Jazz Chisholm Jr. gave the Yankees their best offensive moments in Monday night's loss, but it was his defense that played a bigger role in the outcome of the game.
Chisholm made two fielding errors in Game 2, when the Yankees lost 4-2 to the Royals, canceling out his solo home run in the ninth inning, which was a consolation prize for a team that struggled all night at the plate.
That first, and more expensive, score came in the game-changing four-run fourth inning.
With Tommy Pham on second base and Garrett Hampson singled, Chisholm was unable to cut out Alex Verdugo's throw from left field.
As a result, there was no play in Pham's at-bat, and Hampson easily stole a double and then scored on Michael Garcia's base hit.
“I thought about it right away,” Chisholm said. “I don't know if you guys saw me, but I said, 'Sorry.' [Alex] Verdugo now. Because that's where the inning should stop. that [wouldn’t] There were three [runs] instead of two. ”
Former third baseman Aaron Boone said this play would have been natural had Chisholm played the position more throughout his career.
“That's one of the things I'm concerned about with some of the rookies as first basemen and the rookies as third basemen,” Boone said. “…These are little things that have to be instinctual and the work in progress starts from there little by little. But yeah, I think he's going to be in the cutting position.”
Chisholm's error after the first inning wasn't that big on the scoreboard, but unlike the first error, it was actually a misfire on a throw from third base to first base that Yuli Gurriel was able to reach safely, making it an error. It became.
Ironically, the Yankees were rescued from the predicament by another position conversion when John Barty brilliantly grabbed first base on MJ Melendez's line drive and converted an unassisted double play.
In 400¹/₃ innings at this position during the regular season, Chisholm committed seven errors, four of which were throw errors. But by advanced metrics, it performed reasonably well.
He got an above-average six outs and had minus-two runs saved on defense, according to FanGraphs.
It's not about winning a Gold Glove, but for a player learning a new position on the fly, it was something anyone could endure, especially given Chisholm's production at the plate.
But it's already October.
And it's not just Chisholm's bat that the Yankees need.
