Relief pitching!

The Paper of Record actually came through with some great stats on our subject today.  Namely, that while our pen has performed well, it is far, far from being the "Greatest Bullpen of All Time" that it was foolishly—and repeatedly—called by the Knights of the Press Box earlier this year.

And it's likely to go downhill in the second half.

The Times tells us that the pen's ERA—4.05—is in the top 10 in baseball, as are its strikeouts (10 per 9 innings), and its saves (31).  Considering that this includes the NL, that's saying something.

But the pen is also in the top ten in blown saves with 15, and—much more frightening—innings pitched, with 342.

The blown saves stat is a little misleading.  You usually have to have a lot of leads to blow them.  BUT, even the Mets, with the worst pen meltdown I've ever seen, have "only" 21.  Of all the division leaders and serious contenders, only Atlanta (with 16) and Boston (18) have more than the Yankees.

In part, this was due to an awful April by the pen.  But it has hardly been lights-out since.  I've lost track of my patented, CollBull W/L (Hey, I have a life.  No, really, I do!), but these guys blow a lot of leads.

So does everybody, it seems—another product of Super Happy Fun Ball?  But it's also due to overwork.  Which is why it will only get worse.

So, to the grades!

RELIEF PITCHERS

Aroldis Chapman: A—

All-in-all, it's been a very good year for Machine Gun.  A league-leading 24 saves, no major blow-ups.  But the cracks have been there of late, and at this rate he will come close to his career high for appearances and innings—which came when he was 24.

In those days, Chapman could throw 105, which compensates for a lot of mistakes.  These days, not so much.  It will be interesting to see if he holds up.  You can almost feel him tottering.

Zack Britton: A

What a difference a "K" makes...

Hey, the guy's lived up to his billing.  He is also on a pace to get near his all-time high in innings and appearances as a reliever.  But he keeps the ball in the park, and at least provides a good fallback if Machine Gun jams.

Adam Ottavino: A

I've been very pleasantly surprised by this guy, whose track record was of a classically up-and-down reliever, good year followed by bad year.  So far, he's been very good.  But...you guessed it: on a pace for career highs in appearances and innings.

Tommy Kahnle: B+

A huge improvement over his injury-riddled 2018, which has been a godsend.  Still, at this rate...yadayadayada.  But don't know what we'd do without him, particularly in view of Green's meltdown.

Luis Cessa: C—

This would be "D," or maybe worse, save for his strange effectiveness in EuroFenway.  Well, if we ever start a London Yankees, he would be my first pick.

Nestor Cortes, Jr.: B

The man who combines the name of a Greek hero and a Spanish conqueror.  How can you beat that?  He's been hit hard at times, but has given us some great long relief in clutch situations.

David Hale: A

I regret that I have but one "A" to give to Mr. Hale, a nice little dumpster trophy from Coops.  Terrific find.

Chance Adams: C—

Yes, he's been pounded, but he's also given us a couple clutch moments.  I don't think there's really much here...on the other hand, he strikes me as exactly the sort of guy who will be dealt for nothing and then "fixed" by a team with a real pitching coach.  DO NOT give him to Boston.

Joe Harvey: C

"Cause you gotta have heart!!  Miles an miles an miles of heart!"

Oh, wait, that was Hardy.

Stephen Tarpley: C

For the most part, he's been pounded like a rented donkey this year.  But he did get that huge save for us, and he showed potential last year.  I'd like to see a little more of him,

Jonathan Holder: F

Master Holder's demotion should have come many days earlier—but what's knew?  Soon we will find out he was "tipping his pitches..."

Toonces: Inc.

Do we really miss the psychodrama?  OF COURSE WE DO! as Joe Biden would say.

Hey, for all the crazy, Betances has given us 4 all-star appearances, and is one of the very, very few Coops pitching picks to make it up through the system and put in more than one or two years before blowing up.

Will we ever see him again?  Go ask Kremlin-on-the-Hudson.


Next up:  Management! (oh, yay.)