As the Major League Baseball season progresses, the New York Yankees find themselves in a heated battle for supremacy in the AL East. Holding a record of 73-53, the Yankees are just half a game behind the Baltimore Orioles, who have a slightly better recent run, going 21-22 since July 1 compared to the Yankees' 19-21. Such tight competition has added pressure to every inning, every pitch, and especially, every save opportunity.
One of the pivotal figures in this drama is Clay Holmes, whose role as the Yankees' closer has been fraught with challenges. Holmes, leading MLB in blown saves, saw his latest misstep during the high-profile Little League Classic against the Cleveland Guardians. This particular outing saw the Yankees fall to a 9-5 defeat over 12 innings, marking the high-water mark of Holmes' struggles with his 10th blown save of the season. This figure is the highest for a Yankee since Dave Righetti's 13 in 1987, raising concerns among fans and analysts alike.
Despite this, the numbers tell a more nuanced story about Holmes' performance. With a respectable 2.82 ERA and an impressive 67.6% ground ball rate across 40 innings, Holmes has shown the potential that made him a valuable acquisition from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021. His ability to rebound could be crucial for the Yankees as they aim to overtake the Orioles and solidify their playoff position.
Manager Aaron Boone remains cautiously optimistic about Holmes' prospects. "He’s been unfortunate. He hasn’t made a pitch in a couple of spots where he could, but based on the way he’s thrown the ball the entirety of this year, really you would expect him to have success moving forward. That’s my expectation," Boone commented. In the meantime, Boone has indicated a flexible approach to managing save situations. "I will leave [save situations] open and try and put these guys in places where they match up really well,” he remarked, suggesting a strategic deployment of the bullpen based on matchups.
However, the bullpen's struggles extend beyond Holmes. Setup man Luke Weaver has emerged as New York’s most reliable reliever this season, but the mid-season acquisition of Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs has not yielded the expected dividends. Leiter has allowed seven runs and 23 baserunners over 9 1/3 innings in his new pinstripes. This inefficiency has further complicated Boone's bullpen management, making it essential for Holmes to regain his form.
Holmes' journey this season has been a rollercoaster. His first blown save came as early as April 3, and he has faced numerous crucial moments throughout the campaign. Notable among them was surrendering a three-run lead against the Seattle Mariners on May 20, and giving up a game-tying two-run homer to Masataka Yoshida on July 5. These key moments have resulted in a 3-7 record in games where he has blown a save, underlining the critical role he plays in the Yankees' fortunes.
The Yankees' bullpen, despite its inconsistencies, remains in the top 10 for ERA and win probability added, indicating a solid foundation that just needs some refinement. As the closing weeks of the season loom large, the team's ability to harness this potential could make the difference between securing a playoff berth and facing an early exit.
In conclusion, the Yankees' quest to topple the Orioles and secure their spot in the postseason is a multifaceted challenge, hinging on the performance of key players like Holmes. His ability to bounce back from his recent adversities will be crucial, and the support from Boone and the flexible bullpen strategy may just provide the pathway to success. The coming weeks will undoubtedly reveal whether the Yankees can turn these trials into triumphs or whether their season will meet an untimely end.