Friday, February 7, 2014

Exit Sandman, Enter Houdini

Arguably, the best set-up man in baseball the last few seasons has been the Yankees David Robertson who has been as close to automatic as it gets for three outs in the eighth inning during that span. This year, for the first time, he won’t be the Yankees set-up man due to the retirement of Mariano Rivera. Many skeptics feel Robertson won’t be able to handle the job but they’re all wrong.

In 1996 the Yankees won the World Series and all season were anchored by two players in their bullpen, Rivera and John Wetteland. Rivera pitched the seventh and eighth innings and Wetteland finished the games off in the ninth. After Wetteland signed with the Texas Rangers that offseason, the Yankees pegged Rivera to close games which he did for the next 17 years. There will never be another Rivera, he defined the position for all future closers but the Yankees don’t need another Rivera, all they need is a Robertson.

Robertson’s nickname is “Houdini.” The night he earned that nickname explains everything you need to know about the guy. In the 11th inning of game 2 of the ALDS in 2009 he was summoned to pitch with no outs and two runners on base. After a single that loaded the bases Robertson promptly retired the next three hitters to end the frame. He pitched in five games in that postseason and didn’t allow a single run helping the Yankees win the title. He hasn’t looked back since.

The following year Robertson struck-out 71 batters in only 61-1/3 innings and finished the year with a 3.82 ERA. While those numbers were very good, they were only a glimpse of what was to come. In 2011 Robertson had a season for the ages. In only 66-2/3 innings he struck out 100 batters, good enough for a 13.5 K/9 average. While that in and of itself is tremendous Robertson also had a 1.08 ERA, giving up only eight runs all year. He was selected to the all-star team and finished 11th in Cy Young voting and 22nd in MVP voting.

While the next two seasons weren’t as good as the 2011 season Robertson still threw up filthy numbers posting a 2.67 ERA and a 2.04 ERA in 2012 and 2013, respectively. He’s averaged 10+K/9 every year of his career. While baseball is a numbers game and Robertson has put up some truly incredible numbers that’s not why he will succeed as a closer. Robertson's success comes from his attitude and something that no other closer in baseball can say, he learned from the best ever.

Since 2008 Robertson has had the opportunity to learn from Rivera and pick his brain. Besides learning pitching, though, Robertson had the chance to learn attitude. Rivera has been “cool as a cucumber” since stepping into the closer role. Robertson has earned the nickname “Houdini” for the same reason. He has the proverbial “ice water in his veins.” The pressure doesn’t get to him. You see it in his mannerisms, all he wants to do is what Rivera did, pitch. And he knows how to pitch.

Robertson said when asked about closing, “It’s the same deal—throwing the eighth or the ninth inning—you still have to get three outs.” He’s not putting any pressure on himself, he’s just going to go out and do what he always does, get outs.

Rivera jokingly asked Robertson, “You scared?” He told him no because he’s not scared. Houdini doesn’t get scared, Houdini gets outs.

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