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NEW YORK – Aaron Judge called Thursday night’s 9-7 win “a good answer back’’ against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After dropping two games to Arizona and striking out a combined 30 times, the Yankees got a little pre-game pep talk from the injured Giancarlo Stanton, according to Judge.
“Big G said a couple words…this is our home turf, don’t get swept. And we kind of took it to heart,’’ said Judge, whose latest home run came in a four-run first inning.
Here’s a few things we learned from the Yankees’ season-opening 4-2 homestand:
After smashing a franchise-record nine homers Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Yanks’ quintet of “torpedo’’ bat swingers started an MLB-wide frenzy.
But the Yanks’ captain, in the non-torpedo camp, sensed a bit of distortion.
“Scoring all those runs, people are talking about bats, talking about this and that,’’ said Judge. “But you can’t get caught up in distraction.’’
Of course, with three more blasts Thursday – including Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s fourth and Trent Grisham’s first of 2025 – the Yankees have 22 homers, the most through the season’s first six games in MLB history.
That’s a good opening, following the one-and-done Juan Soto Era, though Arizona starters Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen splashed some cold water on that fire.
Conscious of his slow start to 2024, Judge altered his late spring training routine – regularly playing in exhibition games as Opening Day neared, as opposed to every other day.
Judge didn’t reach five homers and 15 RBI until Game 28 last year, before firing toward his second AL MVP season.
Well, he’s at the 5-15 mark after Game 6 this year, after going 3-for-5 Thursday with a double, homer and four RBI.
“Last year he hit 58 (homers) and had a bad first month,’’ said Chisholm Jr. “Imagine what he’s about to do. I’m just trying to keep up.’’
Thursday marked the 999th career game for No. 999, and he became the third fastest Yankee (in games) to reach 500 extra-base hits, behind Joe DiMaggio (853) and Lou Gehrig (874).
“I’ll look at it when I’m an old man, coming back for Old-Timer’s Day,’’ said Judge. Until then, there’s “a lot of work to be done.’’
After catcher Austin Wells’ debut as a leadoff hitter Opening Day, Boone used the equally unconventional Paul Goldschmidt atop the order four times.
Goldschmidt was rested from Thursday’s lineup and Boone moved Ben Rice to the leadoff spot with good results – 1-for-3, double, two walks.
Boone sees the leadoff spot as a “fluid’’ area “depending on who we’re facing and what our nine guys are that day. Feel a lot of guys can handle that, Rice included.’’
Boone has made a habit of subbing out young left fielder Jasson Dominguez in the latter stages of games, with a lead.
In those instances, Trent Grisham has entered in center field, with Cody Bellinger moving from center to left. That wasn’t the case Thursday, with Judge serving as DH and Grisham starting in center, with Bellinger in right.
Though he’s looked more comfortable lately, replacing Dominguez defensively is the norm for now.
“I think it’s an important part of the process, making sure Jasson continues to develop in the best possible way,’’ Boone said earlier this week of his method to start the season.
Carlos Carrasco had a good initial start Thursday, yielding three runs in 5.1 innings. But the veteran right-hander might be a placeholder until Clarke Schmidt returns.
Schmidt is set for a minor league rehab start Saturday for Class AA Somerset, and he’s due to have one more after that before slotting into the Yanks’ rotation by April 16.
But Warren made an impressive, five-inning season debut Monday, with a confident presence and effective use of his curveball and changeup – a hopeful sign after the rookie’s rough 2024 big-league cameo.
Mostly, it was a continuation of Warren’s solid exhibition season.
Corbin Carroll’s two-run homer was the only hit Monday against Warren, who came back to strike out Carroll with a runner in scoring position to end the fifth.
In a rotation compromised by the loss of Gerrit Cole for the year (elbow surgery) and Luis Gil (lat strain) out until July, this is Warren's time to show his worth.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What we learned about Yankees' first homestand of 2025 season
Continue reading...
After dropping two games to Arizona and striking out a combined 30 times, the Yankees got a little pre-game pep talk from the injured Giancarlo Stanton, according to Judge.
“Big G said a couple words…this is our home turf, don’t get swept. And we kind of took it to heart,’’ said Judge, whose latest home run came in a four-run first inning.
Here’s a few things we learned from the Yankees’ season-opening 4-2 homestand:
Beyond the torpedoes
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After smashing a franchise-record nine homers Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Yanks’ quintet of “torpedo’’ bat swingers started an MLB-wide frenzy.
But the Yanks’ captain, in the non-torpedo camp, sensed a bit of distortion.
“Scoring all those runs, people are talking about bats, talking about this and that,’’ said Judge. “But you can’t get caught up in distraction.’’
Of course, with three more blasts Thursday – including Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s fourth and Trent Grisham’s first of 2025 – the Yankees have 22 homers, the most through the season’s first six games in MLB history.
That’s a good opening, following the one-and-done Juan Soto Era, though Arizona starters Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen splashed some cold water on that fire.
Aaron Judge off to MVP start
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Conscious of his slow start to 2024, Judge altered his late spring training routine – regularly playing in exhibition games as Opening Day neared, as opposed to every other day.
Judge didn’t reach five homers and 15 RBI until Game 28 last year, before firing toward his second AL MVP season.
Well, he’s at the 5-15 mark after Game 6 this year, after going 3-for-5 Thursday with a double, homer and four RBI.
“Last year he hit 58 (homers) and had a bad first month,’’ said Chisholm Jr. “Imagine what he’s about to do. I’m just trying to keep up.’’
Thursday marked the 999th career game for No. 999, and he became the third fastest Yankee (in games) to reach 500 extra-base hits, behind Joe DiMaggio (853) and Lou Gehrig (874).
“I’ll look at it when I’m an old man, coming back for Old-Timer’s Day,’’ said Judge. Until then, there’s “a lot of work to be done.’’
The fluid leadoff spot
You must be registered for see images attach
After catcher Austin Wells’ debut as a leadoff hitter Opening Day, Boone used the equally unconventional Paul Goldschmidt atop the order four times.
Goldschmidt was rested from Thursday’s lineup and Boone moved Ben Rice to the leadoff spot with good results – 1-for-3, double, two walks.
Boone sees the leadoff spot as a “fluid’’ area “depending on who we’re facing and what our nine guys are that day. Feel a lot of guys can handle that, Rice included.’’
Subbing out Jasson Dominguez
You must be registered for see images attach
Boone has made a habit of subbing out young left fielder Jasson Dominguez in the latter stages of games, with a lead.
In those instances, Trent Grisham has entered in center field, with Cody Bellinger moving from center to left. That wasn’t the case Thursday, with Judge serving as DH and Grisham starting in center, with Bellinger in right.
Though he’s looked more comfortable lately, replacing Dominguez defensively is the norm for now.
“I think it’s an important part of the process, making sure Jasson continues to develop in the best possible way,’’ Boone said earlier this week of his method to start the season.
Will Warren shows promise in Yankees' rotation
Carlos Carrasco had a good initial start Thursday, yielding three runs in 5.1 innings. But the veteran right-hander might be a placeholder until Clarke Schmidt returns.
Schmidt is set for a minor league rehab start Saturday for Class AA Somerset, and he’s due to have one more after that before slotting into the Yanks’ rotation by April 16.
But Warren made an impressive, five-inning season debut Monday, with a confident presence and effective use of his curveball and changeup – a hopeful sign after the rookie’s rough 2024 big-league cameo.
Mostly, it was a continuation of Warren’s solid exhibition season.
Corbin Carroll’s two-run homer was the only hit Monday against Warren, who came back to strike out Carroll with a runner in scoring position to end the fifth.
In a rotation compromised by the loss of Gerrit Cole for the year (elbow surgery) and Luis Gil (lat strain) out until July, this is Warren's time to show his worth.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What we learned about Yankees' first homestand of 2025 season
Continue reading...
