"No, it wasn't those airplanes. It was the Bullpen that killed the Yankee Beast."

Last night, Aroldis Chapman took up where 2020 left off. 

He came in for the seventh, a scoreless dual with mighty Baltimore, and did for the Yankees what gender-reveal parties did last year for California wildfires. 

It began with a bloop single, which is the second worst thing that can happen when El Chapo enters a game. This was followed by the worst thing: The entrance of a speedy pinch-runner. Something about jackrabbit pinch-runners - their long leads, their obvious plans to steal second - has a tendency to unhinge Chapman.

It's a good thing nobody in baseball knows this. Otherwise, well, we'd have to start worrying. 

Stressed about the pinch-runner, Aroldis uncorked a wild pitch so high that Gary Sanchez waved at it like a passing plane. That put the pinch-runner on second - no more worries that he'd steal! - and El Chapo then gave up a run-scoring single. 

Then a double. That put runners on second and third. Did I mention there are no outs? Chapman threw another wild pitch - this one nearly killed the batter - scoring the second run. Did I mention no outs? Then he unleashed another wild pitch - Gary just started running after it, as soon as it left Aroldis' hand - scoring run number three.  

At this point, El Chapo did manage to strike out the, by-then, terrified batter. He left the game to a round of boos, which could also be attributed to the arrival of Nick Goody, who has had a tough spring. 

Let me run some spring ERAs by you.

Chad Green 5.06
Chapman 6.23
Luis Cessa 6.75
Michael King 7.04
Tyler Lyons 7.11
Justin Wilson 23.14

What does it say when the most hopeful thing about your bullpen is that the worst of them (Wilson) is out with an injury?

Okay, yeah, I know what you're thinking: March stats mean nothing. It's a time for veteran pitchers to try new grips, launch angles, etc. But the Yankees are heading into April with half their bullpen in shambles. 

We do have Nick Nelson, Lucas Luetge, Jonathan Loaisiga and Darren O'Day - but who in that crowd is a sure thing?) Concerns about the rotation have masked the steady deterioration of the bullpen. Zack Britton might not be back until July. 

We can look at the Yankee batting order and feel good about our chances. But no lead will be safe, and that, my friends, is a cause for concern.