Notes From the Clubhouse: Joba Returns, Girardi 'Shocked' by Suspension

As tough as Boston's early stretch this season was, the Yankees have had it nearly as bad. They're in the midst of a stretch where they play two games in 20 at home, they've lost their top two catchers to injury, and while their young pitching struggles, they've had to play the last week without dominant setup man Joba Chamberlain as he tends to his ailing father in Nebraska.

That's forced manager Joe Girardi to tinker constantly with the bullpen and the lineup (see below). The good news is that Chamberlain has returned. His father was taken off the ventilator last night and he flew back today to rejoin the team. He received a warm welcome from the horde of Yankee fans assembled here at Camden Yards.

The bad news is that Girardi might be down another reliever soon. He was incensed by Major League Baseball's three-game suspension of reliever Kyle Farnsworth, who threw -- intentionally or not -- behind Manny Ramirez's head Thursday night. Girardi told me and the other reporters assembled during the Yankees' pre-grame stretch that he was "shocked" by the decision to discipline Farnsworth, adding "I just don't understand why he was suspended to begin with."

It might seem a little weird to suspend a pitcher who didn't even hit someone, but there is a precedence for this. Joba Chamberlain was suspended last year when he threw a pair of fastballs behind Kevin Youkilis' head. Of course, Girardi defended Farnsworth, saying "you have to pitch inside or you're gonna get killed," but anyone with any critical thinking knows exactly what Farnsworth was trying to do.

Other odds and ends from the pre-game festivities.

- A-Rod is the DH tonight, Morgan Ensberg is at third, Jose Molina is back in the lineup at catcher and -- the biggest surprise of all -- Jorge Posada is at first base. The fact that Girardi is willing to put Posada at first and let him make a throw to second on a potential double play ball means Posada can't be too far from returning to action behind the dish.

- That means the slumping Jason Giambi as well as Bobby Abreu will sit tonight against left-hander Brian Burres. Don't read too much into that, though. Girardi is stressing getting all of his guys "a day" during this grueling stretch and Burres is equally effective against lefties and righties.

- As for Posada at first, Girardi says he's "very comfortable" with him at first, but wouldn't commit to playing him more there yet. It seems like a pretty good idea to me as he closes in on his 40s.

- Edwar Ramirez, who pitched very well last night once the game was no longer in doubt, was sent down to Triple-A Scranton with Chamberlain coming off the bereavement list. Chamberlain is available tonight.