The New York Yankees relief corps have been in shambles since the start of the season due to the depth disrupted following mega seven-player trade with San Diego Padres. The team lost Michael King and while Clay Holmes was trusted with the closing role, he has been awful in second half.
Notably, Clay Holmes made it to the All-Star this year owing to his 20-game scoreless streak in the first half. However, his rapid and concerning fall in the second half forced the Yankees to drop him from the closer role. Regardless, irrespective of the fans’ frustration, radio host C-Man opines that Holmes is key to the Yanks’ wins.
Clay Holmes Importance In Yankees Bullpen Highlighted By C-Mac
Clay Holmes’ 2024 MLB season hasn’t been ideal, and it’s definitely a roller coaster ride. From being an All-Star pitcher to leading MLB in record-blown saves (12), Holmes lost his closer role to Luke Weaver earlier this week. Even coming into the seventh inning, Holmes allowed a run in the Yanks’ 4-3 walk-off victory over the Kansas City Royals. This has instigated the fans to question Holmes’ role in the bullpen. However, amid growing hate, WFAN radio host C-Mac opined that the Yanks bullpen cannot afford to lose Clay Holmes. While moving him from the closer role was necessary, the harsh reality is that the Bombers have no replacement for Holmes.
“Do you think this bullpen is good enough to completely eliminate Clay Holmes? Do you have enough faith to get through a playoff series or to win this division without pitching him?” C-Mac asked. While Luke Weaver, Jake Cousins, and Tommy Kahnle are reliable relief pitchers, it won’t be enough to make up an ideal and dominant bullpen, especially in October. Indeed, while Clay Holmes has had his share of struggles in 2024, the New York Yankees need his skill set, especially as they push for the playoffs. His ability to induce groundballs, handle high-leverage situations, and bounce back from adversity makes him an essential part of their bullpen, even if his season hasn’t gone according to plan. In baseball, where consistency is prized but rare in relievers, Holmes’ mental toughness can be a significant asset.
Luke Weaver Delivers Another Save Vs Red Sox
Since being appointed as closer, Luke Weaver has been outstanding for the New York Yankees. After pitching a save in his first closing opportunity, Weaver came through on Friday against the Boston Red Sox to pitch two scoreless innings and fetch a career second save. He struck out five hitters to lead Yanks to a 5-4 win.
With that, Luke Weaver now owns a 3.09 ERA across 78.2 innings this season. That being said, the New York Yankees’ nail-biting 5-4 victory was powered by captain Aaron Judge as he scored a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap out of his 16-game longest career home run drought. Owing to the victory, the Bronx Bombers lead in AL-East is up by as many as 3 games.
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