The Yankees didn’t have to wait long to get the Heliot Ramos experience the Giants know by heart.
Just days after San Francisco sent the outfielder to New York, Ramos was in left field against the Atlanta Braves when Mike Yastrzemski lifted a ball his way. Ramos didn’t handle it cleanly, the play slipped over his head, and Mauricio Dubon came around to score. It was a familiar scene for Giants fans, and not in a good way.
As the Yankees announcer put it, “Yastrzemski hit it well, but this is a ball, for the most part, that needs to be caught.”
That’s the part of Ramos’ game New York is already getting a close look at. And if Giants fans are being honest, this latest miscue probably doesn’t even land among the worst left-field moments they’ve seen from him. His defensive rough edges have been part of the story for a while.
San Francisco, though, hasn’t exactly turned left field into a solved problem since the trade. Eddys Leonard had a rough misplay of his own in Saturday’s game, which is why the idea of simply leaving Grant McCray out there starts to sound a lot more appealing if the Giants want at least some competence in the spot.
Ramos has also been slow to get going offensively in New York. Entering Sunday’s game, he had just two hits in 17 plate appearances, though both were doubles. That kind of adjustment period makes sense for a player who had only ever been with the Giants before the deal.
There’s even a little symmetry to it. Camilo Doval struggled after the Giants sent him to the Yankees last year, and now Ramos is off to a cold start of his own. If Brian Cashman feels like Buster Posey keeps getting the better end of these deals, he may not be eager to pick up the phone again.
The Giants received left-hander Henry Lalane and infielder Kaeden Kent, the son of Giants legend Jeff Kent, in the trade. Lalane has already made one start for the Eugene Emeralds, San Francisco’s High-A affiliate, and threw 4 and 2/3 innings while allowing one run and striking out five. Kent has not yet debuted with Eugene, but he was hitting .302/.359/.433 before the move.
The deal still needs time to play out, but one thing is already clear: Ramos’ glove is going to be a storyline in New York. Giants fans will remember plenty about his time in San Francisco, and for all the solid work he gave them, his defense is not what they’ll miss.
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