Ellsbury ‘feels good’ in return to lineup
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Three plate appearances when he was scheduled for two represents progress for Jacoby Ellsbury.
It’s not likely going to keep him off the disabled list at the start of the season, but it was the high-priced center fielder’s first game since March 1 thanks to an oblique issue.
“It was definitely a productive day for me,’’ said Ellsbury, who drew a firstinning walk and went hitless in two at-bats during the early part of a 2-1 Yankees win over the Twins at Hammond Stadium on Thursday. “My body feels in really good shape, explosive and fast. I couldn’t ask [more] from a body standpoint. It feels good.’’
According to manager Aaron Boone, Ellsbury won’t play against the Red Sox on Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field and will return for the home game Saturday against the Blue Jays. ➤ Don’t expect Boone to pair a starter with backup catcher Austin Romine like former manager Joe Girardi often did with Jordan Montgomery last year.
“I don’t like it, we will try and stay away from that,’’ Boone said before Romine caught Montgomery in Thursday’s win.
Boone said instead of using that system, he would attempt to pick spots where Gary Sanchez will get a day off or be used as the DH regardless of who is pitching.
“I think you pigeonhole a guy and I would like to stay away from that. I want to feel good about our catcher-pitcher relationship no matter if we have Ro back there or Gary back there. I am confident we will have that with all our starters and our catchers.’’ Montgomery had a 3.68 ERA in 20 starts working with Romine a year ago and Sonny Gray a 1.45 ERA throwing to Romine in three games. Masahiro
Tanaka had Romine behind the plate for 10 games and posted a 3.15 ERA.
Those numbers didn’t do much for Boone, who wisely understands how important Sanchez’s lethal bat, easily the best allaround Yankees hitter, means to the lineup.
“The bottom line is we have an elite catcher we are not going to sit out and get into that personal stuff too much,’’ Boone said. “It’s not even on my board right now.’’
The pitcher who fills the 13th spot on Boone’s staff shouldn’t lock himself into a New York area lease because it doesn’t sound like the same name will inhabit that spot for extended stretches.
“It could be fluid. It depends on how things are going,’’ Boone said of how he’ll handle the spot, which could be eliminated if the Yankees believe a threeman bench is too short. “It will be something that we are constantly weighing.’’
Among the candidates are Domingo German, Jonathan Holder, Luis Cessa and possibly Wade LeBlanc, the only lefty in the group. LeBlanc would need to be put on the 40man roster.
The Yankees will work out Wednesday at Rogers Center a day ahead of Opening Day. Nothing is planned for Tuesday since the club will arrive in Toronto early that morning after playing the Braves in Atlanta on Monday night.