Day 19: Joba, Polamalu, College Pick 'Em and more

HEADLINES

1) Joba Chamberlain lasted only 3 2/3 innings in a loss to the Royals last night in his most recent struggle. If you were Joe Girardi, what are you doing with Joba for the playoffs?

Ben: I'm sending Joba out to the bullpen and telling him to be ready every day. Joba isn't a good starter, let's make that clear right now. But, he is a very, very effective reliever. Look at his numbers 2 seasons ago, they are lights-out. The Yankees have enough talent at starting pitching and in the playoffs everyone could use more pitching for match-ups late in the games.

I think Joba has a place on the playoff roster for the Yankees, its just not as a starter.

Boz: I would definitely not leave him off the division series roster, which has been thrown out there. I would put him in the bullpen and use him as the emergency fourth starter if a fourth starter is needed. The three man rotation of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettite is already set. It's already stated that Sabathia would come back for Game 4. So put Joba in the bullpen. He started his career as a very successful set-up man. It can't hurt to have a guy that can hit 97 mph on the radar gun pitching in the seventh inning of a one-run playoff game.

2) The Steelers are 0-2 since Troy Polamalu's injury when he was predicted to miss 6-8 weeks. It's been two weeks and as the Steelers get set to host the Chargers, Polamalu is saying that he hopes to play. Is Polamalu trying to come back too early?

Ben: I don't think he's trying to come back to early, I think he's too competitive for his own good. I think Polamalu is the best safety in the league and loves playing the game -- which is dangerous in this situation. When you have a knee injury, it usually takes longer to heal up then other injuries. Carson Palmer or Tom Brady are perfect examples, they had knee injuries and came back a little rusty. Polamalu could be exploited and it could actually hurt the Steelers more can it can help.

Stay off the field until you're ready Troy.

Boz: Absolutely. The prognosis was 6-8 weeks and it has only been two. I can understand that it has been hard for Polamalu to sit on the sidelines and watch the Steelers lose two close games. One can make the argument that had Polamalu in those games, the Steelers are probably 3-0. Polamalu's replacement, Tyrone Carter, has been picked on in the two losses which probably pushes Polamalu to want to return more. The real question is had the Steelers won both of those close games against the Bears and Bengals and were 3-0 on the season, would Polamalu still be pushing to return early?

Polamalu has to be smart here and wait until he is completely healed and ready to return to the Steelers defense. Coming back early just means that you can just injure yourself more and possibly put yourself on the injured reserve list and be out the rest of the year. My advice to Polamalu, wait til your healthy. The Steelers will weather the storm, stay in the playoff hunt and then use a healthy Troy Polamalu to help them defend their title.

3) After Chad Pennington's most recent shoulder injury has put him out for the season. Do you think Pennington's career is over?

Ben: Yes. He couldn't throw the ball 30 yards down field with a healthy arm, he won't be able to throw it anywhere with any effectivity. This spells the end for Chad. I like him, think he's a good QB, and a good guy, but he won't be able to handle the duties of a NFL QB after this surgery. Your body can only take so much.

Boz: Yes. Pennington's arm was already pretty weak before this injury and I don't think he'll have a strong enough harm to play quarterback in the NFL after yet another surgery. I think Chad Henne will do well stepping in for Pennington and will get the starting job next year, therefore finishing Pennington's time with the Dolphins. No other team will take a chance on a worn down quarterback. Pennington had a good career. He wasn't a flashy quarterback, but he won games.

4) Former Green Bay Packers players are voicing out their disgust of how Brett Favre is playing in a Vikings uniform against the Packers this Sunday. Are they justified in their disgust?

Ben: Yes. This whole show that Farve has put on is ridiculous and makes me disappointed in him. Any player that has played with Farve has the right to disect his personality behind-the-scenes. In fact, any player who has played in the NFL and had to make the decision to retire has the right to be disgusted with Farve. Anyone who has gone through the process of retirement understands how difficult it was for Farve, but he wasn't retiring to slide away into the abyss, he was retiring to go to different teams, which makes me (and others) disgusted.

Boz: No. They can be upset about one of the most famous Packer of all time playing in a uniform of a hated division rival. I would have to imagine it'd be like watching Michael Jordan play his final years in a New York Knicks uniform. Or watching Walter Payton finish his career in Green Bay. I'm sure that people like Leroy Butler still respect and like Favre, they just hate the idea of him playing in Minnesota, which is justified.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK 'EM

Last week         Ben: 4-4         Boz: 4-4
Season              Ben: 18-8       Boz: 13-13

1) Washington at Notre Dame (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)

Ben: Notre Dame. That upset of USC won't happen again. The trip to South Bend won't be a fun one for the Huskies, although I'm sure Notre Dame will keep them in the game, because they can't put people away (ie Purdue)

Boz: NOTRE DAME. If this game was in Washington then I would take the Huskies but I like the Fighting Irish at home. They're offense is much better than the Huskies, depite UW having a pretty good quarterback. The Huskies pulled off one big win this season, they won't get another.

2) Wisconsin at Minnesota (Saturday, 12 p.m.)

Ben: Wisconsin. The Badgers are always better then they are given credit for and the Gophers won't continue this strong start. I've got Wisconsin is a close one -- what kind of mascot is a Gopher anyway?

Boz: MINNESOTA. The Golden Gophers are a threat this year in the Big Ten and they'll prove it here at home against the Badgers. They have a good quarterback and possible the best wide receiver in the Big Ten.

3) No. 22 Michigan at Michigan State (Saturday, 12 p.m.)

Ben: STATE. I'm going out on a limb and I've got Sparty pulling off the upset. I'm on the fence, but I think the Wolverines streak of good luck ends now.

Boz: MICHIGAN. I'm a believer in Tate Forcier and the Wolverines with their high powered offense. This will be a high scoring game since the Spartans will be able to keep up a bit and keep it close but Michigan improves to 5-0, Greg Bouslog Gaurentee.

4) No. 15 Penn State at Illinois (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)

Ben: PENN STATE. Rejus Benn is the only player on the Illini that is any good. Period.

Boz: PENN STATE. It's too bad what happened to the Nittany Lions last week as I was hoping that a Big Ten team would make a push for a BCS Championship bid. Penn State will rebound and easily handle an Illinois team that was shut out by Ohio State last week.

5) No. 7 USC at No. 24 California (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

Ben: USC. California stunk it up last week against Oregon, an d USC will come out and take out some more vengence on the Pac-10. Thanks Washington.

Boz: USC. Last week's Cal game against Oregon made you wonder if Oregon was that good or if Cal was that bad. I think Cal was that bad. USC will have a healthy Taylor Mays, which will help shut down the California running game.

6) No. 4 LSU at No. 18 Georgia (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)

Ben: LSU. I'm really impressed with LSU and their ability to reload ever year. Les Miles is an underrated coach in the SEC and Georgia is undermanned to handle LSU's speed and athleticism.

Boz: GEORGIA. I've been against the Bulldogs for the last couple of weeks so I'm sure now that I pick them they'll lose. But I'm still taking Georgia at home as LSU is the top-5 team that gets upset this week while looking ahead to their big game against Florida.

7) No. 8 Oklahoma at No. 17 Miami (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

Ben: OKLAHOMA. Miami is a fraud. They are 3 plays from being 1-3, and being the "same old Canes" of the last couple years. I'm not impressed and I think OU is better in other areas of the game then Miami.

Boz: MIAMI. It's unsure if Sam Bradford will play against the Hurricanes and if it's taking this long to figure it out, he won't be 100% even if he does play. Miami had a bad showing last week in bad weather. I see them rebounding to get a big win infront of a energized Hurricane crowd.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Two Birthday's today for me, first, Happy 25th Birthday Matt Cain.  Paired with Tim Lincecum they make one of the best 1-2 punch in the Majors. And a Happy 43rd Birthday Christopher Titus. The actor/comedian is one of my favorite comedians who I rarely get to see. I think he is surprisingly underappreciated, and if you get a chance sometime, check him out. It's good.

Boz: Happy 64th Birthday to Rod Carew. The Hall of Famer won the AL Rookie of the Year in 1967 and ten years later won the AL MVP. Carew had an outstanding career batting average of .328 and is a member of the 3,000 hit club.