Aaron Boone finally eased back on his commitment to Clay Holmes as the Yankees closer, telling reporters on Wednesday that the team will get “creative” with the closer role moving forward.
Some fans want to see starter Luis Gil moved to that role as he nears his return from a lower back strain, but C-Mac says that is a ridiculous strategy.
“Luis Gil seems to be the name everyone wants to bring in, just throw him in the closer role like it’s easy,” C-Mac said. “Everyone wants to throw Luis Gil into the closer role, like he’s even been the pitcher he was the first two months of the season. He hasn’t been, and you suddenly want to throw this young kid who has never pitched out of the bullpen, and suddenly make him the Yankees closer come October? Yeah, that sounds like a winning formula to me.”
Gil looked like a legit Rookie of the Year candidate through the first two-plus months of the season, but he has been up and down since, and command has been an issue. C-Mac doesn’t see how that would translate to the ninth inning of a one-run game in the playoffs.
As for an alternative, C-Mac says the bullpen is such a mess that there isn’t a clear one at this point.
“The Yankees don’t have an option,” C-Mac said. “And that’s why they have to get ‘creative’ with the closer role.”