This Yankees Playoff Run Will Go as Far as the Bullpen Takes it
By Scott Rogust
The New York Yankees are set to do battle against the Minnesota Twins in their ALDS opener on Friday night. It's only fitting that the two teams who fought for the all-time single-season home run record will meet in the opening round of the MLB postseason-- but while there will be no shortage of smash hits, the pitching is the key to victory for the Yankees.
Yes, the starters will need to come up big, but we're specifically talking about the bullpen. This October, the Bronx Bombers will live and die by their relief corps.
When looking at the Yankee depth chart, they have themselves a super bullpen consisting of Aroldis Chapman, Adam Ottavino, and Zach Britton. In fact, all three have an ERA of less than 2.25, which is terrifying. And they simply have to deliver.
https://t.co/ZLyFaIzuN8 #Yankees have pointed toward Oct to fully unleash their bullpen Big 4 (Britton/Chapman/Kahnle/Ottavino). Except is Chad Green currently their best reliever and do they now have a Big 5? On the growth of his slider and renewed importance.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 4, 2019
The main concern is how manager Aaron Boone will utilize this pen. In many situations throughout the regular season, Boone would pull a starter who's in a nice groove in order to hand the ball to his relievers. On many occasions, that has resulted in a blown lead.
In fact, the Yankees had the seventh-most blown saves in the league this season with 28. That must cease to be a trend in short order. Otherwise, disaster could be imminent.
“I think running the bullpen is an acquired trait. That’s the hardest thing to learn.”@stephapstein on Aaron Boone and the Yankees’ key to October https://t.co/S6iIzHHAa5
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 2, 2019
Just look at the Yankees-Twins series back in July. There were so many lead changes caused by the bullpen that you might have sword you were watching some kind of grotesque Home Run Derby.
The New York Yankees brought in the likes of Ottavino and Britton in order to build that super bullpen in order to make a deep postseason push. There must be zero mistakes, unforced errors, or blown saves in order to make "Mission 28" a successful one.
That ultimately lies with this bullpen, and Aaron Boone's ability to conduct it.