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New York Yankees: Top Five Reasons 2017 Will Be Great In The Bronx

By John Franklin

Sep 14, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning to New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning to New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Yankees: Top Five Reasons 2017 Will Be Great In The Bronx
Feb 19, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) talks with relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) during workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Shut Down Bullpen

It’s not “No Run DMC”, but it will be lights out. After the Yankees traded away Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman, I had a feeling that Chapman was going to come back. He loved pitching in the Bronx, and now that he’s back, it creates a back end of a bullpen that is nearly untouchable.

Ideally, a manager sends out a starter in the hopes that they go six or seven innings before they turn it over to the bullpen. The Yankees middle relief is good and will be able to get the job done for one inning if need be. The eighth inning is for Dellin Betances to hold it down, and then the ninth is set for Chapman.

The two both have career ERAs under three, and they combined for 216 strikeouts in 2016. With the bats the Yankees have in the lineup this season, there should be plenty of run production for the starting pitching to hand it over to the bullpen.

This duo is going to be very important towards the end of the season and in the playoffs. Having a reliable bullpen is one of the most valuable things a team could have in high-pressure situations.

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