David Robertson Placed On 15-Day DL; Rafael Soriano To Act As New York Yankees Closer
The New York Yankees closer situation has been handed another wildcard and another wrench has been thrown in the disheveled Yankees bullpen. The team placed David Robertson on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain, an injury that will keep him out of action for at least three weeks.
Stepping into the Yankees closer role is Rafael Soriano. Manager Joe Girardi gave Soriano a vote of confidence Tuesday when he told reporters that he does not doubt Soriano can do the job and that he has seen Soriano do it before. We all have seen Soriano do it before when he saved 45 games for the Tampa Bay Rays the season before he joined the Yankees in 2011.
The question now for Soriano is could he conjure up the same spirits he conjured up in 2010 with the Rays. That season was the last season he was used as a primary closer. He saved 45 games in dramatic fashion. In 64 games for the Rays he recorded an ERA of 1.73, the best season of his career.
Robertson was in line to be the future closer of the Yankees but the future came too soon when Mariano Rivera tore his ACL shagging balls in the outfield. Robertson was the man ready for the role and this injury is a bit of a set back.
However, Soriano has righted his ship and in 14 games, he has recorded an ERA of 2.57. Soriano is the man right now and all Yankees fans need to get behind Soriano, he needs all the confidence in the world right now.
The Yanks currently have a stranglehold on the third place spot in the American League East division.
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