TAMPA — The spine of the 2016 Yankees consists of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.
If “Strike-BMC’’ meets the incredible expectations placed upon it, the Yankees, despite a questionable rotation and an aging lineup, will be in the AL East title hunt.
Should “Strike-BMC’’ not pitch effectively or suffer injuries, the Yankees likely will not play in a postseason series for the fourth consecutive season.
The Yankees will get their first look at the bullpen trio when they report to camp Thursday and begin workouts a day later at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Because all three push speed guns into triple-digits and two are left-handed, Betances, Miller and Chapman have been compared to the Reds’ Nasty Boys of Norm Charlton, Randy Myers and Rob Dibble, who carried the Reds to the 1990 World Series title over the heavily favored A’s in a four-game sweep.
Combined, “Strike-BMC’’ struck out an amazing 347 batters in 212 innings last season, and nothing a pitcher does provides more excitement than a strikeout that kills a late-inning scoring threat.
Considering the late-game bullpen of 2015 was very solid with Miller closing, Betances working the eighth and Justin Wilson pitching in front of Betances, the only way it could be better in 2016 is with the addition of Chapman, who was acquired from the Reds for four minor leaguers in late December.
And while it’s interesting for Yankee fans to drool about their team leading after six innings, Miller offers a warning.
“Obviously, Chapman is an All-Star, throws harder than anybody in the league. If he helps us win a few more games, especially those important ones at the end, that’s great,’’ said Miller, who converted 36-of-38 save chances last year in his first season as a closer. He also missed almost a month because of a strained flexor muscle in his left forearm. “But all that excitement about trying to rank us: On paper we look pretty good, but that doesn’t mean anything.’’
While Miller acknowledged Wilson, who was dealt to the Tigers in December for two minor league pitchers, was a big part of last year’s bullpen, he is anxious to see Chapman up close.
“I am curious to see him pitch, I have been in the American League and I haven’t seen him pitch at all,’’ Miller said of Chapman, who faces a possible suspension for his alleged role in a domestic violence incident in October. “I am looking forward to standing behind the bullpen and seeing what it looks like.’’
Paul O’Neill was the Reds’ right fielder in 1990 and knows what having three gas-throwing relievers means to a team. However, the four-time World Series winner as a Yankee notices a difference between “Strike-BMC’’ and the “Nasty Boys.”
“It’s a little different because everybody expects it going into the season,’’ O’Neill said via phone Wednesday. “The Nasty Boys came about as dominant during the season. Going into the season, you didn’t know what you had. By the middle of the year, they changed the way bullpens are today. [Teams] try to [copy] them with power arms that make the game shorter. As an everyday player you knew if you had a lead there was a pretty good chance you were going home a winner because there weren’t too many comebacks.’’
Twenty-seven seasons later, “Strike-BMC’’ better work as well as the “Nasty Boys’’ because if the spine goes soft the other body parts won’t be able to keep the club upright.