At the critical 3% of the season mark, the Yankees need a few grinders

It's easy to blame the bullpen for this year's three crushing, hideous Yankee defeats. Opposing lineups now have devoured each of our vaunted power arms, and look - LOOK, DAMN YOU! - look at these torture chamber stats.

At this rate, Betances and Robertson together are projected to lose 64 games. I believe I speak for the Yankiverse in saying, "That's unacceptable!" 

Fortunately, Chasen Shreve is having a Hall of Fame season... yet to allow a single hit in his one inning of service in 2018. Expect to see Shreveport this weekend, because at the 3% mark of the season, whomever is sponsoring this season's "Yankee call to the bullpen" should demand their money back. 

Amazingly, there is some happy talk today among the palace courtiers, because Dellin Betances threw a scoreless inning.

Frankly, I dunno. If you watched Dellin's scoreless masterpiece, you probably took a heart pill. It came against the bottom of the O's order, the 9th batter flailed at several pitches out of the zone, Betances walked a batter on balls that weren't close, and the runner - Anthony Santander - stole the lone base of his famous two-year MLB career. That's mojo? I guess it's a start. But does anyone want Betances in an actual close game?  

But wait... let's dismiss this mili-micro-nano sample, and hone in on one consensus truth about the 2018 Yankees: We can certainly stomp teams into the ground. When the Big Three all homer, or we rack up 11 runs, we'll win and put up numbers. By sheer brute force, this lineup should be able to bludgeon the Rays and Jays, who will be selling their classic rock vinyl in garage sales by mid-June. But do we have grinders, batters who deliver in big moments?

Hate to be micro-scapegoating here, but last night, Brandon Drury failed spectacularly in one brief test. He pinch-hit for Miguel Andujar in the ninth, with the Yankees down by three. There was one out, Tyler Wade had just walked on five pitches, and if Drury reached base, the Yankees would bring the tying run to the plate. The first two pitches were far out of the strike zone. Then, inexplicably, Drury swung at a ball nearly in the dirt. Instead of a 3-0 count, it was 2-1. He fanned on the next two pitches, and the threat was neutered. 

I don't mean to throw a loss on Drury's back, especially for one pitch. But damn... this was hardly a "quality" at bat, the kind that inspires confidence. Should Boone have given the "take" sign? Should a manager even have to? A smart player would force a struggling pitcher to throw a strike. What was Drury thinking? Had he belted a two-run homer, it wouldn't have been much better than a walk. (In fact, a walk would arguably have unhinged the pitcher even more than HR.) 

Minor moment. Certainly not the fulcrum point. I wonder if Boonie even gave Drury a talking-to. It shouldn't have to be said. But the 2018 Yankees have yet to win a ball-buster game, and Boston has won several. At the vaunted 3% of the season mark, we have yet to see a championship spirit to this team. We just guys looking to put up numbers. Who knows, maybe by the 5% mark, we'll see something?