Yankees’ disciplinary drama: Boone punishes Torres, Judge hopes lesson learned
- August 3, 2024
- 8:10 am
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Follow UsIn a notable moment during the Yankees’ 8-5 loss to the Blue Jays, Gleyber Torres appeared to be pulled from the game for lack of hustle. The incident took place in the second inning when the second baseman did not run hard out of the batter’s box on a line drive that hit the left-field fence, resulting in a single instead of a potential double.
The ramifications of this lapse became clear three batters later when Torres was thrown out attempting to score on Anthony Volpe‘s double. He would have easily scored on the play if he had reached second base initially.
After three innings, Torres was replaced by Oswaldo Cabrera. Cameras captured a conversation between manager Aaron Boone and Gleyber in the clubhouse before the substitution, suggesting possible disciplinary action.
YES, announcer Michael Kay speculated that Boone likely didn’t address the issue with Torres until he returned to the dugout after being thrown out at home plate.
Former Yankees manager and current YES analyst Joe Girardi provided insight from a managerial perspective, acknowledging the difficulty of benching players but stressing its necessity to communicate expectations. Girardi noted that verbal warnings are typically given first, but more decisive action may be needed if the message doesn’t get through. However, he also cautioned that without full information, it was impossible to rule out an injury as the reason for Torres’ removal.
This incident underscores the importance of consistent effort and the potential consequences of a perceived lack of hustle in professional baseball.
Gleyber Torres has faced criticism for occasional lapses in hustle, a reputation that was highlighted during the Subway Series against the Mets on June 26. In the eighth inning of that game, Torres failed to run out a softly hit ground ball, missing a close play at first base.
After the 8-5 loss to the Blue Jays, Torres attributed his lack of effort to lingering groin tightness from a previous injury. This explanation led to a private meeting with manager Aaron Boone, resulting in Torres being benched for subsequent games. Boone cited both performance issues and disciplinary reasons for the decision.
The 27-year-old infielder, who is nearing free agency, has struggled this season. His offensive numbers are lackluster, with a slash line of .231/.306/.357, an OPS of .663, 10 home runs, and 42 RBIs. Defensively, Torres leads all second basemen with 14 errors.
These persistent issues, both in performance and effort, have cast a shadow over Torres’ season and his potential future with the Yankees.
Gleyber Torres admitted his mistake in not running hard out of the batter’s box and agreed with manager Aaron Boone’s decision to bench him for most of Friday night’s 8-5 loss to the Blue Jays in The Bronx. Torres accepted the consequences as part of being a professional athlete.
The incident took place in the second inning when Torres’ line drive hit the left-field fence, resulting in only a single. He was later thrown out at home plate on Anthony Volpe’s double, a run he likely would have scored had he initially reached second base.
Will Torres learn from it? Judge hopeful of its impact
Torres explained that he momentarily believed he had hit a home run but acknowledged his error and expressed remorse to the fans and his teammates.
Boone removed Torres after three innings, despite initially keeping him in the game. The manager explained that the delay was to give Oswaldo Cabrera sufficient time to prepare to enter the game.
When questioned about his decision, Boone did not provide specific details about his conversation with Torres or the reasoning behind the benching. He expressed hope that the incident would serve as a valuable lesson for everyone involved.
Boone confirmed that the second baseman would be in the starting lineup for Saturday’s game.
Captain Aaron Judge acknowledged that he spoke with Gleyber Torres but chose not to reveal the details of their conversation. He praised his teammate’s character, noting that despite being pulled from the game, Torres stayed engaged, supporting his teammates from the dugout. Judge highlighted that the second baseman’s conduct in such a difficult situation demonstrated his true nature.
“If I know Gleyber, something like this ain’t going to happen again,” the Yankees captain said. “He takes pride in his work and his craft. He’s definitely not happy about what happened. I bet you the rest of his career, something like this ain’t going to happen again.”
When asked about the consistency of disciplinary actions for similar infractions among players, manager Boone became defensive. He stressed the importance of context and individual circumstances, explaining that outsiders often lack the full picture of what players might be dealing with. Boone also noted that perceptions of a player’s effort level are frequently overemphasized.
Judge viewed the incident as a clear message to the entire team regarding the consequences of underperformance.
Torres has faced criticism for a perceived lack of hustle before. Notably, during the Subway Series against the Mets on June 26, he failed to run out a softly hit ground ball. The player later attributed this to lingering groin tightness from a previous injury, which led to a private meeting with Boone and resulted in Torres being benched for subsequent games. Boone cited both performance issues and disciplinary reasons for this decision.
The 27-year-old infielder, nearing free agency, has struggled this season. His offensive numbers are underwhelming, with a slash line of .233/.308/.357, an OPS of .667, 10 home runs, and 42 RBIs. Defensively, Torres leads all second basemen with 14 errors.
These ongoing issues, both in performance and perceived effort, have raised questions about Torres’ future with the team and his overall development as a player. The recent benching adds another chapter to what has been a challenging season for the once-promising infielder.
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Follow Us- Categories: aaron boone, aaron judge, Gleyber Torres, Yankees vs. Blue Jays
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