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New York Yankees: Clippard continues to struggle in big spots

By Alexander Evans

May 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Tyler Clippard (29) against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Tyler Clippard (29) against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Yankees pitcher Tyler Clippard continues his struggles this season. He has to find his way to get back on track in 2017.

It’s safe to say that the bullpen has been one of the more vital assets for the New York Yankees this season.

Adam Warren, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman have all pitched well, but Tyler Clippard has not for a few weeks now, and it may be time to be concerned.

In his latest poor outing last night, Clippard surrendered a game-tying home run to former Yankee

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Eric Young Jr. in the 8th inning. It was similar to the go-ahead home run he gave up to Josh Donaldson in Toronto a few weekends ago.

Just like Luis Severino’s great performance was ruined by Clippard in Toronto that day, so was C.C. Sabbath’s, as he was able to hold the Angels to just three hits and one unearned run over four innings before he left the game with a strained left hamstring.

Some might blame Clippard’s recent struggles this month due to the fact that Chapman has been out, and every guy in the bullpen has had to be pushed back an extra inning. That could have some mental effect on a reliever that is as used to pitching in the 7th inning as Clippard is, but no other pitcher in the Yankee pen seems to have had an issue with it.

Since Chapman went on the disabled list in late May, Betances has been sensational, pitching to a 0.45 ERA and allowing just one hit and no runs.

Warren has also pitched well, only giving up one run and three hits while shaving his ERA to a respectable 2.23. Clippard has given up six hits and a couple of big home runs as mentioned earlier, and the reason why has to be the lack of control of his pitches.

Clippard isn’t keeping his fastball down in the zone, and his breaking ball isn’t as sharp as it has been in the past.

The home run that Clippard gave up to Eric Young Jr. was an 0-1 fastball that was about belt-high

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and on the inner half of the plate, and Young crushed it.

In Clippard’s defense, that was where Gary Sanchez wanted him to throw it, but miscue like that gave away a 2-1 lead in the 8th inning after Chase Headley hit a solo home run, and that’s unacceptable.

The Yankees didn’t lose the game solely based on the home run Clippard allowed.

Chris Carter failed to scoop a throw from Didi Gregorious in the 4th inning that allowed the inning to continue and for the Angels to get a run. Sabathia’s early exit didn’t help either, and Clippard didn’t give up the game-winning single to Young, either.

However, Tyler Clippard’s one job is to preserve his team’s lead in the 8th inning before handing it over to Chapman, and he failed to do so for the second time this month.

He’s still a great pitcher by all means, and maybe he’ll settle down once Chapman comes back and he returns to appearing in the 7th inning, but a pitcher that has stuff as filthy as Clippard can’t blow games that the Yankees should win.

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