way the Yankees are handling Joba Chamberlain’s transition from the bullpen to the rotation - mind your own business.

“I love Johnny Damon as a player and a person, and he’s really doing the job right now. But let’s be honest here, he’s not Branch Rickey,” said Steinbrenner, referring to the Hall of Fame executive. “Johnny is a player, and as players, they all need to let the brain trust do the thinking and do the talking.”

Damon initially claimed that the Yankees were sacrificing wins by taking Chamberlain out of the bullpen. According to published reports he is not alone in his thinking as other players silently disapprove of the move as well.

Steinbrenner has a message for those players as well, “The players just need to play and to worry about winning games.”

“I think so much of the media and a lot of fans are really missing the point on Joba, I really do,” Steinbrenner said. “Everyone’s worried about the eighth inning, and I agree it’s important, but (shoot), we haven’t even been getting to the eighth inning most (games).

It’s not hard to see why the media, the fans, and the players are missing the point though. Today’s 12-11 victory over the Kansas City Royals probably would not have been the roller coaster it was had Joba been available to come on in relief of Andy Pettitte in the seventh. Without a reliable reliever in the bullpen manager Joe Girardi was forced to stick with the veteran lefty until he gave up a grand slam to Jose Guillen which put the Royals up 10-6.

What everyone needs to keep in mind is if Chamberlain is the best option for the number five starter. If he came out of the bullpen today Kei Igawa, Jeff Karstens, or someone even less experienced than those two would be forced to start tomorrow. That would almost ensure a loss before the game would even be played.

Also while the other arms in the bullpen, like Edwar Ramirez and Ross Ohlendorf, certainly won’t be measuring up to Chamberlain’s success they are more reliable than other possible fifth starter candidates.

Not having Joba in the bullpen is going to hurt the Yankees. There is no doubt about that, but having him in the rotation is better than any alternatives. Besides once Phil Hughes is ready to return they are going to have to fit him in somewhere. Maybe he can fill the eight inning role. After all, he did show signs of brilliance coming out of the pen during last year’s ALDS.