Yankees: The losing streak isn’t over for reliever Tyler Clippard

The Yankees were like the track coach last night who sees his star half-miler produce a less than stellar practice run, and the coach tells him: “Tell you what kid, go out there and run another one – now! – because I know you can do it.” But all fairy tales don’t end well, and the exhausted kid can’t do it.

In July of 2016, the Yankees pulled off a series of trades that would ignite the Baby Bombers generation. Of little notice at the time, though, was a trade (I mean steal) that brought in a reliever, Tyler Clippard, from the Arizona Diamondbacks for someone named Vicente Campos.

Over the remainder of the season, Clippard sparkled while appearing in 29 games and posting a 2.49 ERA as a sixth or seventh inning man, depending on what the game called for. On occasion, manager Joe Girardi used his versatility in the closer’s role, and Clippard responded with two saves.

So, when the spring of 2017 rolled around, Girardi, much like his thinking was with Masahiro Tanaka at the time saw Clippard with the same view – I don’t need to worry about him. I know his role, he knows his role, and I know he can do it.

As we know sitting here in June, tough times have befallen on both pitchers. And while the recounts of Tanaka’s failings have been well documented and commented on, the Yankees appear to still be in a state of shock when it comes to how far Clippard has descended in such a brief amount of time.

Major league ballplayers never call in sick. That’s not their nature. So, you have to do it for them.

Last night, with the Yankees leading by a comfortable margin in a game they eventually won ending their seven-game skid, Girardi would explain to the New York Post how he thought it was vital to get Clippard in the game “with a clean inning to work.”

Normally, when a reliever is struggling, this is a good strategy to follow because it backs up your belief in the pitcher’s ability and gives the pitcher himself a “head boost” that shows him the team still has confidence in him.

When less is more

Not to be, though, as Clippard promptly gave up a double and a home run causing Girardi to remove him from the game, without registering an out. Dellin Betances, finally!,  and Aroldis Chapman picked Clippard up, and the Yankees went home with a win.

Clippard, following the game, told the Post that he “was glad I got in there,” but Girardi also added that Clippard, at this stage “is a mess.”

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Which should automatically call for Plan B that says, when a pitcher is struggling, and all medical considerations are ruled out as a potential cause, give the guy at least a couple of mental health days to relax and recharge the batteries.

It happens to all of us, no matter what occupation we find ourselves in. It’s called burnout, which is usually tagged to an undiagnosed form of temporary depression. So what do we do? We find any number of reasons, even excuses, to not come to work for a few days.

Major league ballplayers never call in sick. That’s not their nature. So, you have to do it for them.

This is what Girardi should prescribe for Clippard at this point, even though it will be another taxation on the already taxed bullpen.

Let’s put it this way. The risks, at this juncture, for throwing Clippard back in there, even tonight, are far greater than the risks of having to use a reliever other than Clippard more than you might want to. Because as we know, pitching is 90% mental (a better word is confidence) and 10% physical.

And we can only hope that Clippard bottomed out last night and a couple of days in the sun before games knowing that he’s “off” that night, together with chewing the fat with his teammates during the game, can do more (in the long run) for Clippard than anything else.

Yankees: Five moves the team should make without blinking

By any means, the Yankees are not in dire straits, regardless of what the half-full people say. But at the same time, they need to make some moves.

Clippard, as he was last season, is a vital part of the Yankees team. In June, his loss for a few days will not be crucial. Come October, though; we want this guy healthy in every way.

Footnote: What is wrong with the fickle fans who booed Clippard on two successive nights? The man didn’t do his job, that’s all. Do they do their job every day, if they even have one? Disgusting.