TAMPA — Call it The Big Fix.
When you're 6-foot-8, 265 pounds, it's a really big fix, especially because the weight of the Yankees' world is on the bullpen, and you are the big man in that bullpen.
No one has been more frustrated by his spring failures than Dellin Betances. The right-hander has worn a puzzled look on his face after each of his appearances because he can't quite figure out what's wrong.
Until now.
The drop in velocity is one thing, and remember, it's spring training. More concerning is the lack of command that has haunted Betances.
That is the real problem.
Taking all that into account, why was this big man smiling on Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field?
Why was Betances not in panic mode over his 6.75 spring ERA and seven hits allowed over 5 ¹/₃ innings, with four runs allowed and only four strikeouts?
Because Betances believes he has found the answer to his woes. He checked out some video from 2014, when he was blowing away batters.
"I saw some small stuff,'' he told The Post.
Small stuff can be big stuff in this job, especially when even the slightest movement has a ripple effect on your pitches.
"I've been opening up a little too much with my front shoulder,'' Betances said. "I got games this weekend and the more I pitch, the better I will be out there.''
Betances, 27, insists there is no arm pain, no issue at all. This is purely a mechanical failure, and when you are 6-8, 265, it's doubly difficult to repeat your delivery.
"The key is repetition, and right now I am not repeating my delivery,'' Betances told The Post.
"The more I pitch, the better I feel, the better I feel the better the results,'' Betances said.
He will be on the mound Saturday against the Orioles.
If he doesn't repeat that delivery, he is not going to have the kind of command that enabled him to dominate out of the bullpen in 2014 and set himself up to be the closer after David Robertson signed with the White Sox.
It's all up in the air now. Andrew Miller and Betances could even wind up co-closers.
"I am not worried about the velocity being down because it was the same thing last spring training over the first five innings,'' Betances said. "That's how my arm functions. As long that I feel healthy, I know that it will come.''
Spring training used to be about building arm strength — especially for relievers.
Today's world is a world of instant conclusions. No matter where the arm strength is, however, command is what pitching is all about. That is the concern. That is what Betances must fix.
If Betances is putting a fastball where it should be put — on the edges of the plate — even in the low 90s or just high enough to change the eye level of the hitter, it will be a successful pitch.
Command is king.
"In spring training I never throw what I throw during the season,'' Betances said of his velocity. "I'm not worried about it. The results haven't been where I wanted it to be, but that is because the command of my pitches is not where I want it to be.''
Keep the front shoulder closed a fraction of a second longer and command will return.
"I don't want to give up runs every time I go out, so I'm definitely trying to work on some stuff to iron that out. At times I do get frustrated, but this is what you work on before the season starts,'' Betances said, taking a logical approach to the problem.
"It's better that it happens now when you can actually fix it than in the season. I'm working on some stuff. I know I'll be good.''
He repeated those five words, not to convince himself, but to drive home his point.
"I know I'll be good.''
Dellin Betances is working on The Big Fix. This is a big week.
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