The Yankees made one clear statement against Chris Sale: if they trust a bat, they’ll find a way to use it.
That’s why Jazz Chisholm Jr. was on the bench. The left-handed matchup against one of the best southpaw pitchers of the last decade and a surefire Hall of Famer made the decision easy enough, especially with Chisholm hitting .215/.257/.369 against lefties. José Caballero got the start at second base instead.
But Aaron Boone’s lineup card got more interesting when it came to Austin Wells. Rather than turn to Ali Sánchez for the platoon edge, Boone stuck with Wells. The Yankees also rolled out a fairly lefty-heavy group, with Spencer Jones and Trent Grisham in the mix, even if there weren’t many obvious right-on-right swaps available for them the way there was with Wells.
That choice says something about how the Yankees are viewing certain players right now. If they believe in a guy, they’ll make room. Ben Rice started getting opportunities against lefties early for that very reason.
And that’s where Anthony Volpe enters the picture.
Volpe has started getting reps at second base in the minors, and with George Lombard Jr. now in the picture, the path forward gets a lot less crowded. If Volpe is going to carve out playing time at the big league level, this could be his last real chance to make a case for himself with the Yankees.
He hasn’t exactly been thriving against lefties this season, but compared with Chisholm, it’s a different world. Volpe is slashing .244/.310/.359 with a homer and four doubles in 87 plate appearances against left-handers. Most of his damage - and that term is doing a lot of work - has come against left-handed pitching.
The sample is still limited, though, because Volpe hasn’t played a full season this year. Last season offered a bigger look, and in 172 plate appearances against lefties, he hit .253/.316/.416.
If the Yankees can get that version of Volpe in a platoon role, it could help the lineup. The key question is whether he can handle second base well enough to make it work, though that position would take some pressure off his arm strength.
Even so, Volpe’s current numbers stack up better than Caballero’s against lefties this season. Caballero is hitting .230/.279/.372 in those matchups, down from .250/.361/.452 against southpaws last year.
If this doesn’t turn into something for Volpe, it’s tough to see where he fits next. A platoon with the struggling Chisholm might be his final opening.
In Other News...
Yankees Bullpen Depth Just Took Another Hit At The Wrong Time
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Monteros season started late because of visa issues, and the delay only added to the uncertainty around what he could provide. For New York, the timing is less than ideal after recent trade deadline subtractions chipped away at the big league relief depth, leaving the organization with fewer experienced options to turn to if the bullpen needs another arm. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Volpes Path Back To The Yankees Just Got More Complicated
Anthony Volpes road back to the Yankees has already taken a turn, and it may not be a simple one. After being optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the former shortstop prospect is now getting looks at second base as the club tries to broaden his options while reshaping its infield around George Lombard Jr., who has been promoted to take over at shortstop.
For the Yankees, the timing matters as much as the position change. They are in the middle of a pennant race and sorting out a new infield hierarchy, with Volpes offensive production still central to any path back to the majors. If he can show he fits elsewhere on the diamond, it could help, but his bat will likely decide how quickly the door reopens. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Kay Calls Out Yankees Fans As Old-Timers Day Debate Grows
The Yankees Old-Timers Day has long been one of the most recognizable dates on the club calendar, a chance for fans to see former stars reconnect with the franchise and bring some nostalgia back to the ballpark. But the annual alumni game has drawn a noticeably thinner crowd in recent years, even with plenty of tickets sold, and that drop-off has started to raise questions about how much appeal the event still has when the old guard is not quite as deep as it once was.
Michael Kay has made clear he is among those frustrated by the decline in turnout, pointing to the missing star power from earlier generations as part of the issue. The conversation has only grown louder with Derek Jeter absent from recent editions, a detail that can matter a great deal for fans who still buy into the idea of Old-Timers Day as a must-see tradition rather than just another ceremonial stop on the summer schedule. [Read more 🡒]