Moments after Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) issued a statement declaring marijuana legalization bill dead today, a source on the periphery of the Statehouse offered the following deadpan analysis:

“He needs to bring in Mariano,” said the source, a reference to the Yankees legendary closing pitcher, and specifically referring to Governor Phil Murphy’s failure to seal today’s deal in the senate.

Someone mentioned the name Bill Castner, the baseball-minded operative who bucked South Jersey on Horizon.

“Nah,” said the source. “He needs a real relationship with the legislature and he needs to get a wee bit transactional.

“For a guy with such good policy positions, he sucks at making sausage,” the source added.