Sultans of swatIt may have been the most flattering comparison of Ford's career to
date. Providing commentary for Sunday's ESPN broadcast, Alex Rodriguez
watched a replay of Ford's mighty left-handed swing and remarked: "Mike
Ford, with a little bit of a Babe Ruth look to him!"
"We're both hefty guys, I guess," Ford said, with a laugh. "The mold
kind of fits there, but I've got a long way to go to be in that
conversation. I appreciate the compliment."Back on track
J.A. Happ was not pleased to learn that his spot was being skipped in
the rotation earlier this week, with the club opting to start Jordan
Montgomery against the Braves instead. Happ expressed that to Boone in
two conversations; the veteran said that one of those chats went well
Joe DiMaggio Jersey, and the other did not.
"Nobody wants to get skipped," Happ said. "I want to be out there and
pitch every five days. I feel like I should be. There was no argument
[with Boone] and nothing bigger than that. It was just, I didn't expect
it."
Happ's performance will encourage the Yankees to hand him the ball more
often. Making his first start since Aug. 5, Happ held Boston to Kevin
Pillar's third-inning solo homer over 5 2/3 frames. The left-hander
scattered three hits with two walks, inducing a pair of double-play
balls to squelch budding rallies."He was great. I thought he was
aggressive in the strike zone," Boone said. "I thought it was probably
the best life we've seen at the top of the zone since even going back to
spring. He was into that sixth inning and really dictating the pace of
everything. I thought he was terrific."
There is an unresolved financial component to each of Happ's starts. His
contract includes a $17 million option for 2021 that was supposed to
kick in if Happ made either 27 starts or 165 innings. Those incentives
are not being prorated with the shortened season
Jorge Posada Jersey, and the matter could eventually be settled by an arbitrator.
"That's a subject I think I'm just going to stay away from right now,"
Happ said. "I'm trying to just focus on the baseball part when I am out
there. All in due time on that front."Closing it out
Nearly all of the scoring was completed in the first three innings. Adam
Ottavino relieved Happ to record two outs and Chad Green provided 1 2/3
innings of scoreless work, having permitted two hits with 17 strikeouts
across 12 2/3 frames this season.
Boston brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth against Zack
Britton, who pitched around a wild pitch, a passed ball and his own
fielding error to record his eighth save in as many opportunities.
Britton's time in the closer's role is likely to end on Monday
Lou Gehrig Jersey, when left-hander Aroldis Chapman is expected to be activated from the
injured list."It's going to be huge for us," Britton said. "When I
signed here, it was to win and not feel like I need to be tied to a
specific role. If closing is something I want to do in the future, I do
like it, but I like winning more."NEW YORK - A typical road trip usually
prompts Aaron Judge to research recent video of the pitchers who are
likely to toe the mound that week. On one of his first visits to Kansas
City, teammate CC Sabathia invited the Yankees slugger to turn back the
clock further.
As Major League Baseball recognized the centennial of the Negro Leagues
on Sunday, Judge reflected upon a visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball
Museum in Kansas City, where he had the opportunity to learn more about
the exploits of legends like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Oscar
Charleston.
"The big thing is going to the museum in Kansas City; that'd be the
first thing I'd recommend to anybody who wants to learn about the Negro
Leagues and what those guys went through," Judge said. "The history of
the game and the great players that we had, that's something that's
pretty special.
"Every time we went to Kansas City, CC would always take a couple guys
out there and just check it out. That was always a pretty special
moment."As Judge spoke, he sported a red Jackie Robinson shirt from
Sabathia's "Roots of Fight" collection, recognizing the
barrier-breaker's 1945 season with the Kansas City Monarchs.
The Yankees wore a 100th anniversary Negro Leagues patch on Sunday, with
the logo also featured on the base jewels and lineup cards. A tribute
video to Negro Leagues great Buck O'Neil will be shown prior to first
pitch.Sabathia's interest in the Negro Leagues reached new levels in
2001, when a pregame visit with O'Neil at Kauffman Stadium inspired the
then-Indians hurler to visit the museum at the corner of 18th and Vine,
as he recounted on Sunday in a "Voices of the Game" conversation
produced by the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"I'm walking out to BP; it's my first year in the big leagues
Luke Voit Jersey. I don't think anybody's going to know me," Sabathia said. "He's
standing behind the cage and says, AŽBig fella, come over here.' He just
started talking; he's like, AŽHey, I've been watching you, you've got a
great fastball.'
"I'm like, AŽBuck O'Neil knows who I am? He's been watching me?' That
let me know how much we need to take care of each other as a Black
community, Black players and support each other. My love for the Negro
Leagues just kind of grew from there."Judge overruled
After being diagnosed with a strained right calf on Friday, Judge said
that he "begged" the Yankees not to place him on the 10-day injured
list, believing that he could receive treatment and be ready to re-join
the lineup by Monday.
That appeal was nixed by manager Aaron Boone, the team's athletic
trainers and the medical staff, who believed that Judge would have
risked a more significant injury if he continued to play. Judge said
that his legs felt "tight" after playing both ends of a doubleheader
last weekend at Tropicana Field.
"I've been healthy and been feeling great," Judge said.
"This is the best I've felt in a while, so that's why I'm pretty
frustrated being put on the IL for something that's just a
couple-of-days thing. Working with the Yankees' staff and talking to
their doctors, it's more precautionary and probably best overall to miss
one week than push through it and eventually miss three to four weeks."
Judge said that he feels "100 percent" and expects to resume hitting on
Monday. The earliest that Judge could be activated is Saturday against
the Mets at Citi Field.Next men up
When Clint Frazier tied his career high with five RBIs on Saturday,
homering and doubling twice in an 11-5 rout of the Red Sox, Tyler Wade
was among those cheering the loudest on the Yankees' bench.
Frazier and Wade have grown close over the past several years as they
wait for opportunities to contribute at the big league level. Injuries
to Judge and DJ LeMahieu (IL with left thumb sprain) may permit Frazier
and Wade to occupy the same lineup for a period. Wade and Thairo Estrada
figure to share duties at second base in LeMahieu's absence.
"We're on the best team in baseball
Mariano Rivera Jersey, and we have superstars and All-Stars at every single position. We
realize that," Wade said. "You have to make sure you work hard like
you're going to play that night. It showed in Clint's game. You never
know when your number is going to be called, and he's doing his thing.
Hopefully I'll follow his lead and just stay prepared."
