Is DiMasi Playing Hardball?

Two articles now have suggested that this week's possible vote on the marriage ban amendment are test of House Speaker Sal DiMasi's political power, first David Bernstein's in the Boston Phoenix and this morning, Frank Phillips' in the Boston Globe. Neither of them gives any indication of what sort of pressure DiMasi is applying. Is this because DiMasi doesn't want it to be known that he's threatening members' chairmanships and committee assignments, or because he's not applying those sorts of hardball tactics his predecessor was known for? Are those options even within his power at this point? Anyone have an answer?