Yankees News: Joe Girardi in no rush to name closer

By Caleb Gebrewold | Apr 2, 2015

With Opening Day less than a week away, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi is in no rush to decide on who the next closer will be. Entering Spring Training it seemed as if homegrown talent Dellin Betances would be given the closer role after a dominant rookie season. Betances has struggled this spring, even further complicating manners for his manager.

More from Yankees News

According to George A. King III of the New York Post, Girardi is not concerned about who will close out games in 2015, even with only a few days until the season begins:

"That is a decision that will probably be talked about a lot next week. It’s not on the forefront of what we are trying to do and trying to put together. In a perfect world you would have seventh-, and eighth-, and ninth-inning guys. In today’s world, and if you don’t, we will make it work. I just want to make sure they know when they are going to pitch. If you don’t name a closer you have a lot of flexibility. But you have to weigh that out against having roles."

While Yankees fans entered the winter feeling that Betances was deserving of the role of closer, the organization was reluctant to name him as closer, even after letting David Robertson walk in free agency.

Incumbent free agent Andrew Miller has competed with Betances for the role of finishing games, and as the season nears, it seems more likely that the team will begin the season with no official closer. As Girardi stated, this gives the Yankees flexibility in that every pitcher should be ready to close.

There is also a downfall to this option, and it is that without a certain role, pitcher’s could have less confidence. Relief pitching is one of the hardest jobs in baseball in that it is very hard to be consistent, and having a sure-fire role will allow pitchers to worry less on the mound.

Girardi should look to name a closer before the conclusion of Spring Training. Even if he doesn’t stick with the same closer throughout the entire season, giving roles to pitchers allows them to face less pressure. Knowing that you can lose the unofficial title of closer any given day could cause pitchers to feel pressure every time they take the rubber, and this is not what any manager wants.

One of Girardi’s main strengths has been his ability to manage a bullpen, and although many Yankees fans don’t agree with his tactics, the bullpen has proven to be one of the best in baseball. Girardi has limited amount of time to decide on a closer, unless he has already done so, and is refusing to show his hand.

Next: Should the Yankees be World Series or Bust?

More from Yanks Go Yard

Home/Yankees News