The Yankees’ bullpen, sans Mariano Rivera, has had its share of members the past few years. Bridging the gap to the future Hall of Famer seemed like a never-ending search of arms that have come and gone. Finding the right relief pitchers – especially lefthanded-throwing ones – is a must if a team expects to make it to October. The door was wide open for someone to come in and be the guy to get out a tough lefty in the middle to late innings. 
 
In September of 2008, Phil Coke stepped into that role. Coke had a 1-0 record, 0.61 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. This season, Coke has been one of the mainstays in the bullpen since Day One.
 
“It’s one of those things that it’s going to take me most of the offseason and probably most of next season actually to feel how it’s really been impacting me,” Coke said. “I’ve just been trying to pay attention to what I need to do, go out there and get my job done rather than thinking it’s a big series or the new stadium opening.”
 
This year, the 27-year-old has experienced both. Back in April, he was one of six Yankees’ pitchers in their home opener at the new stadium. As far as pitching in big spots, Coke has appeared in nine games versus the Boston Red Sox, with only one bad outing in a game his team won, nonetheless.
 
“It’s always good to have a guy that’s pitching [well], no matter what the situation is,” catcher Jose Molina said. “The one who is pitching well is the one who is going to get the call, and having a lefty is very important.”
 
The Yankees may have added some big-ticket free agents this past offseason in CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, but it is the role players who are needed to come through nearly just as much to go far in the playoffs. “I’m just happy to be here,” Coke said. “I wasn’t one of the big name guys coming in. I was being given an opportunity and I told myself that I was going to succeed. Luckily, I’ve succeeded and I haven’t looked back from there.”
 
Molina has noticed how mature Coke has seemed from the get-go. “He’s looking good,” Molina said. “He’s been getting people out and he’s not afraid to throw the ball. He throws strikes and is aggressive and that’s what you need coming out of the pen. He has heart.”
 
Another thing that Coke has is supporters, and judging by the two overflowing boxes of fan mail in his locker stall, it is apparent that he has impressed more than his teammates. “I’ve never got fan mail before,” Coke said with a laugh. “It’s kind of cool to see that people care. A lot of the letters that I read, people are saying, ‘First off, congratulations on what you’ve been doing and we’re glad to see you in the bullpen and do what you do,’ and ‘we love watching you.’ In a lot of letters, people are really reaching out for your hand and I feel welcome all the way around. People are supporting you that you don’t even know and never met before.” 
 
The humble Coke, a native of Sonora, California, seemed a bit on the embarrassed side as he pointed out the letters and packages to his right. The southpaw has slowly become acclimated with the ‘Yankee way,’ even though he still needs to get used to certain aspects of it. The transition has become easier by the way his teammates treated him since he made the team coming out of spring training.
 
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” Coke said. “The clubhouse atmosphere is great. We all have fun with each other, joke with each other. When you come in the door, you feel like you’re a part of the team because they make you feel that way.”
 
Having the luxury of being on a veteran-laden club has made Coke’s job easier, especially when you consider the Yankees employ many of the game’s biggest stars, like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Coke can remain quietly in his role under the radar while the players who occupy the lockers to the left of his absorb the headlines. That has made it easier for Coke to concentrate on going out to the hill and getting outs.
 
The entire team has jelled after an inconsistent start. Once the Yankees were able to overtake Boston and occupy first place in the American League East, it seemed as if the off-season spending spree might pay off after all. But without players such as Coke wearing pinstripes – one of the missing ingredients to compliment the perennial All-Stars – extending the season becomes an even more difficult task.
 
Have a Coke and a smile.