So much of sports comes down to whose hand do you want the ball in with the game on the line.
Which two-minute quarterback? Which isolation star as the 24-second and game clocks are winding toward 00:00? Which pitcher in October?
Masahiro Tanaka has moved into Orlando Hernandez territory for the Yankees. Sure, just fine from April to September. But give them the ball in October and the quality rises with the pressure. Think of all the words you would want to be associated with this time of year? Is there one bigger than “trust?”
The Yankees trust Tanaka.