And away we go ...

I am not getting into this bad math again, but it's simply incorrect and based on a misunderstanding of what actually happened in the games and what a blown save is:

“I understand that there's other situations which we've hit a lot, like DJ LeMahieu, but there’s nothing to decipher anymore: what you do with Clay Holmes is you tell him you're not a closer anymore, that's it. He has blown eight of his last 18 games, and I know that there seems like there's a lot wrong with the Yankees, but think about this: if you only blew two or three, which most quality closers do if that many, the Yankees are up four games and their entire world seems very different.”

"If that many."

There are no closers whose save percentage is 94%, ever.

Mariano's career save% was 90%.

Holmes is going through a tough stretch. I'm not making excuses. He never was an elite closer, but for a while he was an all star closer. He isn't playing like an all star anymore.

Whether or not the fans "trust" him is based mostly on reputation. He is having, more or less, the same season as Edwin Diaz. Diaz became a fan favorite in his roller coaster Mets career and is therefore cut slack.

 

As for the alternatives?:

"BT has another idea:

'Holmes is out, Luis Gil is in, that’s it,' BT said. 'Clarke Schmidt, you're in the rotation, Luis Gil, you’re the closer, Clay Holmes, you're done.' "

The pitcher with the most walks in the major leagues is your closer in the playoffs. A pitcher with a staggering 4.8 walks per nine innings. A rookie who walks 4.8 batters per nine innings. A rookie with no closer experience who walks 4.8 batters per nine innings. He is the solution. He is the guy you're bringing into the ninth inning of a can't-lose playoff game with a one-run lead.

The batters on the Twins are just going to stand at home plate, pinky swear not to swing the bat, and put the champagne on ice.