Frustration Setting in for Robertson After Another Blown Save

The Yankees have been without Mariano Rivera for only 55 games and most of the time, fans have not had to worry in late-game situations with the success of David Robertson. However, the last five game have been a different story. Robertson has blown two of the last five save opportunities, most notably the ninth inning implosion in yesterday’s 7-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins. On just his first pitch of the inning, Josh Willingham took Robertson deep to tie the game at 2-2. After a strike out, Robertson walked two of the next three batters and then gave up a run-scoring double. Joe Mauer was intentionally walked before Matt Daley came in to give up a double to ex-Yankee Eduardo Nunez and cash in Robertson’s runs.

"“I stunk today,” Robertson told Dan Martin of the New York Post. “What can I say? I didn’t get the job done. I just wasn’t consistent and it cost us a lot of runs and a chance to even come back in that ball game.  I’m frustrated with that, absolutely. I still had to keep fighting. In my head, I kept thinking, ‘I’m a pitch away,’ but I couldn’t stop them.”"

Robertson left the game to a very unfriendly booing Yankee crowd. Knowing the expectations that come with the job, the right-hander knows he needs to get back out there and prove himself again.

"“I’ll try to put it behind me,” Robertson said. “We’ve got another game [Monday]. If I don’t pitch [then], I hope I get a chance the next day. I’m itching to get back out there. I want to prove I can still do this.”"

Being a major league closer has its ups and downs and you certainly need a short term memory. Just ask Mariano, even he had his fair share of bad outings, sometimes back-to-back even. The most important part of the job is to learn from it and move on. With the Mariners in town, followed by a series against the Oakland A’s, Robertson will have plenty of chances to right the ship and show that he is still the closer that converted his first nine save opportunities.