On its surface, this game served as the poorest of platforms for the Yankees’ deep bullpen. A nail-biting, 10-8 victory over the historically awful Orioles on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, forcing Aaron Boone to go to several of his mainstays despite the bountiful run support?
“It got a little dicey there,” Boone said, smiling warily, following the three-hour, 35-minute epic.
Nevertheless, the victory, which lowered the Yankees’ magic number for playoff qualification to two, did offer an October roadmap for what to do if Aroldis Chapman can’t regain his old glory.
While Boone said Friday afternoon that the Yankees desire Chapman, just back off the disabled list after battling left knee tendinitis, to close out the team’s wild-card victory over the Athletics on Oct. 3, may The Post be so bold as to offer a different goal:
Bullpen by committee, chaired by Zach Britton.
Britton pitched the seventh inning on Friday, picking up the mess left by rookie Jonathan Loaisiga (and allowing an inherited runner to score) in this odd contest that saw Boone repeatedly go to his second-tier relievers, only to upgrade when those guys couldn’t do the job. David Robertson allowed a two-run homer to DJ Stewart in the eighth inning, and Dellin Betances tossed a shutout ninth for his fourth save.
That flexibility and fluidity of roles can and should work to the Yankees’ advantage next month.
As Britton said Friday afternoon, “In talking to the guys who have been here a while, once they all embraced the same thing, [they succeeded]. Embraced not knowing when you’re going to throw. Just be ready for any and all situations.”
Baltimore’s closer from 2014 until the July 24 trade, Britton admitted the job alteration, as well as completing the rehabilitation from offseason surgery on his right Achilles, led to his early struggles with the Yankees, as he compiled an 8.44 ERA in his first six appearances. His Yankees ERA now stands at 3.27.
“I feel like he’s in a really good place, and certainly capable of closing out games for us,” Boone said of Britton.
So are Betances and Robertson, and Chad Green isn’t dramatically behind that duo. Boone can be as creative as he likes with this group … as long as they deliver better than they did Friday.
“I’m not overly concerned,” Boone said of the bullpen. “The guys we’re going to go to in big spots are all physically in a good place.”
Nevertheless, the manager also appreciates how much players relish having roles, particularly Chapman and the closer job.
“We feel like we’re equipped to handle a lot of different scenarios as they unfold,” Boone said, “but yeah, the hope is to get Aroldis regular and into form to where he’s closing out our games.”
Chapman, however, looked shaky Thursday night in his first game back, surrendering a three-run homer to the Red Sox’s Mookie Betts. At his peak, the Cuban left-hander ranks atop this class and deserves the closer role. Can he find that peak in these last nine games? Can he rediscover his command and regain his durability — Boone would like Chapman to throw in two consecutive games — while not regressing with his left knee that sidelined him in the first place, all in the span of probably no more than four appearances?
“I do think this is enough time,” Boone said. “Hopefully that’ll bear out.”
If it doesn’t, then Britton should get the most calls in the ninth inning, with Betances tagged primarily for the seventh and eighth and Robertson floating as necessary.
However, if hopes are finite, the Yankees should use their best wishes on Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Giancarlo Stanton finding their best selves. They can win it all with a faking-it-until-they-make-it bullpen. They probably can’t do so deploying a lineup ridden with underperforming sluggers.
“Our guys know what time it is,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman declared early Friday evening. Accordingly, they had best not rush Chapman, for at this time of the baseball calendar, poor decisions can cost you everything.