8 Yankees things to know | Detailing Miguel Andujar's 3rd base issues; Why Gleyber Torres is slumping

Posted August 09, 2018 at 06:05 AM | Updated August 09, 2018 at 06:31 AM

File photos

Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

CHICAGO — Life is good again for the Yankees, who won 7-3 on Wednesday night.

All it took to fix things up was a short visit to the Windy City to play the White Sox.

Just like that, their season-long streak of five straight losses has led into a three-game winning streak that has them feeling giddy about themselves again heading into an 11-games-in-11-days homestand that begins Thursday night against the Texas Rangers.

These wins didn’t do much for their fading division title hopes, as they picked up just a half-game in the AL East standings after arriving to Chicago 9 ½ games behind the first-place Red Sox following a four-game sweep at Fenway Park last weekend.

But this sweep of the ChiSox did keep them in good in the Wild Card standings, which realistically should be their focus considering we’re into the second week of August and the Yankees have just 49 games to catch the still-sizzling Red Sox, who beat up on the Blue Jays the last two nights.

Meantime, here are a few need-to-know things going on with the Yankees:

MLB: Game One-New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers

Rick Osentoski | USA TODAY Sports

Key to Andujar improving 'D'

Miguel Andujar was back at third base on Wednesday night after two games in a row at designated hitter, which immediately followed his victory-costing throwing error with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday night in Boston.

Once again, there was inconsistency his first game back in the field.

Andujar bobbled the first grounder hit his way, then he recovered only enough to get a forceout a second base instead of an inning-ending double play. Later, he made a lightning-quick read a scorching liner to his right, dove and came up with a great grab to rob Jose Abreu of a double.

And that, in a nutshell, is what Andujar often has been in the field during a rookie season in which his consistent offensive production has made him a strong contender to pick up AL Rookie of the Year votes.

Throughout Andujar’s ups and downs in the field – he has 10 errors and a .948 fielding percentage that is second lowest among AL starting third basemen – he’s been praised by his manager for making tremendous defensive strides since the start of spring training.

But Aaron Boone acknowledged this week that Andujar’s play at third is just “acceptable” as opposed to solid, so we asked the skipper before Wednesday’s game to list areas that need improving.

Here is Boone’s response:

“I think he’s done a pretty good job on the routine play. I think he’s been fairly accurate throwing the ball when he has been able to make his routine play. I think the biggest thing with Miggy is continuing in his pre-pitch, just getting him into a consistent, good position to where he’s in a ready position as the ball’s entering the hitting zone … (get him) in an optimal place to where he’s reacting properly more often than not.

“I think that’s the biggest thing, and that’s something that comes with reps and with work, which he puts in.

“And I really do believe over time he’s going to be a quality third baseman.”

Interesting, but Andujar isn’t new to third base. Since becoming a pro in 2012, he’s played 541 games at third in the minors, 96 games at third for the Yankees and no games at any other position in the majors or minors.

So, why is it taking so long for Andujar to get this ready-position thing down?

Again, Boone provided an interesting response:

“It’s something that I think that you kind of tinker with all the time potentially throughout your career.

“I’ll just say from my standpoint as a (former major league) third baseman, I switched my pre-pitch footwork in 2000 by literally a coach on another team showing me something that resembled what (eight-time Gold Glove third baseman) Scott Rolen did in his pre-pitch, and it changed me. It helped me so much from a first-step quickness, range, reading the ball more properly.

“So those are things that we’re constantly working with all of our guys on to try and get that as efficient as we can.”

Let's block ads! (Why?)