Yankees Flat Out Sick Bullpen

Last December, the New York Yankees pulled off one of the biggest trades of the off season. The Yankees sent over to the Reds four minor league players, right-handed pitchers Caleb Cotham and Rookie Davis, and infielders Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda. In return for those four guys, the Bombers got one of the best closers in the game in Aroldis Chapamn. With him coming out of the pen in the Bronxs, along with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances, they make one of the greatest three headed combinations in history. Only thing is Chapman has to miss the first month of the year to to a suspension for off the field issues. So that brings up questions as to what the Yankees are going to do. And to make matters worse, Andrew Miller had that little injury scare with his wrist at the end of training camp. There had been question marks going into the year.

Well we're ten games into the regular season, and guess what, this bullpen is more than fine. They're flat out scary.

First thought to run through the heads of baseball fans was great Millers hurt and Chapman is out a month, this can't be good. Well they haven't skipped a beat. Just look at the numbers of the four best relievers in the Yankees pen right now. Dellin Betances (5 IP, 12 SO, 0 ER) and Andrew Miller (4 IP, 9 SO, 0 ER), have lead the charge, followed by Johnny Barbato (6 IP, 9 SO, 0 ER) and Chasen Shreve (4.1 IP, 2 SO, 0 ER). When you have four relievers who haven't allowed a run yet in 19.1 innings of combined work, all while striking out 32 opposing hitters. That's scary numbers. Nobody has been getting a hit of these New York Relievers, who have been the best in the pen in all of baseball in the first ten games of the year.

If that's not dominance enough, look at what the back of the pen did Sunday in the 4-3 win at home against Seattle at the Stadium. Betances came in for the 8th inning, faced three batters. Got all three out via the strikeout. Andrew Miller came in for the 9th. Same thing. Three batters, three outs all via the strikeout. That is a level of dominance that so few teams can find on the mound now a days.

I know its ten games into the season, but still its something that is wort noting. Now, think how scary this team is going to be when Aroldis Chapman is eligible to come back into the mix. He's set to possibly return to the Yankees lineup on May 9th, which could really strike fear into the hearts of opposing hitters. Lets not forget that Chapman is known for a four-seam fastball that averages 100.3 mph, and a hard slider that averages 88.5 mph. He throws hard and keeps hitters off balance. The guy, when he's on his game, can flat out dominate like so few who have ever stepped foot on a Major League pitching mound.

There is one thing that crossed my mind over the last 24 hours. What are you going to do with Chapman when he does come back? I know the Yankees really want to get usage out of him, and for good reason. At the same time, don't force trying to push him back into the pen right away. If Betances and Miller are still going good with Aroldis comes back, stick with it as long as you can. Run with it until you can't run with it any longer.

I can tell you this much. When Chapman comes back, and with him Miller and Betances all going and going well, this Yankees team is going to be a very tough team to face. They could be really, really good this year!