New York Yankees fans all believe Dream Weaver can get us through the ni-inth, but his postseason has led to a wide variety of hyperbolic takes already, just one game into the ALCS.
Though it briefly seemed as if the Yankees could escape just one singular playoff game without dipping into the high-leverage part of their bullpen on Monday night, Tim Hill (and Anthony Rizzo's glove) made Luke Weaver's entrance an eighth inning necessity. Not only was Weaver not going to be allowed to rest up, but he was forced to record five tightroped outs in order to secure a tone-setting win.
Did he? Of course he did! Pinch hitter Will Brennan went down whiffing on three pitches, and Jose Ramirez -- as the tying run! -- somehow dribbled out to second base on the second pitch he saw. Despite an uncharacteristic leadoff walk in the ninth, he dispatched Josh Naylor quickly to staunch any budding momentum and struck out the side to end it. Was Weaver tired afterward? Of course he was! But he had no interest in telling you that. He was just doing his job.
A Yankees playoff win can make fans believe all sorts of things they don't want to believe, given that caution remains paramount until the final win of a title run is secured. But Weaver certainly has helped solidify a bullpen that looked like a disaster just one month ago, and his transition into the closer role has also helped Clay Holmes return to form.
"Most valuable reliever"? Quite possibly. "Smartest reliever decision"? There's an argument. "Best reliever in the game of baseball right now," per MLB Network's Dan Plesac? We'll let him say it. But ... I mean, we'll let him say it! What more do you want? He already said it. We can't erase that.
Yankees' Luke Weaver is the best reliever in MLB (forget about Emmanuel Clase, folks!)
Yes, Cleveland does have a Wild Thing of their own in the ninth inning. Yes, he's gone multiple frames this postseason, too. Yes, despite an odd lack of swing-and-miss on his untouchable 99+ MPH cutter, he still posted an 0.61 ERA and 0.659 WHIP, earning the right to finish second in this year's Cy Young.
But you know how we know this Weaver take has Cleveland wilding out? Because they randomly decided to throw the rest of their relievers -- AND Tigers fireman Will Vest! -- into the mix above Weaver, too.
Someone settle the city of Cleveland down, please, after Dan Plesac set them on fire like some sort of river.
But don't tell them Weaver has had a better postseason so far than Clase. Please, don't do that.