If the Yankees Get a Lead in Game 6…

David Robertson deserves more use than Joe Girardi is giving him. (Image by Keith Allison via Flickr)

Here comes some hardcore armchair managing….

The Yankees and their fans dream of a bullpen that could rival the old late-1990s shut-down format. Back then the Yankees needed only to get a starter through six innings, and then their relief could handle innings seven, eight and nine. New York has the right arms for that now, if only Joe Girardi could open his eyes.

Innings eight and nine — Damaso Marte and Mariano Rivera. Girardi knows about this. Not worth further discussion.

Inning seven - David Robertson. That’s right, David Robertson. The young pitcher Joe Girardi would prefer to use over his own dead body, has been brilliant in each of his once-in-a-fortnight opportunities to pitch over the last couple of months. Robertson has surrendered just one run in 11.1 innings, over the course of twelve outings, since August 27 (during that period, his whip is 1.261).

For those who might argue that it is inappropriate to test out a young arm under the bright lights and magnifying glass of the postseason, I ask: is it any worse than randomly turning a starter (Joba Chamberlain) into a middle reliever come October? Robertson has already handled some of the most intense moments of these playoffs for the Yankees (reference: ALDS Game 2).