Theories on why Yankees’ middle-relief projects have busted

Brian Cashman Photo: Paul J. BereswillBrian Cashman identified middle relief as an area that needs upgrading for the Yankees, highlighting just how poorly players the Yankees have promoted from the minors have performed when given a chance.

In Joe Girardi’s first six seasons as manager, the Yankees actually got this work done generally well by journeymen such as Luis Ayala, Brian Bruney, Cody Eppley, Clay Rapada and Cory Wade.

But in the past two years, reaching down for their own development projects has not gone as well: Think Johnny Barbato, Caleb Cotham, Nick Goody, James Pazos, etc.

Cashman said he had no firm theory on this, so I offered two:

1. The gap never has been bigger between…