The Yankees can’t keep giving away runs, especially not with the postseason creeping closer and Aaron Judge still out of the mix. That’s why Trent Grisham’s rough night in center field stood out so sharply in last night’s game against the Astros.
Jose Altuve drove a ball into center, and Grisham simply didn’t handle it. The misplay turned into a costly extra base hit, and Isaac Paredes came all the way around to score from first.
The play looked bad in real time, and the numbers made it look even worse. According to the WARmonger on X, the catch probability was 99%, even with added difficulty because the ball was behind him.
"99% catch probability on this ball, and that includes added difficulty for the ball being behind him. Jump ~19 feet below average.
Trent Grisham is at -6 OAA and -7 DRS. It's quite rare for a CF to have negative OAA as the stat includes RF and LF too. pic.twitter.com/skvr8pMFhp"
That’s not the kind of line the Yankees want attached to a Gold Glove center fielder. Grisham has won two Gold Glove Awards, but his defense has been shaky this season, and this latest lapse only adds to the concern.
"Trent Grisham is at -6 OAA and -7 DRS. It's quite rare for a CF to have negative OAA, as the stat includes RF and LF too," the WARmonger wrote.
Michael Kay summed up the moment on the broadcast: "It's over the head of Grisham; he misplayed it," Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay said.
Grisham is also headed toward free agency, and if the defensive struggles keep piling up, he could hurt himself financially when that market opens. For a Yankees team already scraping for offense without Judge, every miscue in the field feels heavier.
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