Yankees: Call to the Bullpen And A Plan To Fix Things

Last season started the year looking like the Yankees bullpen was going to be able to handle anything. It certainly had the ERA and the strikeout totals lurking around to embrace those pesky AL East hitters.

The problem was that only Dellin Betances stayed on the team while Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller both went on to play in the World Series as the closer’s for their respective teams. Then, the Yankees re-sign Chapman while Miller stayed with the Indians.

So what was the problem?

The problem with these three in the same bullpen was, it became more of a struggle than an aid for Joe Girardi. Getting all three of these pitchers the right amount of innings while allowing them the right amount of rest became gruesome work throughout the first half of the season for such big name pitchers. The big three were not going to appear in that many games as the season progressed and it started out with Chapman serving a 30-game suspension.

Then it became a guessing game whether or not the three of them could appear in three straight innings. If the game can go into the seventh inning, then the Yankees won the game, 12-0 when all three appear in the same game.

The problem is with Chapman having 21 save opportunities, Betances having 28 holds and Miller having 16 holds to appear in only 12 games together is the burden of too many big name relievers in the same bullpen.

What happened with Betances?

Betances was pitching lights out before the trades happened for these two; making it appear as though Betances was going to be able to take over and remain the closer for years to come. This was not the case, however, as Betances finished the year with a 3.08 ERA. He was not able to handle the role as the Yankees were expecting blowing five saves. It was a huge blow to the Yankee faithful when he started getting hit and hit hard, especially in the last month.

The strikeout to a pitcher is like a home run to a batter, but in Betances’s case, it appears to be his entire game. He pitched 73 innings striking out 126 batters, meaning that only 93 batters made outs a different way. This sounds good, but this was an atrocity for Betances as balls hit in play he surrendered a .348 batting average last year, making it difficult for him to retire batters, not via the strikeout.

So, how can the Yankees make things better?

Turn It Around

Dellin Betances needs to live on the edges of the plate. This is how he has had his most success, and before his blip in the month of September, 5.58 ERA, this was his pitching style. When he keeps the ball on the edges, he owns hitters, with the best batting average a .235 in the upper left quadrant, but having a minuscule average in the lower left quadrant of .059 and top right .080.

Betances ERA was astronomically significant in the sixth, seventh and mostly the eighth inning in seasons past, last season, 2.02, but his ninth inning ERA was 5.40 in 17 save opportunities. He was 12-5, not exactly the kind of production that the Yankees are looking for from their star reliever. Betances is one of the best relievers in the game, but the opposition has figured out the ways to beat him, steal bases and take pitches.

He conceded nine stolen bases in 30 games in the closer role and walked 18 men. He also forfeited 15 runs in his 30 games as a closer while only allowing 16 in his setup role (43 games).  Already going back to the eighth inning role in the upcoming months with the signing of Chapman, he is looking to turn it around this season.

So Why Did The Yankees Re-Sign Chapman?

Chapman has been one of the most dominant closers in the game with his 100 plus MPH fastball that he delivers on a countless basis. The good news about the trade was that the Yankees gained top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren who was sent to the Cubs from the Starlin Castro trade, Outfielders Billy McKinney, and Rashad Crawford. Although last year’s team suffered, it made the future Yankees and this year’s team that much better.

The Yankees signing Chapman the first time was smart it made the bullpen an unstoppable force, but this time it has to be brought to question. The Yankees watched the dominance that Chapman brought to the table in Chicago for the remainder of the 2016 season, so why the sudden change of heart once again? The Yankees might just not see Betances fit for the job.

This is a smaller ballpark for Chapman making it harder to deal with the powerful left-hand hitters like Chris Davis, Robinson Cano, Jackie Bradley Jr., Bradley Miller, Eric Hosmer, etc. His success in Yankee Stadium came with a small sample size, but it followed suit with Chapman being the best closer in the game.

Hopefully, Betances gets his contract situation straightened out so that these two can be the best duo possibly the game has ever seen.

Making The Bullpen Better

Tyler Clippard was quietly one of the better relief pitchers in the game for the second half of the season. Pitchers dream of the second half that he put together for the Yankees. He opened some eyes and turned some heads along the way not to mention making it clear to the Yankees and Girardi that he means business.

Clippard has the adequacy to make the big three of this season. He can assure the Yankees fans and the pitching staff that this season if the game gets into the seventh inning it is over. He boasted an astounding 2.49 ERA  en route to 12 holds and two saves for the Yankees as he went on to pitch in 25.1 innings striking out 26, while only allowing seven earned runs.

His control is something that he could work on, however, as he threw four wild pitches and allowed 11 walks (two intentional). Although, he has settled into his own with his setup role and he has become the definition of doing what it takes to win a ball game.

He went from the closer with 32 saves, and five blown saves in Washington to 2 saves one blown for the Yankees, but 12 holds. He understands what his job is on the team, and with his hopefully continued success he will be able to help the Yankees win just like last season.

Johnny Barbato made a miraculous start to his Yankee career, with 15 innings of scoreless baseball. Then, he collapsed. He was sent to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders after allowing eight runs over his next seven innings of pitching. He was recalled in late August when he allowed four runs without recording an out. His 2.61 in the minors and his mid-nineties fastball could prove his worth to allow him to find a sport in the Yankee pen for the upcoming season.

Richard Bleier has the possibility to steal a role in the Yankees bullpen after carrying a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings last season. There is nothing magical or electric about the 29-year-old, with a high eighties fastball, but his southpaw arm and ability to put lefties on the bench could push his appearances as a specialist.

Yankees Future Key Relief Pitchers

Tommy Layne, also a left-hander, could also find a roster spot as a left-hand specialist as he pitched in 16 innings last season with a 3.38 ERA. His control needs to be worked on, as he walked seven batters, and hit two. His mid-nineties fastball sets Layne up for a possible relief role that could allow the Yankees to rest their sure guys without cause for concern.

Ben Heller coming with Clint Frazier from the Andrew Miller trade could find his way to the bullpen as his high-nineties fastball could indulge the Yankees to bring him up sooner rather than later and blow pitches past hitters like Chapman, only earlier in the game. Heller and Frazier could make for a great deal with the Miller trade, as their long-term poise could outweigh Miller’s next few seasons.

Last but not least, 6^th round draft pick in 2014, Jonathan Holder. Holder pitched for Trenton Thunder for 28 games, allowing only ten earned runs in 41 innings pitched. He also surrendered just seven walks while striking out 59. Posting a 2.20 ERA with the club moved up to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders where he got better, hard to believe.

He pitched in 12 games, 20.1 innings tallying 35 strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs and no free passes, on his way to a 0.89 ERA. He found his struggles when he was called up to the big leagues though with just 8.1 innings he allowed five earned runs and four walks while registering five strikeouts and a miserable 5.40 start to his Yankee career.

Still, he is a valuable option and worth a look during spring training to determine whether he makes the team or not.

Back And Forth They Go

Of course, there are, nevertheless, players that need to prove they are admirable to withstanding the starting pitching job, or will be placed in the bullpen, or will just go back and forth regardless of play. Adam Warren has become one of these players for the Yankees. He is in the long-reliever role, but he will get thrown into the starting rotation every now and again.

Warren has been nothing short of fantastic for the Yankees as a reliever always doing what has been asked of him and delivering big games two or three innings mixed in the middle of a game. Posting a 3.26 ERA in 30.1 innings only allowing ten earned runs with ten walks in his role is solid baseball.

Luis Severino was a massive disappointment. In 2015 Severino pitched in 11 games winning five while bolstering a 2.89 ERA. Then in 2016, he carried a 5.83 ERA to go off of for this upcoming season. He is looking for the gate-keeper of short-term memory loss. He imploded with a 7.46 ERA between April and May and lost six of seven starts with the other a no decision.

He the was sent to the bullpen making Severino a viable option to start games, but unless he can get his act together, he will stay in the bullpen more than he starts.

He did prove himself in the pen, however, as his ERA was 0.39 while his starting ERA was 8.50. He has the velocity, movement, and attitude to be a winning pitcher the problem it seems is that starting has seemingly not been his strong suit since being called to the Yankees. He was 0-8 while starting and 3-0 as a reliever. He needs to prove himself to earn that starting job back.

Chad Green had a small amount of success winning two games in eight starts, but his four losses and 5.94 ERA as a starter will not suffice. While with the RailRiders Green’s ERA in 94.1 innings was an incredible 1.52.

Green was moved to the bullpen like Severino when his failure outweighed his success, but the Yankees did not allow as much time for Green as they did for Severino.

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Green did not record a win or loss when he was moved to the bullpen with only 9.1 innings, did not allow a run and earned one save while striking out eight and only walking three. Hopefully, his bullpen experience either shortens his rope with starting or places him in the bullpen permanently.

Bryan Mitchell will not be the strikeout king, but he does weigh-in on the possibility of starting for the Yankees. His 3.24 ERA in 25 innings could boost Girardi and Brian Cashman’s curiosity on trying to wiggle him into the starting rotation on a more permanent basis; nevertheless, he would make for a good relief pitcher if that is what they decide to do with him.

Next: A Viable Replacement For Joe Girardi

The Yankees have their work cut out for them in the starting department as is, so hopefully, the contributions of these players along with the boost of one of the more dominant looking bullpens will allow the Yankees to maintain leads.