Dellin Betances wants to talk about next season about as much as Samson wants to go visit his barber.
But in light of the recent ruckus caused by closer David Robertson’s assertion the Yankees could have kept him for less had they signed him during the offseason, the thought that the back end of the bullpen could see more change in 2015 has crossed the minds of many.
But Betances, the talented set-up man who brought a 1.48 ERA into the Yankees’ gotta-get-it homestand that started with the Astros on Tuesday, is not one of those undergoing a lot of forward thinking.
“I haven’t really looked at it because at the end of the day, I’m trying to focus on this season and I’m not really worried about what’s going to happen next year,” said Betances, the All-Star who would be the logical choice to assume the mantel Robertson assumed from Mariano Rivera. “We’ve still got a month and a half left and my main focus is just trying to get this team to the playoffs.”
There’s a lot of that going around. But if there were another change in the closing order for the Yankees, Betances would be the logical choice.
Originally nurtured and raised to be a starter, the 6-foot-8 native New Yorker was shifted to the bullpen in the minors last year. The results have been a revelation.
So he is used to some on-the-job training and if he absolutely had to move his inning of primary focus from the eighth to the ninth next season, well, he’d do it.
“I’m sure it’s a different mindset, but the best thing to do is just try to treat it the same way. I haven’t really done it so I don’t have that much experience, but speaking to Robertson, he just tries to treat the game the same way and just make pitches,” said Betances.
“I’m still learning as it goes along right now. I’m learning from guys who have been in the bullpen their whole career. I’m going to continue to learn. I guess if you look at my stuff, I’ve improved,” Betances said with classic understatement.
The “Once a starter, always a starter” mentality went the way of the “Earth is flat” thinking.
“It hasn’t been as hard as some people think. It could be harder for others, but for me it hasn’t been as hard, but I’m still learning at the same time and I’m enjoying doing it,” Betances said, summing up with the inevitable, “Whatever they want me to do I’ll do.”
Of course, it could all be a moot point if the Yankees have Robertson anchoring the bullpen next season. Just before the Yankees went on their trip to Baltimore and Tampa Bay, Robertson acknowledged the Yankees had a shot at the hometown discount last winter. But the expected calls never came, so Robertson, making $5.2 million in his walk year, said he was content to play it out and see what happens.
And if there is a contract cloud hanging over Robertson’s noggin, Betances said he has seen no evidence of it.
“He’s doing what he has to do. He’s done an excellent job and he’s following right in Mariano’s footsteps. It’s impressive what he’s done. Trying to follow a guy like Mariano is not an easy thing to do,” Betances said. “He’s handling it the right way. He just goes out there and is doing the same things he’s been doing for the past seven years here.
“He’s the same way [personality-wise],” Betances continued. “I’ve known him for a while now. We got drafted the same year. He’s had a lot of success up here and he just continues to do what he has to do.”
Which is the approach Betances is trying to duplicate.