Bombers irked by schedule
BALTIMORE — The weather isn't doing the Yankees any favors. Neither is ESPN. The Bombers are now slated to play on the Worldwide Leader’s Sunday Night Baseball on July 8 at 8 p.m. in Toronto. Afterward, they’ll have to fly to Baltimore and play a single-admission doubleheader on July 9, with the first game starting at 4:05 p.m.
Suffice to say the organization isn’t thrilled with the predicament – especially given the doubleheader was announced before the ESPN game.
“We’re doing the best we can to (work through it) – that’s obviously not a good situation,” Aaron Boone, a former commentator on SNB, said Saturday. “Hopefully there’s something that can be done that maybe changes that situation.
“Anytime you have the potential of a night game traveling into a doubleheader, the first thing I worry about is player safety and the product on the field. Hopefully those things go into the decision-making process.”
The Bombers are already playing two doubleheaders in June because of rainouts.
They will play one in Detroit on Monday and one in Washington on June 18 – the first game of that twinbill is the resumption of a suspended game, which is tied 3-3, and entering the bottom of the sixth inning.
RO RAKING
Backup catcher Austin Romine has really stepped it up at the plate. He has a 10-game hitting streak and is hitting .483 in that stretch.
Aaron Boone and his staff challenged Romine to get better with his hitting – and he has.
“I just felt like the talent was there, simple as that,” Boone said. “I know the value of having a quality backup catcher, not only what it means because we have another good player that’s impacting our club on the days he's in there, but the better he's playing, the more days he actually can be in there, that’s more days that we can pick our spots with Gary (Sanchez) to give him a day or give him a DH day.
“I feel like all those things can add up to a more productive player in Gary’s case throughout the season, keeping him strong and keeping him fresh. Catcher is obviously such a demanding position and because Gary is so important to our team offensively as well, I think it’s really important that we protect him and preserve him and give him the rest that keeps him sharp and fresh throughout the season.”
Sanchez (calf cramps, slump) was back in the lineup on Saturday and went 0-for-5 after a 2-for-22 homestand. But Boone isn’t concerned. “I don’t worry about him. He’s born to hit so he’ll hit. He’s one of the last people I worry about hitting-wise. I know over time he’s going to rake,” Boone said.
OF NOTE
Miguel Andujar (collision) was also back in the lineup after getting Friday off. He homered and doubled . ... Gleyber Torres was named AL Rookie of the Month for May. ... The Indians signed Oliver Perez, who was released by the Yankees on Friday . ... Adam Warren (back) threw a bullpen on Friday and is on track to be activated in the next couple days .... Jordan Montgomery (elbow) threw on flat ground again Saturday and is progressing well.