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New York Yankees Editorial: For The New York Yankees The Magic Number Is 6…Innings That Is

By Harrison Marder

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With all the sabermetrics and advanced statistics that have become a part of Major League Baseball today, the simplest numbers can often be overlooked. For the New York Yankees to continue to win games this season, it doesn’t matter what their team OPS is, or which player has the highest WAR. As the regular season draws to a close, the only number the Bronx Bombers need to concern themselves with is six.

Numbers never lie. When leading a game after six innings the Yankees are 57-2. With a lead after seven innings, that record jumps to an even more impressive 64-2. However, the number that really jumps off the page is the Yankees 72-0 record when leading after eight innings. You read that correctly. The Yankees are UNDEFEATED this season when leading a game after eight innings.

The Yankees bullpen has been the backbone of the team all season long, and the team’s record when leading late in ballgames is a direct result of the their dominance. Typically the formula of either Justin Wilson or Chasen Shreve in the seventh, Dellin Betances in the eighth, and Andrew Miller in the ninth inning is what wins games for the Yankees.

Wislon and Shreve are both hard throwing relievers who pitched extremely effectively this season. Betances followed up an All-Star rookie campaign with what could possibly be an even better sophomore year. He boasts a 1.38 ERA with 112 strikeouts thus far. Miller has converted 32 saves in 33 chances with an ERA that sits at a measly 1.94.

While the bullpen has shined this year for the Yankees, the same can’t be said about the team’s starting pitching. A down year from former ace CC Sabathia, coupled with missed time from Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda are all issues that rotation has had to deal with this season.

Getting length from starting pitching has also been a problem for the Yankees this season. So often, Joe Girardi is forced to go to the bullpen in the fifth and sixth innings, making his relievers pitch more than he would like them to. This is the exact reason why the number six is so vital to the Yankees success down the stretch and hopefully into the playoffs.

July 1, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) pitches the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

To me, it’s really quite simple. In order for the Yankees to win games the rest of the way they need their starting pitcher, whoever it may be, to go six innings and leave with the lead. Then, turn over the keys to the bullpen. For the seventh inning I prefer Wilson to Shreve, but I am confident in either man to get the job done. Next up is Betances and his nasty breaking ball in the eighth. Finally, Miller comes in to shut the door in the ninth.

On paper it all seems so straightforward. On the other hand, what happens on the field is not always what you had planned on paper. Personally, I think the Yankees have starting pitchers capable of leaving the game after six innings with the lead. Tanaka and Pineda have both shown that they can be dominant top-of-the-line starters. Rookie Luis Severino already has the look of a crafty veteran, while Nathan Eovaldi has blossomed into a much more confident pitcher as the season progressed, assuming he is able to return from his injury.

While Yankee starters need to pitch longer into games, the Bombers’ offense also needs to hold up their end of the bargain. It is much easier for a pitcher to pitch deeper into games when they have solid run support. Just ask anyone who has ever pitched at any level of competitive baseball.

Manufacturing runs is the job of a Yankees offense that has ranged this season from looking unstoppable, to missing in action. The home run ball has been one of the Yankees’ biggest allies in 2015.  They will need to rely on guys like Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann to slug them through September and, if all goes according to plan, into October.

Have the lead after six innings and you’re almost guaranteed a win. It all seems so easy, so within reach. Will the Yankees be able to hand their bullpen a lead late in games, or will there be a parade of slow walks to the mound by Girardi in the fourth and fifth inning as September rolls on? The number six could be the biggest reason why the Yankees win championship number 28 this season.

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