The Yankees have not yet made a decision on first baseman Anthony Rizzo's potential participation in the ALCS as he is receiving treatment for a broken finger he suffered the day before the end of the regular season.
But somewhat surprisingly, Oswaldo Cabrera and John Berti played like veterans on the field and chipped in at bat, despite having little experience as first basemen, as the Royals in the ALDS In battle they hardly missed him.
Manager Aaron Boone said the first baseman position Saturday would remain a “fluid” situation if Rizzo remains sidelined in the ALCS.
That means more time for Cabrera and Berti, but both have played little in the spot and are using someone else's first baseman's mitt.
Cabrera still has DJ LeMahieu's glove, and Berti said Saturday he had one in the past but misplaced it, so he's using the team's advance scouting director and coaching assistant Brett Weber's glove. .
“This is the first one I've tried,” Berti said. “And I loved it.”
Ben Rice, who was on the ALDS roster but never came off the bench, could be another option there, but he has been better offensively and defensively than other replacements for most of the season. He also looked inferior in appearance.
“I certainly like what I saw from there [Cabrera] And Berti played a great role for us in the first series,” Boone said.
And since scoring is important in this series, defense will be important.
Cabrera had started just four games at first base in the majors prior to the ALDS, and Berti had not played.
Both players acknowledged Rizzo's contributions, but as Berti said on a Zoom call from the stadium where the Yankees practiced on Saturday, there's no substitute for experience.
“It's a lot harder than people think,” Berti said of playing first base. “I said [Rizzo] About the other day. There are a lot of different positions and different things around your bag that you need to be aware of at all times. ”
Asked about the most difficult play he faced in the ALDS, Berti said that instead of the diving play to left to end the top of the sixth inning in Game 2 in the Bronx, he hit a double play to start Game 4 in Kansas City. listed. When he caught Michael Massie's ground ball and forced the ball to second base, resulting in a double play.
But that was just one of the challenges Berti and Cabrera faced as they started two games in the ALDS.
“You just learn the little parts of everything,” Berti said. “Put the runner on base, do different footwork around the bag, understand the ground ball situation, have to go to the bag unless you get involved. If the ball is hit to right, always where is the second baseman?” You have to understand.”
Berti will take it.
He spent most of spring training with the Marlins, then was traded to the Yankees in a three-team trade with the Rays for catcher Ben Rohltvedt after LeMahieu went down with an injury.
Berti then spent most of the season on the IL, first with a groin strain and then with a calf strain, but returned at the end of the year and assumed a key position due to Rizzo's injury.
“This year has been great from day one,” Berti said. “From the trade to the injury to the comeback, it was all worth it to be able to come here and contribute in a big game.”
