And finally, the bullpen.

Certified True Yankees™

Mariano Rivera: Don’t get me wrong - his Yankeeness is as True™ as the oceans are vast, as the stars are bright, as the sun is burny-glowy. If True Yankees™ were luxury cars, he’d be the Bentley/Maybach hybrid offered only to the world’s eminent financiers and clergymen. That said, The Great Rivera contributes 60-70 innings per season, which isn’t a lot. Even factoring in the utterly unquantifiable peace of mind his presence bestows, his True Yankeeicity™ has to rank behind modern-era pal Derek Jeter and long-ago legends like Gehrig, Ruth, Berra, DiMaggio, Ford, Mantle and the rest.

Decent case for True-Yankee™ enshrinement

none

Perhaps a True Yankee™ somewhere down the road

David Robertson: Between his general amiability, his wealth of charity work and his recent track record of striking out the universe when there’s a runner on third and fewer than two outs, Robertson has built up a boatload of goodwill for the time when (if?) he inherits the closer gig. That goodwill reservoir should sustain him through three blown saves and a tabloid shitstorm or two.

Joba Chamberlain: Imagine how differently the keepers of the True Yankee™ flame would’ve reacted if it had been A-Rod who injured himself while trampolining with his two daughters. Void his contract! Rescind his parental-visitation privileges! Pronounce him in violation of God’s law! Etc.

Not a True Yankee™ unless he volunteers to spend a weekend afternoon helping Don Mattingly move

Rafael Soriano: Brian Cashman, who has already staked out real estate in the team administrator/architect wing of the True Yankee™ museum (a building so elegant and pleasing to the senses it makes the Guggenheim look like a giant pale turd), never wanted him around. That in itself would be enough to disqualify Soriano from True Yankee™ consideration, but then he went and, in the greatest betrayal since that one guy did that thing to Jesus, ducked the media after a crummy outing. Shame on him and the parents who raised him.

Boone Logan: Seems like a nice enough fellow. Not a True Yankee™. Back-o’-the-pen pitchers are fungible.

Cory Wade: Seems like a nice enough fellow. Not a True Yankee™. Back-o’-the-pen pitchers are fungible and everybody knows this, except the Mets.

Clay Rapada/second lefty in pen: Too soon to say if he’s a nice enough fellow. Not a True Yankee™ regardless. Back-o’-the-pen pitchers are fungible and everybody knows this, except the Mets. True Yankees™ stand the test of time, like mountains or acid-etched graffiti.