New York Yankees: The Decline of Chad Green

For two consecutive seasons, Chad Green has remained a secret weapon out of the New York Yankees bullpen. In 2019, however, he’s presented as a source great weakness for the team.

In 2017, the New York Yankees had a secret weapon out of the bullpen. I’m not talking about Aroldis Chapman, or Dellin Betances, or Dave Robertson; I’m talking about Chad Green.

Throughout 2017 and into 2018, he remained this commodity out of the bullpen that seemed almost like an automatic out. Over those two seasons, in 103 appearances Green posted a 2.08 ERA, 2.34 FIP, and a 0.89 WHIP.

Those stats are good enough to place him 5th in fWAR among MLB relievers, behind Blake Treinen (5 fWAR), Edwin Diaz (4.5 fWAR), Craig Kimbrel (4.5 fWAR), and Felipe Vazquez (4.3 fWAR). Despite raking 5th in fWAR, in that same time span, Chad Green places 2nd in ERA (2.08), behind Kimbrel (2.06).

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This season, however, Green has imploded.

No longer is he the secret weapon out of the Yankees bullpen. Now, he’s more like exactly what the opposing wants to see at the end of games.

In 10 appearances this season, Green ranks last in ERA (16.43) and 2nd to last in FIP (10.03) and WHIP (2.478). His troubles continued last night against the Los Angeles Angels when Aaron Boone brought him in to replace Domingo German in the 7th inning.

In this appearance, Green successfully forced the last out of the 7th. However, after coming back out for the 8th inning, Green failed to surrender a single out. Instead, he…

• Gave up a single to David Fletcher
• Gave up another single to Kole Calhoun
• Walked Mike Trout to load the bases
• Gave up a grand slam to Justin Bour

While we cannot blame Chad Green for the struggles the Yankees bullpen has experienced, you have to wonder what exactly the team’s record would be without Green.

So far this season, the Yanks have struggled to finish games. So much so, that had the bullpen performed to their potential, this team could have won 16 games this season, instead, they only have 13 wins.

How does Green fit into this picture? Well, in those three games the Yankees could have won, Green pitched in two of them… and got the loss.