Explaining Brian Bruney

"The bullpen is Bruney and Mariano -- and that's it." That's how Mike Francesa explained the Yankees' bullpen woes on this afternoon's program after the opening day meltdown.

The fan reaction has revealed a similar faith in BB as a reliable arm, a pitcher who will succeed in the eight inning where the likes of Farnsworth and scores of others have failed since the Stanton/Nelson days of yore.

Here at SMF we've never understood the public's embrace of mulleted flamethrower. Apart from a solid spell in an injury-shortened 2008, Bruney has been less than mediocre, and his SO\BB rate for his career is an apalling 1.4. Why is there so much optimism in his ability to bring the game to Rivera?