Amazingly, the Yankees haven't missed their bullpen Big Three; how long can that last?

In another time, another Yankiverse, the sudden disappearance of Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green and Jonathan Loaisiga would have sent Cooperstown Cashman into the hinterlands in search of the next Sidd Finch. Add the loss of Zack Britton, and 2022 would already be another wild card quest.

Last year, around now, we were beholding Luis Cessa, Albert Abreu, Nick Nelson, Darren O'Day and The Great Kriske - names that still hit like tasers to the groin.

This year, who can explain it? We lose El Chapo; Clay Holmes takes over. We lose Green; here's Michael King. Loaisiga? Wandy Peralta. Moreover, all three vanished with ERAs north of the Scott Proctor Institute for Home Plate Bon Fires. Chapman (3.86), Green (3.00) and Loaisiga (7.02) had been cuffed around for weeks before their injuries were found - or revealed. 

It's hard to realize that this Yankee team is barely a year removed from Rougned Odor and Chris Gittens, from Mike Tauchman and Ryan LaMarre. Why has the 2022 bullpen been so enduring? Some theories:

1. Dumb luck. Clay Holmes and Michael King somehow became solid pitchers. Why? Who knows? Sometimes, shit unhappens. A guy learns a new pitch and becomes Mariano. In 2002, Randy Choate was Yankee bullpen kibble, a lost cause, until the day he mastered his curve. Kaboom. Choate lasted 15 years. Go figure.

2. It's a false read. Here I am, proclaiming success on the eve of 13 games against the AL's toughest teams. I should shut my mouf. The bullpen has survived slightly more than one-third of the season. It's a long year, as Dr. Proctor taught us. Let's not celebrate anything. 

3. Yankee coaches. For some time now, the franchise has touted its advanced methods of calculating spin rates, control and speed - and teaching young pitchers. Last year, in a show of hubris, they dubbed their Tampa base "The Gas Station," a place where pitchers found new velocity. We mocked it, as the only gas seemed the ghosts of Billy Conner's broken wind. Well, maybe we were wrong. The Yanks have unveiled a stream of arms - Clarke Schmidt, Ron Maranaccio, JP Sears - with Ken Waldichuck and Hayden Wesneski in Scranton, ready for the stretch.  

If this is true, if the Yankees have built a superior system, we must win now, because other teams will soon clone it. These advantages don't last long.

4. The Rotation. Our starters have been the best in baseball. Thus, in a year without a full spring training, our bullpen has been less stressed than most. 

We saw this last weekend. In one game, the sad Cubs used nine pitchers. Meanwhile, in Saturday's 8-0 win, we used only Marinaccio and Luetge. On Sunday, Castro and Banuelos. Then we take a day off. All systems go. We have a completely rested pen for this 13-game stretch. No excuses.

Supposedly, El Chapo will soon return. Loaisiga, too. Green is gone, but amazingly, Zack Britton claims he'll be back in September. 

I wonder what we'll be thinking 13 games from now?