Yankees demote out of sorts reliever Chad Green

Over the past two seasons, Chad Green was one of the most effective middle relievers in baseball. However, 2019 has been cruel thus far for the 27-year-old right-hander, resulting in the Yankees demoted him to Triple-A to figure it out.

Backed by two solo home runs from Luke Voit, four hits by veteran Brett Gardner and Mike Ford’s first big league homer — a two-run shot in the fifth inning, the Yankees held a comfortable 7-to-1 lead over the Angels headed into the bottom of the eighth inning.

Domingo German was excellent yet, again, tossing 6.2 innings of four-hit, one run ball with one walk and five strikeouts. However, following his 99th pitch of the night, manager Aaron Boone called on Chad Green from the bullpen.

Boone truly loves making calls to the ‘pen, doesn’t he?

For me, when a pitcher is struggling the way Green has so far this season, instilling confidence is paramount, Therefore, when he replaced German and quickly ended the seventh with two out and a man on second base, that should have been the end of Green’s appearance. Brief but successful — he did his job.

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However, with a six-run lead intact, Boone allowed Green back out on the mound, hoping for the best. What the Yankees got almost led to a third straight extra-inning affair.

A lead-off single to the No. 9 hitter, followed by another to Kole Calhoun and a Mike Trout walk, eventually led to a Justin Bour grand slam.

To say that Green’s changeup was grooved to Bour would be an understatement. The pitch was flat as a board.

Perhaps because of a surprisingly hittable fastball this season, Green has been reluctant to attack the strike zone, instead, leaving many of his pitches up, while featuring very little bite on the breaking stuff.

Green’s fastball is currently being clocked at 94.8 mph, down from his usual 96.1. As a result, the swing and miss percentage of his fastball is down nearly nine percent from 2018 while his walk rate is up seven percent.

In just 7.2 innings pitched (10 appearances), Green has allowed 15 hits, four homers and 14 earned runs culminating in a 16.43 ERA and two losses. That’s as many runs, and four-baggers as Green allowed in 69 innings during 2017.

Luckily, Luis Cessa and Zack Britton were able to secure the 7-to-5 victory — the Yankees fifth straight win.

While it would be all too simple to assume something is physically wrong with Green, potentially making him the 14th Yankee to hit the injured list this season, Green says his issues are due to poor mechanics. As told to Kristie Ackert of the NY Daily News:

"“I feel great. That’s the thing. That’s what’s probably the most frustrating part. It doesn’t feel like anything physically,” Green said. “I’ve gone through a rough patch mechanically but I feel like that’s getting back on track. I’m just going to have to fight through it.”"

Through 23 games, the Yanks’ bullpen sits around the middle of the major league pack, ranking 13th in ERA with a 4.25 and 17th in BAA at .238.

With the breaking news of Green being demoted to Triple-A Scranton in hopes of rediscovering what previously made him so impactful, left-handed relief pitcher Stephen Tarpley will move onto the 25-man roster.