2018 Pinstripe Preview: Chad Green
Next up for the Bronx Bomber Ball’s 2018 Pinstripe Preview is Chad Green. Green was arguably the most valuable player to the Yankees in 2017, or at least second to Aaron Judge. The righty severed as the go-to long reliever for Joe Girardi and the Bombers last year, with a devastating fastball-slider combination that put him as one of the leagues top relievers.
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Stats: 40 G (1 S) 69.0 IP 5-0, 1.83 ERA, 103 K, 13 K/9, 0.739 WHIP, 17 BB
Green came into spring training hoping to battle for a starting spot in the rotation but would be relegated to the bullpen to start the season. The only spot open for Green was at middle reliever, and this is where he would thrive. He may not have the raw power like Aroldis Chapman, but Green’s fastball was almost unhittable in 2017. The Yankee reliever’s four-seamer had a 39.2% swing and miss rate, and a .109 batting average against, both best in the MLB. Green was impeccable in nearly every game he appeared in, but his crowning achievement was the 2017 Wild Card Game against the Twins. After Luis Severino was shellacked for three runs in one-third of an inning, Green came in to stop the fire, striking out half of the batters he faced in his short outing, which would be enough for David Robertson and the rest of the bullpen to seal the win.
The 26-year-old was a dominant force for the Yankees in 2017 and helped lead one of the best bullpens in all of baseball. The Yankees relievers had plenty of up and downs during the season, especially with Aroldis Chapman and Delin Betances' struggles, and Green was one of the only consistently reliable pitchers in the Yankees bullpen. Without Green, not even the midseason reinforcements of David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle would've been enough to propel the Yankees to the brink of a World Series berth.
2018 Outlook
Most fans and media members want Green to stay in his current role, but he has his sights set on a place in the rotation. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild stated that Green will get a chance to earn a starting spot in spring training, but will face stiff competition. The Yankees not so secret weapon will go up against the likes of Jordan Montgomery, Chance Adams, and possibly even Justus Sheffield to grab that last starting spot, so it is likely Green will return to the bullpen for 2018. This outcome is probably what’s best for Bombers, and Green says he is okay with that possibility and will fulfill any role asked of him, either way, things are looking up for Green in 2018.
Article by: Maxx Hotton
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