5 Reasons the New York Yankees Bullpen Will Win Them the 2011 World Series

With the 2011 MLB playoffs nearing, the Yankees still have questions about their starting rotation for the division series and beyond.  The most underrated part of the 2011 Bombers is their bullpen, which is second in the league in ERA this season.  Having a good bullpen has proven to be an important factor in making a good team a World Series champion.  Here are five reasons why the New York Yankees bullpen gives them a huge advantage in the playoffs.

1. Bridging the Gap

With Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia set to round out the Yankees playoff starting rotation, the Bombers might not get all the innings they need from their starters to be successful.

This may not be a problem, however, as the Bombers have just the recipe to solve this. 

If Joe Girardi can get at least five innings from his starters, the Yankees should have no problem bridging the gap the rest of the game. 

Relievers like Boone Logan, Cory Wade, Rafael Soriano, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera, all in that order, could shorten the game to five innings if all goes according to plan.  This will put less pressure on the starters and could make a big difference come playoff time.

If the Yankees choose to insert Phil Hughes in the bullpen, it will only deepen what is already a strong bullpen.

2. David Robertson

One of the most quiet stories of the 2011 season, unless you live in New York, has been that of David Robertson.  Robertson has owned almost every duty out of the bullpen this year for the Bombers, who have seen their fair share of injuries to their bullpen. 

After losing Joba Chamberlain for the season and numerous injuries to Rafael Soriano, Robertson finds himself in the second most prominent role in the bullpen, the setup man.  Robertson has the lowest ERA of any reliever in baseball and is the perfect man to hand the ball to Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning.

Robertson's ERA is an astonishing 1.11.

Robertson is capable of pitching more than one inning and has proven to have a knack for getting out of difficult situations.  As the setup man, he will be a huge factor in the Yankees playoff run. 

Just ask the 1996 World Series champion Yankees.

3. Mariano Rivera

In 2011, Mariano Rivera officially claimed the greatest closer of all-time title when he surpassed Trevor Hoffman as the all-time saves leader with 602.  Rivera still remains the most dominant closer in MLB and, despite a rough patch during the season which stirred panic in Yankeeland, Rivera is finishing the season strong as always, just in time for the playoffs.

He has a record 42 saves in the postseason and the ice water that runs through his veins gives him a distinct advantage over any batter he faces in the 2011 MLB playoffs.

Rivera has also proven he has the ability to go more than one inning, an ability that Joe Girardi will undoubtedly use as he did during the Yankees World Series run in 2009.

4. Playoff Experience

Mariano Rivera's playoff experience alone gives the Yankees an advantage over any team they face.  What helps considerably more is that the relievers mentioned before all have playoff experience.

Boone Logan, Cory Wade, Rafael Soriano and David Robertson have all pitched in playoffs past, something that can be rare with the revolving door that is MLB bullpens.

Now don't get me wrong, not all of these guys have had huge success in their playoff pasts, but it still is very helpful to have guys who know what it's like to pitch under the bright lights of the MLB playoffs.

Even if one or two of these guys falter, the Yankees bullpen is deep enough with playoff experience that one reliever can be implanted in place of the other.  This gives the Yankees a distinct advantage over most teams that will be in the playoffs. 

5. Multiple Closers

As I mentioned before, Joe Girardi loves to use Mariano Rivera for more than one inning in some situations.

Expect the 2011 playoffs to be no different.

Rivera is only human, as hard as that is to believe, and may need a game or two for a breather during the postseason.

No problem for the Bombers.

The Yankees are well equipped to handle a day of rest for Rivera with guys like David Robertson, Rafael Soriano and Phil Hughes, should he be implanted in the bullpen.  All three of those relievers have experience closing games out and could easily fit in for Rivera on a night off.

A night of rest for Rivera may not even be needed, but if it is, the Yankees are certainly ready for it.  How many teams can you say have this many options to fill in for their closer?  Not many.