BUMBLIN’ BETANCES A BIG BUMMER
START the All-Star break early. Well, just for Dellin Betances. More than a dollop of irony exists that, as the Yankees approach the Midsummer Classic respite, their top concern might be … one of their All-Stars.
“It’s frustrating, obviously,” Betances said Wednesday, after he botched another assignment, leading to a 7-6 Yankees loss to the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. “I don’t want to be out there walking four guys, not giving up any hits. That results in runs. Putting guys on, that’s not good. Obviously I’d rather give up hits than walk guys.”
Obviously, Bet an ce sh as arrived at one of his annual funks, and this one has turned into a doozy. In his last four outings, totaling 2 ²/₃ innings, he has walked 10 and allowed seven earned runs, and he has earned the loss in three of those games, including Wednesday’ s, when his bases-loaded, eighth-inning free pass to former Yankee Russell Martin forced home the tie-breaking run. Adam Warren came into clean up the bases-loaded, oneout mess, although the Yankees’ lineup couldn’t clean up the result.
At one point, Betances threw 10 straight balls, earning himself a Bronx cheer when he finally threw a strike to Jose Bautista.
Consequently, the Yankees’ market-correction slide has extended to a lousy 6-16 in their last 22 contests, and they reside closer to third place in the American League East (they’re 1 ¹/₂ games up on the Rays, though three games up in the loss column) than to the penthouse (they’re four games behind the Red Sox in both the standings and loss column).
“In the short-term, I’m concerned,” Joe Girardi said of his setup man, though he could have said the same for his organization. “In the long-term, I am not.”
Hence the perfect solution: Take Betances out of the eighth inning for the shortterm, not for the long-term. Girardi can choose between Warren and the reformed Tyler Clippard for the eighth, and with the break on the horizon, he can even try to get a little more from closer Aroldis Chapman.
Inform Betances that he will not be called upon for his traditional setup role during the weekend series against the Brewers. And tell him that, no matter what transpires between now and then, Betances will reassume his duties when the second half kicks off with a big weekend set against the Sawx at Fenway Park.
“Hi s t ra c k re co rd is too good for this to continue. But right now, he’s off mechanically,” Girardi said. “We’re trying to get him right and we’re working at it. Right now, he’s struggling.”
When the Yankees report back to work on Fr i day, Beta nces s houl d focus on working with pitching coach Larry Rothschild on those mechanics. The 6-foot8, 265-pounder tends to hit these spots of extreme turbulence because his size makes it difficult to repeat his delivery.
“My body’s leaking a little bit,” Betances said. “My arm’s not in the right slot. That’s just causing me to fly open. I’m not controlling my pitches.”
“It’s a big body,” said Austin Romine, who caught for the Yankees on Wednesday. “I don’t see it lasting very long. As long as his stuff is still there he will try and pitch through it and it is always nasty.’’
If a low-leverage situation emerges over the weekend, then Girardi can turn to Betances, with the understanding that the right-hander will get back his old job next week no matter what happens.
“I want to pitch whenever my name is called,” Betances said. “I want to pitch in the good situations. I think I can get anybody out. I think I’m costing myself by walking guys. It’s not about me giving up the hits. I’ll find it. I’ve just got to trust my stuff.”
And the Yankees should trust Betances. Just not this weekend.