TAMPA – The Yankees may not have a more sturdy batsman than Anthony Volpe.
But they certainly don’t have a good defender. And Volpe’s Glove continues to shine with shortstop, no matter how dark it gets on the plate.
“That’s him,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s a really good player, and it’s very valuable to have someone like that in the best position there.
Friday night was a prime example.
Volpe went 0-4 with three strikeouts. In his first two at-bats, he included two punch-outs with six fastballs in the zone, but was in the middle of some great plays on the field, holding a 1-0 victory with the Rays.
Since his arrival in the Big League, the 23-year-old is often hot and cold, and not on the plate, but his defenses have been consistently sharp.
“I always feel that you can influence the game every pitch and any play,” Volpe said. “If there’s one percent of something that’s taken away from what you can do for your teammates, you’re not the best teammate you can. Obviously, I want to do my best to help the team.
The Yankees are still waiting for Volpe to find consistency offensively. He began the season by crushing four home runs in his first five games, hitting 1.069 OPS, nine strikeouts and nine games 37-11 (.297) on three walks.
However, in 12 games since then, Volpe has been stuck with 39 (.103) stretches on 17 strikeouts and 7 walks.
He went 5-1 with two punchouts on Saturday, but was stolen the single by second baseman Brandon Lowe.
“I’m just missing the pitch,” Volpe said. “When I keep working, staying with myself, put in the zone and enter the damage count, I feel like I’m in a good place.”
Boone said he felt that Volpe was still on good hits before Friday night and that he was hitting the ball hard when the Rays attacked him with a fastball.
In the meantime, his defenses remain top notch.
Volpe’s best play on Friday night appeared in the hole with Curtis Mead’s Chopper. He stretched far away and then threw across his body to the first base that Paul Goldschmidt chose. The play was portrayed “amazing” by Carlos Rodon on the mound.
“That’s as good as you get it right away,” Boone said.
“It was just a response, but we practiced them a lot,” Volpe said. “[Infield coach Travis Chapman] It pushes us quite a bit. You want such a play in the game as we practice them a lot. ”
Volpe was also grateful to have placed Goldschmidt on the other end of that throw to make sure the play wasn’t in vain.
“I’m spoiled [Anthony Rizzo] And Goldie will be the first to play for me,” Volpe said. “It’s the worst feeling in the world. But if they choose it, you feel really good about it and you’ll appreciate them.”
“They work really hard, I work really hard so that they really bore their lives and don’t have to do anything like that. It’s a great safety net that I never want to use, but it helps plays in the range of those differences makers.”
Late at night, Volpe was in the middle of a complete relay with the third runner Nab.
He received a throw from centre fielder Trent Grisham and immediately fired a bullet at Oswald Cabrera.
“We’re really working hard on playing physically, but I think the communication was great,” Volpe says. “The guys are eating each other and just want to back up the pitcher. When the ball is played, it’s out, it’s like a contagious feeling to defense.”
