With the Yankees unbeaten in the playoffs so far, and two wins away from the World Series, their isn't a lot to complain about. Yankees fans always find something though and Joe Girardi's frantic bullpen use seems to be everybody's favorite topic of conversation.
I guess people have a point to. For all the hoopla about Joba, Hughes, and Mariano shortening the game to six or seven innings, the results have been somewhat dissapointing. Last night's game was case in point. It took the Yankees five pitchers to get through the seventh and eighth innings. Going into the ninth, Girardi had already used Hughes, Joba, Coke, and even Mariano. It took the Yankees four relievers to get five outs. Not exactly economical.
Their's no denying that Joe has handled his golden arms that way since that first game against the Twins. However, Joe knows what he's doing. Although those late innings guys got all the attention in the series previews, the Yankees have a very solid supporting cast behind those guys. They've shown over and over that David Robertson and Alfredo Aceves, in particular can be trusted to hold down the other team late in the game until the offense can come up with the big hit. Their's a reason why the Yankees always seem to win those extra inning games when the big game relievers are all gone.
Joe knows what he's doing and if he's a little quick with the hook when he needs a big out, give the guy a break. Its the playoffs and every game is a big one. They the depth in the bullpen to put up zeroes when Joba, Hughes, and Mariano are long gone. Joe's done a good job managing the bullpen and the second-guessing is unwarranted.
