Yankees: 4 ways Aaron Boone can vary bullpen usage in postseason

1. Deploy Aroldis Chapman with no regard

Aroldis Chapman doesn’t only have to be the closer for the Yankees.

Andrew Miller wasn’t the Indians’ closer during Cleveland’s World Series run in 2016, but he was easily their best reliever. On this team, realistically, at their absolute best, Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton, Chad Green and Adam Ottavino can handle the ninth inning. So why do we need stringent bullpen roles throughout the entirety of the lengthy postseason?

We need a semblance of that, but there shouldn’t be “rules” as to when you’re bringing someone in.

Chapman probably isn’t the Yankees’ best reliever, but he’s certainly the most overpowering, and if the middle of the order is coming up in a one-run game in the eighth inning, why not use him to take down the big guns before turning to Britton? We’re not saying Britton isn’t capable, but having a guy who throws over 100 MPH is a cool weapon to use against the game’s best hitters in crunch time.

Heck, maybe you use him in the seventh if you’re in a jam with runners on and trying to hold onto a lead! I don’t know! But every late lead needs to be treated like a do-or-die situation, because the Yankees cannot afford to have massive momentum shifts go against them in this uncertain 2020.

Deploy Chapman when we need to stop the bleeding and/or show up the opposing team’s best hitters in late and tight situations, even if it’s not the ninth inning. Everything else will unfold the way it needs to once you escape the immediate threat of giving up a lead or having the tie broken.

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