Joba: 3 batters, 11 pitches, 9 strikes

OK, there's no such thing as a bridge to Mariano in a Grapefruit game (unless, of course, it's Tampa Bay playing Notre Dame in the BCS Fed-Ex-Yoo-Hoo Chocolate Drink Orange Bowl), but Joe brought Joba Chamberlain in today for his

FIRST ONE INNING RELIEF STINT

against the Baltimore Uh-ohs.

This is what he did, according to the esteemed Dr. Procticus, a blog we love.

Three up, three down.

Three strike-outs.

Nine strikes (Note: Multiple of three.)

Eleven pitches.

Three tomato cans. Minor leaguers. Dewey, Cheatem & Howe.

Nothing to write home about. But, hey, blogging isn't writing home, and besides, they're meeting in the Pentagon right this minute to decide whether to shoot down the balls hit into orbit yesterday off Phil Hughes. *

Hope? We grab it. We clutch it to our breast. We kiss it. Sometimes, halfway into the emotional romantic moment, it turns into Colter Bean, like in some horrifying Stephen King novel.

But today, Joba kissed back. We have hope. Excuse me, I'm going to brush my teeth.

*Note: There is a claim that solar winds affected two of the shots. Fine. OK. That's another French kiss we'll make with hope.