Yankees' explanation for Ryan Yarbrough, Paul Blackburn roles is still unhelpful

The New York Yankees have questions up and down their entire bullpen, and there aren't any answers in sight these days, at least not ones that the Yankees' leadership is embracing. The most nerve-racking of New York's 'pen issues lies with the unreliable seasons that David Bednar and Camilo Doval are having thus far as late-inning options.

But the Yankees also have a weird long reliever situation going on, seeing as they continue to carry two long relievers (Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn) when one would more than suffice.

Yankees' bullpen features one long reliever too many

It's not that Yarbrough or Blackburn have been terrible or anything. Yarbrough has a 3.66 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings pitched this year, while Blackburn holds a 3.33 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 24 1/3 innings.

But why, exactly, are both guys necessary, especially because they both serve the same function? If you're going to make the "we need a lefty" argument for Yarbrough, it'll fall flat before you begin, considering the Yankees already have lefties Tim Hill and Brent Headrick in the bullpen, each of whom is more than capable of pitching multiple innings in mid-relief. Yarbrough has also been used the least by far of any of the roster regulars.

Yankees' pitching coach Matt Blake defends the importance of Yarbrough/Blackburn

NY Daily News' Gary Phillips spent a recent article wondering about the Yankees' Yarbrough/Blackburn situation.

In Phillips' mind, it's curious that the Yankees keep leaning into Yarbrough and Blackburn when they have a few stud arms in Triple-A that would be more of a load for opposing hitters to deal with. Yovanny Cruz comes to mind. Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez should also factor in as bullpen pieces who are far more electric than anything Yarbrough or Blackburn bring to the table. And we know that Rodriguez can operate as a long reliever, seeing as he's started multiple games for the Yanks this season.

Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake shot down the notion of cutting bait on one of Yarbrough and Blackburn, saying that, “I wouldn’t think that that’s on the table,” per Phillips. Blake also said that it's still too early in the season to change either of those two guys' roles, citing the steadiness and "good fit" of Yarbrough, in particular.

It was an odd answer from Blake that would've only worked if the Yankees' bullpen had been good this year. The opposite is true, and while that doesn't fall on Yarbrough or Blackburn's shoulders, specifically, there is clearly still a lot of fine-tuning to be had in the 'pen, and anyone who isn't performing well above average should be considered replaceable.

Perhaps Blake is stalling out of respect for Yarbrough, knowing full well that Ryan Weathers will take Yarbrough's spot as soon as Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are fully built up (and when Max Fried comes back). Blake did note that the dual-long reliever situation is important during this time of recovery and build-up for the Yankees' top starters.

That's all good and well, but it still doesn't answer the question of why New York isn't putting its most talented, MLB-ready arms in the bullpen. Because the season, now more than one-third complete, isn't quite as young as Blake described it.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow