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Back in 2007, I wrote that the Yankees were unlikely to continue getting tremendous performances out of their aging veterans, that the Cocoon Effect would dissipate, just as it eventually did.

Two years later, let's check in. 38-year-old Jorge Posada? 129 OPS+. 35-year-old Derek Jeter? 126 OPS+. 35-year-old Johnny Damon? 128 OPS+. 35-year-old Hideki Matsui? 131 OPS+. Even the 34-year-old Alex Rodriguez, playing with a hip that will require a second surgery this offseason, clocks in at 141 OPS+.

A bunch of has-beens, those Yankees are.

Still, there is a certain valedictory feel to this entire Yankee season, a Ted Williams 1960 feel. It must be remembered that Williams hit just .254 while battling injuries in 1959. But in his final season, he rebounded to .316 and inspired John Updike with his final at-bat, a home run at Fenway Park.

This Yankee team isn't just old in the lineup, but several key pieces in the pitching staff are as well. Andy Pettitte is 37. Closer Mariano Rivera is 39. Pettitte's ERA+ is a solid 107. Rivera's a ludicrous 229.

It's as if Wilford Brimley is the trainer.

Still, like a man who repeatedly claimed that Mark Twain was dead, he was eventually proven right. It is hard to imagine that these Yankees are set to begin a sustained run of postseason success. Not to say that the Yankees won't, mind you -- but rather, these Yankees.

This Yankees team has the feel of that Buster Olney title, The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty -- the tremendous book about a Yankees team from eight years ago. (Apparently, I'm not the only one who's gone Twaining.)

And the irony of how this team is constructed is that the difference between winning and losing could well be in the hands of one of New York's youngest members: Joba Chamberlain.

Much has been written about Chamberlain's role -- his pitch counts, his innings counts and his pitches-within-innings counts. But only one thing is clear, the Yankees need the old-new Joba to return, stat.

The limitation of that Yankees dynasty since 2001 has been a steadily declining starting pitching staff to go up against the best lineups (and aces) in the playoffs. In CC Sabathia, the Yankees finally have that true No. 1 they've lacked for years. But the candidates for a 1-2 punch are lacking lately, a veritable bushel of faux-Garfunkels, ill-equipped to sing beside CC's Paul Simon.

A.J. Burnett has followed a 6.03 ERA in August with a 4.97 mark so far in September. Unlike his previous two seasons, it appears Burnett chose 2009 to start, rather than finish strong.

There have even been worrisome signs lately from Andy Pettitte, who got knocked around in both of his September starts. The Yankees can ill-afford any slip ups from Pettitte.

And anyone who thinks the Yankees will be well-served by October starts from either Chad Gaudin or Sergio Mitre must be Theo Epstein.

So it will likely fall to Joba Chamberlain to make this Yankee staff either thin, adequate or, should he return to his mid season form, equal to the challenges posed by the American League playoffs. Of course, Sunday was not an encouraging sign. Three walks and a home run in three innings will not push Joba ahead of Burnett or Pettitte in the rotation pecking order. A few more outings like that, and even Mitre or Gaudin will move ahead of him -- though I suspect it will take outings as bad as Sunday with no let up.

Still, the Yankees will give Chamberlain his chance. A team can do worse than to have a pitcher of such talent as the potential No. 4 starter -- though that will require the right A.J. Burnett and August's Pettitte to return to form.

In the meantime, there is reason to be nervous in the Bronx. A team that seems ready to sit alongside the vintage 1964 Yankee team will need Chamberlain to be at his very best. 2010 promises letdowns, if not departures, from many of the most important 2009 Yankees.

And if you don't believe me, I refer you to Mark Twain's actual obituary.