One Big Reason the New York Yankees will be Fine this Season

One of the most feared closers in the game of baseball is back to his old form. Mariano Rivera is a perfect 11 for 11 in saves this year. At this point last year fans were saying he was finished and couldn’t get the job done anymore.

Boy has he proved everybody wrong this year. He has an ERA of 0.53 to go along with his 11 saves (fifth best in the MLB.)

One main reason he is so good this year is the depth in the Yankees bullpen. There is no doubt that Rivera gets all the attention but, there are others that get attention now, too.

Joba Chamberlain, the set up man, is the only big name pitcher in the bullpen. He is known for his fastball and expressive behavior when he is out on the mound. He was deemed the next big closer, until this year when talks of him being a future starter.

He very well maybe the star pitcher in the bullpen but he’s not even the best. Joba 2.60 ERA ranks him fifth on his own team. He has given up the fifth most hits (out of bullpen pitchers) with 11.

The main strength of the Yankee bullpen is their middle relievers, the men who get the ball from the starters and try to give the lead over to Chamberlain and Rivera. So far the have used nine different relievers to do so. The most used reliever is Kyle Farnsworth; he has appeared in 18 games this season.

Farnsworth is joined in the pen by LaTroy Hawkins, Ross Ohlendorf, Edwar Ramirez, and others.

With all of the problems that the Yankees have their bullpen this year is not one of them. If the Yankees could get quality starts out of whoever is the 4^th and 5^th pitcher, the pitching staff would be one of the best in the American League.

Also, if the offense wakes up and hits like they are supposed to do the Yankees will make the playoffs and make a run for the title this year. With Rivera and Chamberlain in the back of the bullpen the Yankees will be fine.