Don’t Judge rookie on slump, says Joe
If Baby Bomber Aaron Judge can heat up like his fellow teammate Gary Sanchez, a Yankee playoff run might not seem all that crazy an idea. Judge entered Friday’s game with 15 whiffs in 36 at-bats, but whacked a leadoff double in the seventh off Orioles reliever Mike Wright and later scored on a Ronald Torreyes RBI double. Judge went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs on the night.
“In those strikeouts, (Judge’s) at-bats have been pretty good,” said Girardi before Friday’s game. “I don’t see him just flailing away. He has a much bigger strike zone than everybody else. He doesn’t know any of these pitchers.”
TORR-ED HITTER
Ronald Torreyes has quickly turned himself into an impact player. And Girardi said Friday that the 23-year-old Venezuelan is definitely the “hot hand” that the Bombers are riding, although Sanchez would beg to differ.
Torreyes was 9-for-16 on the Yankees’ just-finished road trip through Los Angeles and Seattle, including four runs, four doubles, a homer and three RBI in five games.
“You look at what he did on this road trip, he’s played himself into playing more. We’ve always loved the way he went about his business and how prepared he is,” said Girardi. “We’re riding a hot hand is what we’re doing.”
Torreyes was 2-for-4 with two runs and RBI double in Friday’s win.
MCCANN OUT FRIDAY
Catcher/DH Brian McCann was away from the team because Girardi said McCann’s grandmother died. “He will not be here (Friday) and we’re not sure about (Saturday),” said Girardi.
Chase Headley was the DH Friday night, but Girardi said if McCann was with the club, he probably would have kept Headley in the lineup because “he’s had a lot of success off of (Yovani) Gallardo,” the O’s starter.
NO JOY OF SIX
Girardi said he did not anticipate turning to a six-man rotation once September arrives and the roster expands to 40.
“If we get in a long stretch and we figure they could use an extra day, it’s something that obviously I would consider,” said Girardi... The Yankees manager added that righthander Bryan Mitchell, who had surgery on his left toe in April, could pitch for the team in September. “I think it’s a distinct possibility,” said Girardi.