So ended the brief spasm of excitement within the YES and Loews broadcast booths that Justin Wilson was justifying the trade of Frankie Cervelli - hitting .316 for Pittsburgh - and becoming the famous "Bridge to Mariano," a slot that has actually been tougher to fill than the closer role itself. The Yankees' 12-man staff is simply too small. The team must continually shuffle arms up from Scranton. We spent last winter loading up on bullpen carbohydrates, yet here we are... calling in the overworked back-up closer for a five-out save against a second-division team... in the merry month of June. Start spreadin' the news... we're leavin' today...
Actually, the scariest part of last night was that Jerkin' Joe had little choice. With Wilson getting cuffed around, who else do you summon from the netherworld seance that doubles as the Yankee bullpen? Whomever you call, it's the Babadook. For all the Lindgrens and Burawas, the Pinders and Ramirezes, the Tracys and Rumbelows of Mordor, Pa., the brain trust still prefers Sergio Santos and Jose DePaula, snatched from baseball's version of the Saigon helicopter airlifts. When our next starter goes out in the fifth - here's to you, Mrs. Capuano! - we might as well call fans from the bleachers to throw the last four.
Shredded arms are the NFL concussions of baseball, and the Yankees are doing their share.
Well, we're a game out in the AL East. We're viable. Jacoby Ellsbury might even return before the ice caps have melted, and Florida is six-inches below the sea. But damn, it's really going to hurt when Betances calls in sick. A five-out save in June? Who ya gonna call in August? Wither goest Mr. Proctor?
I've noticed that even Mike 'the Shill' Kay doesn't talk about how great the Yankees bullpen is anymore.
ReplyDeleteIn Yankeeland, that's actually progress of some sort.
Question: how can you stock a bullpen with guys who throw 98 mph, but can't consistently get batters out? How flat can those fastballs be?
Joe has quite a predicament on his hands. If we get to the post season with a healthy Miller, Betances, Pineda, and Tanaka, we could ride those horses to a WS win. But to get there, Joe needs to work 'em like rented mules. At least the season is interesting.
ReplyDeleteHope to see A-Rod's 3,000 tomorrow. I'd love to witness a non-milestone milestone.
To hell with that bullshit. This guy's got an arm. Some guys have to be babied. But if you got a guy with an arm you pitch him.
ReplyDeleteI THINK GIRARDI HAS LOST IT.
ReplyDeleteHe is in a panic. He is well aware of the Yankee's 2 run limit in most games ( e.g. the last three games).
There are ball games where you can just see it. The Yankees have their 2 runs and nothing will change that. Not 15 innings,not an A-Rod miracle, not nothing.
So last night, with a 2-1 lead, Joe sees this a last gasp opportunity for a win. Bettance's arm be damned. Hell, if we are up 2-1 tonight in the 9th, he'll go to him again. I mean it is either Dellin or our back-up first baseman, right?
Joe is feeling the hot, stinky, " I'm not cheap" breath of Hal Steinbrenner threatening him. If the Yankees fail to make the one game play-in again this season, there will be a price to pay. Maybe.
So to hell with the future ( what else is new?).
" To the ramparts...."
He had Betances warming up twice today with a 5 & 6 run lead.
ReplyDeleteI hope he has a bionic arm.
He will need it playing for Girardi.