Anthony Volpe‘s season has been a tale of inconsistency, marked by brief flashes of brilliance followed by extended slumps at the plate. After a strong start, his performance dipped in June, with only a brief rebound before another downturn.
Despite these struggles, Volpe’s defensive skills have kept him valuable to the New York Yankees. He has contributed to his 3.1 WAR before September, even as his offensive game remains inconsistent.
Cashman backs Anthony Volpe amid slump
When asked by Joel Sherman of the New York Post about the possibility of demoting Anthony Volpe, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman dismissed the idea. “We haven’t talked about it… I feel like by far we believe in him and yes, his development continues at the major league level,” Cashman said.
Anthony Volpe’s defensive prowess ranks him among the top five shortstops in Fielding Run Value and Outs Above Average. His defense has kept him an integral part of the team, building on his Gold Glove-winning rookie season.
However, his offensive struggles are a concern. Anthony Volpe has seen a drop in power without a corresponding increase in walk rate or on-base percentage. His rising groundball rate has further compounded his issues at the plate.
The Yankees face the challenge of helping Anthony Volpe make necessary adjustments, possibly altering his bat path or approach. Whether these changes can be effectively implemented during the season remains to be seen.
Cashman acknowledged the pressures of playing in New York. “I think this is a hard city to play in, and I have no doubts about his ability to play in it. I have no doubt about his ability to help us win in it,” Cashman said, expressing confidence in Anthony Volpe’s resilience.
As the Yankees push toward the postseason, they lack the offensive depth of teams like the Orioles, Dodgers, or Phillies. While they have two of the game’s top hitters in Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, Anthony Volpe’s ability to emerge from his slump could be crucial to their success.
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Volpe’s offense exposed both the symptom and the disease. The disease is that whatever the Yankees coaching method is, doesn’t generally work.