Yanks' bullpen has been surprisingly good

Coming out of spring training, just about everyone agreed on this much about the Yankees:

They had what looked to be the best, or at least one of the best, bullpens in baseball.

Lost, or at least overshadowed a bit, in the recent hand-wringing about the starting rotation is that for the most part, the bullpen has more than lived up to expectations, especially in the second half.

"Going into spring training, that's what we envisioned," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said recently. "But envisioning it and having it happen are often two different things."

General manager Brian Cashman likes to say "bullpens are volatile," meaning performance can change dramatically from year to year, or even month to month, whether it be the result of injury or underperformance.

In 2009, the bullpen didn't become solidified until Phil Hughes, almost by accident, was made a reliever. Starting July 3, he became one of the American League's top setup men.

Last season was a hodgepodge of combinations before non-waivers trade deadline acquisition Kerry Wood cemented the setup role.

This season, the bridge to Mariano Rivera has been a relatively steady one, a surprise given the rash of early injuries the unit suffered.

Still, despite losing Pedro Feliciano early in spring training, Rafael Soriano for 2½ months starting in mid-May and Joba Chamberlain in early June, entering yesterday, the Yankees' bullpen had baseball's fourth-best ERA (3.04).

And it's the reason, rotation consternation aside -- which only increased with Hughes' performance yesterday -- that the Yankees' relief corps might be the biggest reason for them to be optimistic about the postseason.

"There's a lot to like in that bullpen," one opposing team's scout said last week.

Yes, he said, it starts with Rivera, who has shrugged off the latest is-he-finally-done crisis. Since his back-to-back-to-back struggles Aug. 7, 9 and 11, he has not allowed a hit or run in four one-inning appearances, striking out seven.

"I have peace of mind," he said after saving a 9-7 victory Aug. 16 in Kansas City. "I always have peace of mind."

But the key, just about everyone says, has been David Robertson, who started the season with an uncertain role and has developed into the premier setup man in the AL, much as Hughes did in 2009.

While he won't be a factor among the top vote-getters, he very well could be named on an MVP ballot or two, unusual for a middle reliever.

The numbers explain why. His 1.23 ERA is the lowest ERA among AL relievers and second-lowest among all qualifying major-league relievers behind Atlanta's Jonny Venters (1.10). Since May 14, when he started pitching mainly in the eighth inning, he's allowed four earned runs in 371/3 innings in 39 games (0.96 ERA). In that span, he has held hitters to a .160 batting average and struck out 56. He hasn't allowed a run in 27 road appearances, a major-league record.

Rothschild, in his first year as pitching coach, wouldn't use the word "surprise" in describing Robertson, but said the righthander has been a revelation in one respect.

"His consistency for a young pitcher," Rothschild said. "To come in and do what he's done . . . He's been strong throughout. I don't know if surprise is the right word because I knew what kind of stuff he had, but he's been really good."

With Soriano having pitched well since coming off the DL (aside from the three-run homer he allowed in the 10th inning Wednesday night), Boone Logan faring better against lefties in the second half, the surprising Cory Wade and even Hector Noesi's effectiveness as a long man, the bullpen has mostly honored the preseason plaudits heaped on it.

The understated Rothschild has been around long enough not to project anything beyond the next game. What is the case now doesn't necessarily mean what it will be -- next week, in two weeks or in October.

"I think we've been fortunate," he said. "Hopefully that continues."