The Yankees faced a 10-7 defeat against Boston on Saturday, highlighting how necessary Jazz Chisholm Jr. is to the lineup, even at just 70% capacity.
After they won on Friday, Chisholm mentioned that even at 70%, he felt he was able to contribute significantly, crediting his assistant coach, Pat Rossler, for helping keep things steady when Chisholm drew attention from others.
He sat out the first six innings but was brought in as a pinch hitter in the seventh against right-hander Greg Weissart. His absence was definitely felt, similar to how they missed Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning.
Oswald Peraza was somewhat overwhelmed at shortstop, forcing Pablo Reyes to fill in at third base. It’s safe to say Reyes didn’t really make an impact in a positive way.
The two inexperienced players struggled to make plays, particularly when runners were on first and second base, and Ryan Yarbra had difficulty at third. They flubbed grounders that should have been routine for a more seasoned team.
Despite having no issues earlier in the series, manager Aaron Boone expressed frustration over the team’s performance, particularly Reyes’s inability to respond effectively.
Chisholm’s earlier admission about being 70% might have come off as him lacking confidence, but Boone reassured that he understood Chisholm’s perspective and knew what he meant. It’s something everyone, including Boone, can relate to, especially when stepping into the batter’s box.
Meanwhile, Lewis Gill is set to throw a bullpen session soon, indicating he’s taking small steps in recovery and not ready for full intensity yet. Marcus Stroman is also expected to throw but Boone is uncertain about the next steps in his recovery.
Giancarlo Stanton is looking to return from Tampa, possibly by Sunday or Monday, and if all goes well with his recovery from elbow issues, he might start a rehabilitation assignment early next week.
In an interesting switch, Trent Grisham found his groove against left-handed pitchers, while Cody Bellinger moved to center field and Jackson Dominguez got to start in left. Last season’s stats show that Grisham performed better against right-handers than left, which adds an intriguing dynamic to the lineup.
