Is Once Again Coming to a Close

Back in Feb, Tyler Norton wrote that the Yankees accept a PR problem named Randy Levine. This commentary came on the heels of Randy Levine gloating about winning a seemingly normal arbitration battle confronting Dellin Betances.

Dellin Betances, who has been one of the best relief pitchers in all of baseball since his breakout 2014 season, went to mediation asking for a $5 million salary. Because that they just handed Aroldis Chapman $17.two million, he was non asking for the moon. The Yankees countered at $iii million and won the mediation battle.

As Tyler pointed out in his article, that should have been the finish of the story. Everyone goes on. For some unknown reason, Randy Levine decided that wasn't enough.

I don't know how or why Levine even so has a job every bit the Yankees' President. Fifty-fifty if he's adept at the not-baseball aspect of it, the squad actually should make it and so he doesn't speak to the media because it almost never ends well. Anyway, Levine spoke.

Randy Levine said that $3 million should exist a "corking victory for Dellin Betances," and his $5M request "had no bearings in reality."

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) Feb eighteen, 2017

"Love role player who is ane of the best at his arts and crafts, exist realistic!"

"$5M goes to elite closers. Pitchers who pitch the 9th inn and have a lot of saves. Dellin didn't have that record. He never did." - Levine

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) February 18, 2017

This i is my favorite. "$v million goes to elite closers" - Team that handed an elite closer $17.5 million. Now I'd similar to know, what does this brand Chapman? Super Ultra Closer iii Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha is one possibility. Either that or he just admitted that they got swindled out of $12.v meg, because if Chapman is "simply" an elite closer, they could've gotten one for far less. That'due south just bad business, Yankees.

Then there's the whole argument that elite closers are defined as pitchers who "have a lot of saves." At present let's rewind a fleck to 2016. The Yankees traded Chapman to the Cubs on July 25th. Andrew Miller then became the closer again, until July 31st when he was traded to Cleveland. Then what happened?

Surely Chasen Shreve became the de facto closer, correct? Not like Betances could handle it. Oh wait, information technology was Betances who moved into the closer's role. That'due south where he proved he doesn't have a "closer's mentality," correct?

What's that? He pitched...well? No mode! 9 saves, 25 strikeouts, one earned run, over 14 games. If that's not elite, I actually don't know what is. Aye, from that point on things got ugly for Betances. No one is denying that. What I am here to deny is that it had anything to do with "closer'south mentality." Once once again, I'll turn to Tyler Norton for the assist: Betances was running on fumes.

The Yankees used a few bad games to not merely defeat Betances in mediation, just to come out and throw him under the bus and insult him after the fact. Per Betances' agent Jim Murray:

"He and so proceeded to blame Dellin for the Yankees' declining ticket sales and their lack of playoff history while trying to bully the panel, saying something to the result that the sky will fall if they rule for the player."

He'south good plenty to shut, except for when it benefits the Yankees' pockets. Certain, this is "only business concern." That doesn't brand their handling of the situation okay. Why am I bringing all this up again? Well because once once again, Dellin Betances is good enough to close for the Yankees.

Chapman hit the 10-day disabled list on May 14th with left rotator cuff inflammation. This is a big blow to a Yankees team that is surprisingly in first place. Luckily, the Yankees have the ability to handle this accident better than most other teams in the league. They take Dellin Betances. Now Betances is again good enough to close for the Yankees.

FanRag'south Jon Heyman spoke to Randy Levine most this development. In what might be the most shocking Yankee news, Levine did non say anything terrible. Nonetheless, what he did say is absolutely precious (please notation my sarcasm).

"He'southward going to do great," said Levine. "He's set up. I take total confidence he'll do a great job."

Oh? I wonder what inverse between February and at present?

"That was arbitration, based on the past. But he's fix to do it now."

You lot're right, Mr. Levine. Dellin Betances was never aristocracy before. Is he at present though?

Would you lot wait at that? He'due south pitching similar he's never pitched earlier! He's adept enough to close! Wait, no. He's pitching exactly like he has before. Shocking. Now it's up to Betances to get out and pitch exactly similar he is pitching right now.

If I were Betances, I would pass up to close. I'd say something along the lines of "I thought I'm not skilful enough?" And yes, I realize that I'yard maxim this bravely from backside my reckoner screen and non as someone actually in that position. Betances, though, is a ameliorate person that I am. He's non making a large deal out of what's happened.

Said Betances: "I don't take to prove annihilation. I only have to exercise my job."

Of course Betances isn't publicly going to make a big bargain out of anything. He just wants to help his team win. I can't pretend to know exactly what'south going on in his head, but I have to imagine that at to the lowest degree part of him has a scrap on his shoulder, as he should.

He may non say information technology, he may not even think it, and then I'll say information technology for him: Betances needs to exist every bit shut to perfect as possible in this stretch. If he falters even a lilliputian bit, he's going to give the Yankees more ammo. If he falters even a lilliputian flake, the false "Betances doesn't have a closer'southward mentality" narrative volition proceed. The Yankees would certainly use that equally ammo against him when it comes time to talk 2018 salary.

If he doesn't stammer, though? He'southward the ane that will accept the ammo. He will show the Yankees and Yankee fans that he does indeed have a "closer's mentality."

*Season statistics provided courtesy of Baseball Reference

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Source: https://www.pinstripealley.com/2017/5/17/15646648/yankees-dellin-betances-closer-aroldis-chapman-shoulder-injury-arbitration-salary-levine-hair-gross