The Yankees Bullpen Is Done

The bullpen of the New York Yankees is done, it has hit a wall, it has hit an innings limit, and it is done. The only saving grace this season has been the bullpen and the strong starting pitching but the bullpen has been overused, abused, and should not be relied on any more this season. It’s probably a good thing that the Yankees aren’t making the postseason this year because we may have two or three more Tom Gordon and Scott Proctor’s on our hands.

Dellin Betances has been affected the least as he has thrown 23 IP since August and has seen his ERA fall from 1.52 to 1.35. Get Dellin past the magical 130 strikeout mark so he can pass Rivera and use sparingly. Dellin has been the exception and not the rule and that probably has a lot to do with the fact that he is 26 years old. 

David Robertson may have been the one affected the most although he has been effective in save situations. Robertson has had 40 save situations this season and has saved 36 of them, which is not a number to bow your head down too in shame, but lately he has been shaky at best. Robertson has thrown 17.2 IP since August and that includes a streak of not pitching in over a week in a save situation at the end of August and early September. Robertson has seen his era rise from 2.81 to 2.93.

Adam Warren has nothing left in the tank and has fallen out of the “circle of trust” with Joe Girardi in recent months. Warren has thrown 18.1 IP since August 1 and has seen his ERA rise from 3.19 to 3.30. Warren is reminding me a lot of our new version of Joba Chamberlain when he fell from grace in 2013.

Shawn Kelley, Rich Hill, Josh Outman, and others have been used sparingly, obviously some more than others specifically in Kelley’s case, and have pitched well lately all things considered. With David Phelps back in the fold and in the bullpen I expect Girardi to ride his formerly inflamed elbow all the way to October when the bullpen finally gets a well-deserved and much needed rest this winter.