Title-worthy bullpen brings Yankees closer to “something special.”

At least so far, the performance is reminiscent of some of the Yankee championship teams that featured intimidating bullpens that rarely faltered at this time of year.

Holmes, who was as dominant as any reliever during his time in the playoffs with 14 ²/₃ scoreless innings in a dozen appearances, is aware of the great Yankees teams that had great bullpens.

“There's a long history of really good teams here and the bullpens are a big part of that,” Holmes said. “We know the challenge and opportunity we have here to be part of something special.”

They still have a long way to go to establish themselves in the Yankees' tradition, but they are just two wins away from returning to the World Series for the first time since the team's last title in 2009.

There's no bigger reason they've made it this far than the bullpen, and a member of one of those championship stables was impressed with this current group.

Jeff Nelson won four World Series rings in five years with the Yankees as part of a bullpen led by Mariano Rivera.

“No one can compare to Mo,” Nelson said by phone Wednesday, “but it’s pretty remarkable what these guys do.”

He was particularly impressed by how key members of the pen thrived in different roles – even roles they weren't accustomed to by the end of the regular season.

“The fact that they didn't have a set closer towards the end of the year and then Weaver comes in with Holmes, Kahnle and even Hill and Cousins ​​taking on a lot of roles,” Nelson said. “They ask a lot of them and it’s fair to compare what they do to some of our playoff runs, but we’ve done it for a long time.”

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And Nelson's writers also finished the job with one title after another.

They did it with a setup man, Holmes, who lost the closer job earlier in the season and a closer in Weaver who had never done the job before.

Longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey, who was there in 2009, said of Holmes on Wednesday: “He's someone who has really internalized the old Mariano adage that if he's going to be a closer or a late-inning hitter, a big (leverage) relief pitcher needs to be brought in. “For the Yankees, he's got to have a short memory, and that's what he's been able to do since he's been here.”

And Harkey noted on a Zoom call from the stadium that while Rivera was the greatest closer of all time, Weaver has just as many saves (four) this postseason as he did in his career before the playoffs.

This group is two wins shy of reaching the World Series, but Nelson appreciates what they're doing right now – especially since the Yankees aren't getting much length out of their starters.

“It's impressive because you can't play with matchups anymore,” Nelson said of the fact that relievers are forced to face at least three batters in one appearance. “And our starters usually went deep and now they often have to get 14 or 15 outs.”

However, some aspects remain the same and this group of helpers has proven up to the task.

“It takes a certain mentality to pitch well this time of year,” Nelson said. “There is no tomorrow in the playoffs. You can't have the hiccups and not know how the boys are doing until they get there. These guys didn’t have a lot of experience, but they get the job done.”

“We feel like everyone down there has confidence in us and everyone benefits from this,” Holmes said. “You give up a few runs early and let us finish. “It’s working so far.”