Yankees’ baserunning woes deepen with Harrison Bader’s mistake

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ATLANTA — The Yankees’ troubles choking them as they struggle to get a playoff berth. Harrison Bader‘s baserunning is the latest issue they confront with. While their offense is falling apart in search of big hits, stealing runs is also becoming a difficult task thanks to their baserunning woes.

The most recent instance occurred on Monday night with Harrison Bader as the culprit. During Monday’s game where the Yankees were down by six runs against the Braves, Harrison Bader managed to single with two outs in the sixth inning, facing Braves’ left-hander Max Fried.

However, Harrison Bader’s actions backfired when he was caught off guard and picked off at first base by Fried, who is renowned for possessing an exceptional pickoff technique. This move effectively deprived DJ LeMahieu of a chance to wield the bat in that crucial situation at Truist Park.

Boone finds fault with Harrison Bader

Manager Aaron Boone expressed his thoughts over Harrison Bader’s baserunning mistake following the 11-3 loss to the Braves stating that such a situation should not occur. He pointed out that when facing the kind of deficit they were dealing with, it’s important to note that the player in question was putting in significant effort on the field. Nonetheless, being caught in that particular situation is something that obviously should be avoided.

Having signaled that he had no plans of making a move during the pitch, Harrison Bader ended up leaning too extensively off the base. In response, the Yankees initiated a challenge, but after thoroughly reviewing the replay, the initial call made by the officials was upheld.

Harrison Bader acknowledged that no matter the proximity or the effectiveness of the pitcher’s balk move, being picked off in that situation was unacceptable. He assumed complete accountability for the incident, mentioning that he had discussed it privately with the team. Harrison Bader indicated a willingness to adjust his positioning, even if it meant standing farther from the base.

“Regardless of how close I may have been, regardless of how good his balk move was, you just can’t get picked off there,” Bader said. “I take full responsibility for that. Had a talk about it underneath [in the tunnel]. If it means standing 2 feet off the base, then so be it. A little too aggressive out there. Regardless of the situation, you can’t get picked off there. That was on me.” 

He admitted to having been overly aggressive on the field and stressed that regardless of the circumstances, being picked off in that manner was a mistake and he was accountable for it.

When questioned about his perception of whether Fried had committed a balk, Harrison Bader responded by saying he was uncertain. The Yankees’ central fielder explained that just like judgments on balls, strikes, or balks, the final decision rested with the umpires and what they deemed appropriate.

This season, the Yankees have experienced 12 instances of being picked off, positioning them as the fifth-highest count among all major league teams.

Yankees bullpen needs a boost

During Monday’s game, Ian Hamilton (2 and two-thirds innings, no runs) and Albert Abreu (three innings, three runs) were brought in to clean up the situation left by Clarke Schmidt, effectively preserving the remainder of the bullpen.

However, there’s a chance that the Yankees might need to take action by promoting a pitcher prior to Tuesday’s game to reinforce the bullpen, especially with Luis Severino, who’s been facing difficulties, set to start.

“We’ll see,” the manager said. 

One potential maneuver could involve sending Jhony Brito down to Triple-A in order to free up a spot on the roster.

Considering that the Yankees have two off days approaching, they could potentially skip Brito’s turn in the rotation, especially with the potential return of Carlos Rodon next week.

LeMahieu’s return didn;t bring much cheer to the Yankees

On Monday, LeMahieu made his way back to the starting lineup following a four-game absence due to tightness in his right calf. During the game, he managed to secure a 1-for-3 record at bat, albeit with one strikeout.

Boone expressed optimism about the situation, stating that they might have overcome the issue and are ready to proceed. He mentioned the likelihood of being more vigilant regarding his condition moving forward.

On Monday at Truist Park, Anthony Rizzo engaged in light running in the outfield, marking his most substantial physical activity since being placed on the injured list due to post-concussion syndrome on August 3rd.

The experienced first baseman is anticipated to engage in another workout on Tuesday prior to traveling back to New York for further assessments. Subsequently, he is set to rejoin the Yankees in The Bronx on Friday.

Yankees must learn from Braves

One of the Braves’ durable players saw his consecutive appearance streak come to an end on Monday, as Ozzie Albies was sidelined for the first time this season due to a hamstring issue.

However, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Ronald Acuna Jr. were all included in the starting lineup for the Braves’ 118th game, maintaining a perfect attendance record with their 118th consecutive start.

Boone commented on the situation, noting the remarkable nature of the achievement. He observed that when taking a closer look, all those players were currently in their twenties and at the peak of their playing careers. He mentioned that while it’s conceivable given their age and form, in the context of modern baseball, it remains an impressive feat.

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