Yankees warry of Chisholm’s fielding gaffes despite his late heroics

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In the New York Yankees’ 4-2 defeat to the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of their series, Jazz Chisholm Jr.‘s performance was a mix of highs and lows. While he provided a spark with a solo home run in the ninth inning, his defensive mistakes proved more costly in shaping the outcome.

Chisholm committed two errors, with the most significant coming in the pivotal fourth inning. After Tommy Pham reached second base with one out, Chisholm misplayed Alex Verdugo’s throw from left field on a Garrett Hampson single. His miscue allowed Pham to score and Hampson to advance to second, setting up another run when Hampson crossed the plate on a Maikel Garcia hit.

Chisholm acknowledged his mistake immediately afterward, admitting he should have cut off the throw, which might have helped limit the Royals’ damage to two runs rather than three.

“I thought about it right away,” he told after the game. “I don’t know if you guys saw me, I said, ‘My bad’ to [Alex] Verdugo right away. Cause that’s supposed to stop the inning right there. It [wouldn’t] have been three [runs] instead of two.” 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, himself a former third baseman, weighed in on Chisholm’s error. Boone explained that plays like this become second nature for more seasoned infielders. He emphasized that instinct is critical for players, particularly those adjusting to new positions, and that defensive awareness takes time to develop.

“That’s one of the things I worry about with some of our guys that are new to first base or new to third base,” the Yankees manager said about Chisholm’s defensive gaffes. “… Those are the little things that have to become instinctive and that’s kind of where the work in progress comes a little bit. But yeah, he’s going to be in that cut position.”

Chisholm’s fielding flubs a red line for Yankees

Boone added that Chisholm needed to be in the right spot to cut off the throw in that situation, highlighting the learning curve players often face when transitioning to unfamiliar defensive roles.

Despite Chisholm’s late offensive contribution, his defensive errors were more decisive in the Yankees’ loss. The situation underscores the challenges of adapting to new positions, particularly in the high-pressure environment of postseason baseball.

In the following inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. made another defensive error, though this one had less impact on the score. A wayward throw from third to first base allowed Yuli Gurriel to reach safely, and this misstep was officially recorded as an error, unlike his earlier mistake.

Ironically, the Yankees were bailed out of that situation by Jon Berti, another player adjusting to a new position. Berti, playing first base, pulled off an impressive unassisted double play by snagging M.J. Melendez’s line drive.

Throughout the regular season, Chisholm’s time at third base was marked by inconsistency. In 400 1/3 innings, he committed seven errors, four of which were throwing errors. However, advanced metrics paint a more nuanced picture. According to FanGraphs, Chisholm registered six outs above average, but his defensive runs saved stood at negative two.

While those numbers fall short of Gold Glove recognition, they were deemed acceptable for a player transitioning to a new position mid-season. Given Chisholm’s offensive contributions, the Yankees were willing to tolerate some growing pains defensively.

However, the stakes are much higher in the postseason. As the Yankees move deeper into October, Chisholm’s defense becomes just as critical as his offense. In the high-pressure environment of playoff baseball, every error can swing the momentum of a game.

This scenario underscores the challenges of positional changes, especially in crucial postseason moments. The Yankees are now relying on Chisholm not only for his bat but for steadier defense as well, highlighting the importance of balancing both elements in the intense atmosphere of playoff competition.

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