While Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez has always been known for his ability to send balls into the stratosphere, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News writes that his improvement defensively is paying dividends for the World Series-hopeful Yankees. Per Ackert, relievers Zack Britton and Adam Ottavino were admittedly skeptical of their new backstop when they first joined the Yankees, but both have been pleasantly surprised with Sanchez’s work not only blocking the ball (after catching his fair share of flak for surrendering passed balls, Sanchez has cut his total from 18 last year to just seven in 2019), but also managing a pitching staff that includes a deadly stable of hard-throwing bullpen arms with different tendencies. That could very well be magnified as the Yankees play in the postseason; with many questioning the team’s rotation, Aaron Boone figures to rely heavily on what might be the deepest bullpen of the remaining contenders.
Some other notes from around the baseball landscape…
- With the Giants’ search for a new manager underway, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle inspects ten candidates who could be the first new manager in San Francisco since Bruce Bochy took over in 2007. They include incumbent Giants coaches, staff members from Farhan Zaidi’s time in Oakland, and other outsiders. Hensley Meulens, Eric Chavez, Mark Kotsay, and others could all be in contention, though Shea notes that some names are more realistic than others, and that those discussed are merely speculative. Still, for Giants fans interested in what each brings to the table, it’s a worthwhile summary.
- If the Astros advance to the ALCS, right-hander Brad Peacock could be added to the roster, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Peacock was a notable omission from the Division Series roster after he struggled in a late-season return from a shoulder injury. There’s hope that he could be fully up to speed ahead of the Championship Series, should the Astros advance. He’s set to throw a simulated game today to stay sharp during his time off the field. With just 11 pitchers on the roster for the first round, Peacock could replace a position player if he is indeed added to the ALCS roster.
What improvement? Sanchez is 97th of 113 on defense
Jealous much!?
MLBTR loves them some Yankees. An article about one of the worst defensive catchers in the league and they are blowing smoke up Yankee fans skirts with how great he is defensively. Do these guys watch the game? Also notice they say World Series hopeful Yankees while referring to the Astros as “should the astros advance” to the ALCS.
Tell everyone about the bad Yankees fan that made your mom shower.
They said improved
not great…..
No real Yank fans believe that Snachez is a good catcher. He is a bat first catcher. His behind the plate defense is very bad and his plate rating is bad. The Yanks pitching would be much better with a good catcher.
Try running on Sanchez
77% chance you are safe.
@Melchez Someone’s got a sandy vajay today.
You’re by the beach, so….
Those big bad Twins are really giving the Yanks trouble.
Tell your mom thanks.
Anyone who has watched baseball in the last 5 years knew the Twins would wilt.
God forbid MLBTR ever make a positive comment about the Yankees, a team that despite losing Miguel Andujar, Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, Giancarlo Stanton, Luke Voit, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, and Dellin Betances for large chunks of the season this year, have won 103 games, and have found diamonds in the rough with Mike Tauchman, Mike Ford, Gio Urshela, and Cameron Maybin.
Right, looked like July Santa list and never stopped lol Boone sent whole team to visit Thanos during spring hypnotizing uh? haha Go Yanks!
Yankee fans chanting “Uber, Uber, Uber”. Tells you everything you need to know about these sewer dwelers.
Calling someone a “sewer dweler” is peak irony
Let me guess… ur a soft sensitive leftist.. grow some skin
You dreaming! Sanchez 1000% improved
Hopefully the new Giant Manager will find a way to consistantly beat San Diego, something Bochy was NEVER able to do during his entire reign in San Francisco !!
Both of Lincecum’s no hitters were against San Diego….
Realmuto, Grandal or Sanchez?
Realmuto, Grandall, Vasquez, alfaro, Contreras, then maybe Sanchez.
Alfaro isn’t over Sanchez.
As a catcher, absolutely.
Gary Sanchez: .7 dWAR, -2 DRS, 23% caught stealing percentage
Jorge Alfaro: 0.0 dWAR, -4 DRS, 33% caught stealing percentage
Neither are really that good. Alfaro has caught more players trying to steal, but Sanchez has really improved his blocking abilities behind the plate (so much so he has less passed balls, and a higher blocking runs saved total than Alfaro). Speaking that Sanchez is the superior batter so far by a fair margin (over a .100 difference in OPS, 95 OPS+ (Alfaro) compared to 119 OPS+ (Sanchez), I’d take Sanchez any day over Alfaro.
Hey Melch-only dopes like you perpetuate that for a team to win it has to have the absolute best (statistically speaking) players at every position.
So get off your high horse—along with your impotent friends like Geeson and accept the Yankees as a TEAM. This means that everyone isn’t the best in every facet. So take your analytics and stuff then down your little throat.
And leave us alone with your one sided rationalizations. Real baseball is played
on the field by humans not robots.
So humans recognize that even with improvement there will be a half a dozen catchers with better defensive peripherals.
However Melch, how many hit the prorated amount of home runs or RBI’s in comparison to Sanchez this year?
NONE.
Crickets chirping in place of loud
Mouths….
Hey, relax, Sanchez us a top 10 catcher. Not every Yankee has to be considered the greatest player. You guys have been reading too much MLBTR. There are other teams out there and they are decent.
dwellers., Uber, Uber
That’s exactly the point simple minded Melch. They don’t have to all be the best and most expensive players.
With your girls’ society sweeties,’including Geeson, you’ve been dissing Sanchez and criticizing Cash for resigning Gardy and CC. How did your proposed cutie Corbin, Harper and Machado do this year.
You can also use some spell check capabilities since your superiority complex combined with low IQ writes that “Sanchez us a top 10 catcher”.
You’re sleeping on Roberto Perez. Stellar defense and this year popped 25 home runs. (Yes I realize everybody hit a lot of home runs, but still).
Perez is great.
Link and respect to Hensley Muelens. Career -1.7WAR buy a major leaguer none the less. baseball-reference.com/players/m/meulehe01.shtml
(My teammate ‘89-91)
My favorite part is Muellens having 12 career homeruns, earning the nickname BamBam, becoming the giants hitting coach, then listening to the organization complain for YEARS about how few bombs the giants hit
For everybody knocking Sanchez can I ask their opinion on Mike Piazza ???
Hahahaha are you suggesting sanchez is a future HOF’er??
I always thought Muelens was being groomed to take over for Bochy
That was under Sabean / Evans. I’m okay with Zaidi making up his own mind.
The coach who was heir apparent for a long time was Ron Wotus. I expect he won’t get the job and will have to find employment outside the Giants’ organization for the first time in decades, but he’s at least getting an interview for the position.