A dozen Yanks get a boost from their families
Nothing has been normal about the 2020 baseball season but when the Yankees started Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Indians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Tuesday evening with a 12-3 blowout, the people watching them live for the first time this year were very familiar to some.
Aaron Boone said about 12 players had family members traveling with them. Having spent time quarantining with the players in a downtown Manhattan hotel last week the family members were allowed to enter Progressive Field and watch their first game of 2020.
“Obviously it is a big thing to have your family physically be here and watch the game. I think they play a very big role in supporting you and I think that goes for all players, including myself,’’ said Masahiro Tanaka, who is scheduled to start Game 2 on Wednesday night with his family watching. “To be here and root means a lot. It is a big thing.’’
Luke Voit echoed Tanaka’s thoughts.
“My wife is here with me and she is super excited. First one this season, so it will be good for some of the families to see us play,’’ Voit said.
Boone was hopeful having wives on the road will have a positive impact for a team that went 11-18 outside of Yankee Stadium where they were 22-9.
“I hope so, having some family on the trip for guys is something that obviously provides them a little bit of support and obviously a little bit of an escape when we are finished for the night and a distraction for a couple of hours before going to bed,’’ said Boone, whose family is not with him. “Hopefully it is something that provides a little comfort for our guys.’’
If the Yankees and Indians play a deciding Game 3 on Thursday night Aaron Boone said J.A. Happ is the Yankees’ likely starter.
“Looking like it will be Happ. We are a long ways away and a lot can happen between now and then,’’ Boone said prior to Game 1 Tuesday evening. “Not necessarily committing to anything but if everything stays on plan it will probably be J.A. Happ.’’
Happ, 37, has pitched in 14 postseason games (four starts) and is 1-3 with a 5.04 ERA. He was 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in nine starts this season.
The other choice would be neophyte right-hander Deivi Garcia, who made his major league debut this year and went 3-2 with a 4.98 ERA in six starts. The 21-year-old is part of the Yankees’ 13-man pitching roster for the series against the Indians.
Jordan Montgomery is part of the Yankees’ 13man pitching staff for the series and could find himself pitching in relief.
Should the Yankees advance to the best-of-five ALDS, with no day off the left-hander could make a start.
“He could end up in a lot of roles. Obviously someone who can give us length. ... You get into an extra-innings situation or a situation you needed a big inning from somebody or got into a situation where you needed to get a lot of length he can provide that obviously,’’ Boone said of Montgomery, who started 10 games this season and went 2-3 with a 5.11 ERA.. “So, I think his role is very fluid. We will see how it unfolds.’’
The Yankees chose lefty-swinging Mike Ford over Miguel Andujar for a spot on the 28-man wildcard series roster.
Both players had miserable regular seasons, but Ford’s left-handed bat helped his cause, Boone said before the game.
Boone said they considered Andujar — who wound up in the 12-player pool that the Yankees can add from if they advance — as well as others before opting to go with 13 pitchers, as well as three catchers.
The decision to put Ford on the roster came down to potential pinch-hit opportunities.
“We were looking at some pinch-hit slots,’’ Boone said. “Where could you envision that happening most? Plus, it’s an advantage with our team being very righthanded and gives us another lefty [bat] available late if you pinch run and needed to hit [for someone].”