OJTB Yankees Spotlight: RHP David Robertson

With RHP Mariano Rivera’s retirement at the end of last season, RHP David Robertson was in a tough spot. He was, after all, replacing arguably the greatest closer in the history of baseball. To the delight of the Yankees and their fans, Robertson has thrived in his new role. At the All-Star break, Robertson has converted 23 of his 25 save opportunities.

David Robertson

Enjoying his stint

Robertson, a 17th-round pick of the Yankees in the 2006 draft, features three main pitches: a cutter, a four-seam fastball, and a curveball. He is enjoying his best season in terms of commanding and controlling his pitches with a career-best 5.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Robertson has overcome doubters throughout his career, and this year has been no exception. Fans, not without rationale, questioned whether he could succeed as a closer. Though exceptional as an eighth-inning setup reliever since 2011, Robertson struggled to attain clean innings. A blown save against the Chicago White Sox on May 28, coupled with the emergence of RHP Dellin Betances, put further pressure on Robertson.

Robertson lost his closer’s role once before, and he is determined to prevent a recurrence of this fate in 2014. Following Rivera’s season-ending ACL injury in 2012, Robertson became the team’s closer but was quickly moved back to the eighth inning, setting up RHP Rafael Soriano, because of one bad performance against the Tampa Bay Rays and a subsequent oblique injury.

Surviving the Lion’s Den

Robertson made his major-league debut on June 29, 2008 in a 3-1 loss to the Mets. The rookie surrendered one run on four hits over two innings in the contest. He ended the season with a 5.34 ERA in 25 appearances.

The 2009 season was in many ways a breakout campaign for Robertson. He compiled a 3.30 ERA over 45 games and recorded his first-career save in an 11-4 victory against the Rays on July 27. Robertson’s year culminated with outstanding performance in the postseason, where he fired 5.1 shutout innings during the Yankees’ championship run. Robertson’s most important effort came in game two of the Division Series against the Twins. Facing a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the top of the 11th inning, Robertson escaped trouble unscathed, paving the way for a walk-off homerun by 1B Mark Teixeira in the bottom of the frame. Accomplished amidst negative vibes surrounding New York’s recent postseason failures, Robertson’s Houdini act was a key turning point for the Bombers in the 2009 playoffs.

Following a mediocre 2010 season, Robertson’s performance improved in 2011. He excelled as Rivera’s setup man, finishing the year with a career-best 1.08 ERA, and garnered his first and, to date, only All-Star selection. His strikeout-to-walk ratio continued to improve over the next two seasons as he set up for Rivera and Soriano.

All in all, though he sometimes makes you sweat, Robertson is a cog in the Yankees’ solid bullpen. His contract expires at the end of the season. Should the Yankees bring him back or let him go? Sound off in a comment!