Even with him, the Yankees have their work cut out for them . The bullpen was a serious weakness for the Yankees until Joba came riding to the rescue, and even then, it was often a two-man crew. Kyle Farnsworth buried himself in bad performance and a worse attitude. Luis Vizcaino was consistently inconsistent, and developed a sore arm late in the year. The rest of the pen was filled out with the now-departed Mike Myers, Ron Villone, Brian Bruney and a rotation between Edwar Ramirez, Chris Britton and Sean Henn, with cameos from Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Veras.

Still, there are some options here that are better than others, and it would behoove the Yankees to think of youth in the pen just as they are in the rotation.

Beijing's Water Cube welcomes first head of state visitor

BEIJING, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua toured China's National Aquatic Center, also known as the Water Cube, on Friday, becoming the first head of state to visit the flagship Olympic venue for water events.

"I'm impressed by the engineering achievements that the Water Cube has made," said Yar'Adua after his visit. "I think all the athletes participating in the Beijing Olympic Games will have the same feeling."

Four and a half years in construction, the Water Cube with bubble-like exterior was completed on Jan. 28.

Previously a chemistry teacher, Yar'Adua was interested in the filtration methods and was told it uses active carbon to filter the water instead of chemicals.

Later Yar'Adua was given an introduction to the National Stadium, or the Bird's Net.

Council OKs sales tax hike to pay off Coliseum bonds

The increase will add 25 cents on the purchase of $100 in goods.Six aldermen voted in favor of the measure, which included stipulations that all of the money generated by the increase go toward paying off the $29.5 million in Coliseum bonds and that the increase end in 2015. Aldermen Jim Fruin, Ward 9; Judy Stearns, Ward 4; and David Sage, Ward 2; voted against the increase.Despite his vote, Fruin said he was supportive of raising the sales tax.Fruin said he did not see the point to the stipulations suggested by Ward 7 Alderman Steven Purcell because the council can revisit the sales tax every year and Fruin added he did not want to tie the hands of future councils, which may need the money for emergencies. Fruin suggested the council agree that the priorities for the money should be the Coliseum bonds, rebuilding the city's cash reserves and adding to its road improvement budget.“I would have drawn it (the motion) differently but I am supportive of the sales tax," Fruin said.Those who voted for the increase were Purcell, Allen Gibson, Ward 1; Kevin Huette, Ward 3; Jim Finnegan, Ward 5; Karen Schmidt, Ward 6; and John Hanson, Ward 8.The city is facing a $3 million shortfall in its $75 million general fund.

NEVADAN AT WORK: Affinity for public helps exec succeed

Name: Eileen Bechtol. Position: Senior vice president, Chicago Title. Family: Husband, William Forrest; sons, Matthew and Brandon. Education: Basic High School, 1972; Clark County Community College (Southern Nevada College), business management and accounting. Work history: First National Bank of Colorado Springs (Colo.), real estate mortgage department, 1974; Stewart Title, loan servicing department, 1975; Chicago Title, escrow secretary, 1975; Land Title of Nevada, escrow officer, 1976; moved to Reno and started mortgage company with her husband In 1977; moved back to Las Vegas in 1979 and went to work again for Land Title until 1991; after two brief stints as escrow manager for Chicago Title and Stewart Title, returned to Chicago Title in 1995 and was promoted to senior vice president in 2005.