DUNEDIN, Florida. – Rougned Odor’s stay with the Yankees has started promising.
After achieving success in Sunday’s win over the Rays, Odor led the Yankees ’offense in Monday’s 3-1 win over the Blue Jays with a single in the fifth.
“All of his bats were pretty competitive,” Boone said. “I liked how he moved on the field and made a nice double play. He will play and get opportunities. It’s a day-to-day thing. “
On Monday, that meant Boone was going with the same field setup, with Odor at second and DJ LeMahieu at first base.
And the Smell, which shifted to the left, delivered three of the most affected balls of the night, including the Yankees ’first hit against Robbie Ray.
While Jay Bruce looked shaky on the plate and at first base, Boone said the veteran would return “in there.”
Meanwhile, they want to get to know Odor up close, who was acquired in a trade after being designated for the Rangers for the assignment before opening day. And Boone also praised the “little tip and hunger he plays with. It was great to see him. “
Boone noted that Odor is young and has a good “first step” at second base.
“I feel like the bat quality has been there,” Boone said. “He has had very affected balls and he likes the energy he brings to the pitch every day and the hunger he plays with. It has handled well at second base. He has won some opportunities. “
Boone said conditions were “pretty good” at TD Ballpark, the Single-A stadium where the Blue Jays play their home games because of Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions.
“It didn’t look like a spring workout to me,” Boone said of the Toronto spring training site. “It seemed like a real game to me.”
The lower decks of the stadium made it difficult for both batters and players at dusk, Boone said.
Gerrit Cole said he was “okay.”
Jameson Taillon said he “paid attention” to the Blue Jays series against the Angels to see if playing at a Single-A stadium would have any impact on the game.
“It may seem cheesy, but I think you can put two major league teams in a municipal park and we’ll find a way to compete and make it work,” the right-hander said. “It’s a division match and the Blue Jays are a young and hungry team. … We have to come out ready to compete, no matter where we are playing. “
Taillon was encouraged by his first outing and said he was particularly pleased with how he played his fast ball and that he has focused on being more aggressive with his curved ball as he felt he improved during his first outing. .
Clarke Schmidt received a shot of cortisone on Monday, Boone said, in an attempt to deal with the persistent discomfort the right-hander is feeling after being turned off with a tense elbow since February.
“They have the feeling that we hope this solves the problem to get over the final hump,” Boone said. “Hopefully, if it works in the next two days, it should start launching sometime later this week or next week.”
Before Aaron Hicks decided to leave Monday’s starting lineup due to the murder of a black man in Minneapolis by a police officer, the center-back had to finish sixth, which would have marked the first time he was not third in the order. . Boone said he was going with Giancarlo Stanton second and Aaron Judge third against leftist Ray.
“It’s been a combination I’ve considered against the left-wing pitch since spring,” Boone said of Stanton and Judge hitting second and third, respectively. “They’re two great players and, given the weight we have on the right, he’s trying to maximize that against a tough left-handed pitcher.”
Boone said Hicks would continue to get third against the right-wing starters.
“I still like the way it is divided [the lineup]Boone said. “I’m still pretty sure it’s going to be a very good year.”
Clint Frazier also returned to training after playing two games in a row.