I have given a name to the Yankee bullpen:

“The  -ianos.”

That would be (Pedro) Feliciano, (Rafael) Soriano, and Mariano (Rivera).

Right now I am picturing Michael Kay and the rest of the YES commentators and analysts calling them by this nickname. And somehow, I get the feeling that I’ll be sitting down watching a game and Kay will blurt out to John Flaherty,

“Flash, I just came up with the perfect nickname for the Yankee ‘pen: The  -ianos. It makes perfect sense!”

Then Flaherty will respond with something like,

“Michael, you always come up with these funny names. You are a genius .”

 

Then of course I will become upset, yelling at the TV set about how I came up with it first.

Hopefully the Yankee ‘pen will make some noise next year. Former Yankee reliever Jeff Nelson already said the blueprint for the 2011 Yankee bullpen reminds him of the corps of relief pitchers from the Yankee Dynasty from 1996-2000.

That’s a good sign.

“The  -ianos” will most likely make up the heart of the bullpen and did well for what it was worth in 2010. With the Mets last season Feliciano was 3-6 with a 3.30 ERA, but was able to dominate most lefties. He only gave up eight extra base hits to hitters batting from the left side of the plate. They only hit .211 against him and he allowed no home runs to left-handed hitters in 92 appearances.

That kind of brilliance will be used to counter David Ortiz and the rest of the A.L. power lefties.

Soriano, as most people know, agreed to a three-year deal with the Yankees last Thursday. The 31 year-old flame-throwing righty will be the eight inning man in the absence of Kerry Wood, who returned to the Chicago Cubs. Soriano led the A.L. in saves last year with 45 for the Tampa Bay Rays.

According to several reports, the decision to sign Soriano was not the decision of Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman. In fact, he was not happy the deal went down, probably because the Yankees paid around $35 million for him and lost their number one draft pick.

Today Soriano was introduced at Yankee Stadium in a press conference and had an apparent exchange with the Yanks’ GM.

 

One source said Cashman’s conversation with Soriano went something like this:

Soriano: “I’m happy to be a Yankee.”

Cashman: “And we’re happy that you’re a Yankee, too. Although I’d personally be happy with other players instead.”

That would make me terribly uncomfortable.

In any event, Soriano is a Yankee. And he best live up to his contract, or else Cashman will be standing in front of all the executives who pushed for Soriano, smiling and saying, “I told you so.”

Rounding out “The -ianos” is who else but the Sandman, Mariano Rivera. There’s really no need to even go into detail about Rivera’s capability. He is a legend. Last year he picked up 33 saves and boasted a trim ERA of 1.80. He signed a two-year deal this off-season, meaning the Yankees will be treated to his services for at least another two seasons.

Mo is Mo and I expect another solid year from him.

With the bullpen pieces in place, the Yankee relievers should make life easier for the starters. But just remember, if Kay, Flaherty, or anyone else for that matter calls them “The -ianos” and says it’s their idea…

No no no.

You heard it at Yankee Yapping first.