NEW YORK — The New York Yankees won Game 1 of the American League Division Series without the help of their main stars.
Both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton went 0-for-4, and Gerrit Cole was not sharp. But it was the team’s maligned players who carried the Yankees to victory Saturday night. Alex Verdugo’s clutch RBI single gave the Yankees a late lead, and Gleyber Torres hit a two-run home run. Clay Holmes recorded five outs and looked as good as he has all year.
It wasn’t the prettiest all-around performance from the Yankees, but a win is a win. With Game 2 scheduled for Monday night, here are a few off-day notes.
Giancarlo Stanton’s inability to run was costly in Game 1
Giancarlo Stanton was the 284th fastest player in MLB this season among 288 players with at least 100 competitive sprints, according to Statcast. Stanton’s inability to find an extra gear on the basepaths cost the Yankees two runs in Game 1.
In the bottom of the fourth, with two outs and Stanton on first base, Oswaldo Cabrera doubled into the right-center field gap. The ball got away from Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel, which should have allowed a normal baserunner to score, especially with the opportunity to run on contact. But Stanton was held at third base. Alex Verdugo then popped out to end the inning.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, with the score 5-5, Stanton hit a grounder to third baseman Maikel Garcia. Garcia made a diving stop, had time to gather himself and set his feet to retire Stanton at first base. Stanton’s sprint speed was clocked at 25.5 ft/s, which would have been his ninth-fastest speed in the regular season.
GIANCARLO STANTON FLYING DOWN THE BASELINE pic.twitter.com/ve4KRUgudc
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 6, 2024
Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked if it’s realistic to execute their plans on the bases with someone who’s running at “half speed.”
“He’s more than half,” Boone said. “It’s a controlled gait that he knows he has to get into. He’s burned himself when he tries to throttle back up or down. That’s when he knows he’s been cost. It is something you kind of have to live with. Whether you’ve seen it over the years with a particular player who is incredibly slow but still impactful, it’s just something we have to accept.”
Stanton injured his hamstring this summer while running the bases. He also hurt his hamstring last season by running harder than usual on a double hit to the wall.
The reality is that this is Stanton’s speed at this point in his career.
“He’s got to do what he’s got to do,” Boone said. “He’s trying to reach his top speed in the most fluid way he can.”
Stanton finished 0-for-4 with one walk in Game 1. If he’s not hitting home runs and slugging, his inability to run the bases becomes a detriment. — Chris Kirschner
Alex Verdugo redux
All Boone needed was one word to answer whether Verdugo would be back in left field after his tremendous Game 1 showing.
“Yes,” the manager said.
In the week leading up to the series, it had seemed like left field could be a fluid situation with starts going to rookie Jasson Domínguez and Verdugo. Even on Saturday, Boone said that he expected that Domínguez would play a major role for the team throughout the playoffs. And maybe that will happen.
But Verdugo proved Saturday that he deserved the Yankees’ confidence as he went 2-for-3 with a walk and the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning. He also made two strong defensive plays and adoring teammates mobbed him in the dugout.
On Saturday, Verdugo told reporters that Boone had actually told him several days ago that he would be starting in Game 1. Boone had kept that under wraps while talking to reporters all week. He had been booed during player introductions on Saturday by fans frustrated with his production at the plate in the realgar season (a career-low 83 OPS+) and tantalized by Domínguez’s upside.
“Mentally, man, I feel like I’m pretty real with myself, as in fans booing me, fans getting on me,” Verdugo said Saturday. “I understand it. I was booing myself, too. We ran through a course where I just kind of let it spiral out of control a little bit. For me, it was just really leaning on my guys in the clubhouse. They all got my back.” — Brendan Kuty
Carlos Rodón on deck
Carlos Rodón will start for the Yankees vs. Royals lefty Cole Ragans in Game 2 on Monday night. He spoke to reporters Sunday and provided a couple of interesting nuggets.
On controlling his emotions: Rodón said that he expects a wild atmosphere at Yankee Stadium, and that he wants to “harness that energy” into each pitch. Rodón has talked previously about not letting his emotions get the best of him on the mound, and how he feels he’s done a better job of that this year. But, he added, the fire fuels him. “That’s kind of who I am,” he said. “It’s a fine line — it could propel me to very high highs and super low lows. Because it can go both ways. It’s a double-edged sword. I’d like to stay on the right side of the line where we’re going high, we’re going up.”
A new diet? Rodón has played this season at a lower weight than he did in 2023. He said his wife, Amy, has helped keep his nutrition on track. “We had a lot of help to figure out what are the right things to put in your body,” he said. “All of us like eating ice cream. Trust me, I do, as you know. All sorts of sweets. But you’ve got to remember that food is fuel. It wasn’t just food. It was getting to work and putting the effort in in the weight room.” Rodón mentioned something new he’s added to his diet. “I don’t like beets that much,” he said. “But it depends on the day and if they’re made right, maybe with some feta cheese. I like that.” — Kuty
(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)
