DELLIN "ICKY THUMP" BETANCES

The Yankees have had an up and down season. We’ve seen injuries, offensive struggles and an overall sense of “meh”. They are plenty good when they are good and have looked awful lost when they are bad…but there has been a shining example of what the future may hold…His name, Dellin Betances.

Betances was one third of the infamous Killer B’s that never materialized. He struggled mightily to find his place in the minors and eventually his job as a starter went bye bye. But then some genius inside the organization decided to make Dellin a reliever and he hasn’t looked back since. Betances is flat out filthy. He is an imposing figure on the mound standing 6 foot 8 inches tall, and he can dial it up to 98 with the heater.

He hasn’t just been a solid bridge guy to David Robertson, Betances IS the bridge. Folks can start taking Dellin across the Hudson instead of getting stuck on the GW. Now, I understand that Shawn Kelley and Adam Warren have done their part very well, but Dellin is becoming one of the most dangerous arms in the game

I watched a recent outing and was stunned to see that Betances fastball nearly knocked Brian McCann over. Mac is not a tiny guy and the ball looked like it transformed into Giants’ Legend Lawrence Taylor and nearly sacked the Yankee backstop. And then there’s the hammer Dellin features. It has the potential to become as deadly as Masahiro Tanaka’s splitty. Batters look like they’ve been asked a tough question on Jeopardy when it crosses the plate. They have no chance. I’ve started referring these two pitches as "Icky Thump". I marvel at that nasty, Icky fastball and the Thump of that hammer.  Betances is really coming into his own…now hopefully Cashman will keep the rules that brought down Joba in his desk and leave them there.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself and start calling for DRob’s dismissal as closer. David has been great this season and we should all be looking forward to the sounds of “Sweet Home Alabama” for years to come. No, I am just merely saying that the farm sent us a keeper.

The kid who grew up watching the Bronx Bombers in the bleachers is now wearing the pinstripes his heroes wore. He is giving Yankee fans a lot to cheer about and if all goes right Dellin Betances could be a special talent to watch for a long time.


** Possible warm up music for the nearly 7 foot Betances someday. Here’s the White Stripes**






--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
   Twitter: @mikeyoh21    
"Paulie was always my favorite player."
 

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