BOSTON — After stealing three bases in Friday’s 4-1 win over the Crimson Sox, the Yankees entered Saturday’s recreation with a serious league-leading 51 swipes since July 30.
That’s the day Jazz Chisholm Jr. began stealing once more after a nagging groin harm stored him from operating a lot for 39 video games. The Yankees acquired José Caballero from the Rays the very subsequent day.
Chisholm leads all gamers with 20 baggage since July 30. Caballero, who leads the majors total with 46 stolen bases regardless of not being an on a regular basis participant for many of the season, has 13 steals over that stretch, which ranks third.
With Chisholm stealing two bases on Friday — he has 30 total after getting caught on a 3rd try — and Caballero including one other that led to a run, there was some pleasant postgame debate over who is quicker.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” Chisholm mentioned when requested if he thinks he’s faster than Caballero, who was additionally a minor league teammate within the Diamondbacks’ system.
Caballero’s dash velocity (28.2 ft/second) is quicker than Chisholm’s (27.7), however Aaron Boone mentioned that he would decide the latter in a race on Saturday. Nevertheless, Aaron Choose added, “I don’t think so,” when instructed of Chisholm’s confidence in a head-to-head matchup.
Based mostly on dash velocity, Jasson Domínguez is the quickest Yankee at 28.6 ft/second. The outfielder, who has been not often utilized in current weeks, entered Saturday with 21 stolen bases.
Choose, who has 11 stolen bases himself, went on to say that the Yankees’ velocity demons assist others get higher pitches to hit. Chisholm proudly made the identical level.
“I feel like pitchers throw more fastballs when fast runners are on base,” he mentioned. “And I really feel like, for me, that may be the simplest pitch to hit within the recreation now. Guys are throwing 90-mph sliders and 93-mph changeups.
“To give my teammates more fastballs means I can help them out a little bit.”
Chisholm has been a twin risk, as he entered Saturday’s recreation simply two homers shy of the 30-30 membership. Solely two Yankees are in that group: Bobby Bonds (32 HR, 30 SB in 1975) and Alfonso Soriano (39 HR, 41 SB in 2002 and 38 HR, 35 SB in 2003).
“It would mean a lot if we win the division with it,” Chisholm mentioned of the feat with the Yankees three video games behind Toronto within the American League East. “It would feel like I helped the team a lot and helped us win. But if we don’t win the division with it, it don’t mean as much as I would want it to mean in my heart.”
That Chisholm is on the precipice of a 30-30 season is outstanding, because the aforementioned stretch the place he wasn’t stealing bases got here shortly after he missed a month with an indirect harm.
With a month out of the lineup and greater than two with out stealing, it’s comprehensible that Chisholm thinks he is usually a 40-40 participant down the street.
“He probably feels like he could be more than that,” Boone joked, a nod to Chisholm’s ever-present perception in himself.
Caballero carries an identical sense of self-assurance, particularly on the basepaths.
On Friday, the shortstop — beginning rather than the aching and scuffling Anthony Volpe — hit a ground-rule double earlier than stealing third. Then he raced residence on a fielder’s alternative, which led to a throwing error and helped the Yankees pad their lead with two runs within the seventh inning.
“He wreaks havoc on the bases,” Boone mentioned. “He’s a little daring and makes you hold your breath sometimes, but he’s got a real good feel. He’s a really confident player.”
CASHMAN HYPES BELLINGER
On Friday, Brian Cashman declined to touch upon Cody Bellinger’s long-term future, however he did name the outfielder (and occasional first baseman) “a hell of a player on both sides of the ball.”
“He’s been a positive addition,” the final supervisor mentioned when requested in regards to the former MVP. “He really has, so I’m glad we were able to run into him this offseason when we did. He’s really helped lengthen our lineup and improve our defense in a big way.”
Bellinger, who awoke with a .276/.333/.498 slash line, 24 doubles, 5 triples, 28 homers, 91 RBI and 11 stolen bases on Saturday, has a $25 million participant choice for 2026. The expectation is that he’ll decide out and turn into a free agent, however a reunion wouldn’t come as a shock, as he has loved his first season with the Yankees whereas becoming in seamlessly on and off the sphere.
ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
Friday’s win secured the Yankees’ thirty third consecutive season, the second-longest stretch in main league historical past. The Yankees personal the longest streak as nicely, as they have been above .500 for 39 straight seasons from 1926-1964.
No different franchise has made it previous 18 straight successful seasons.
“It says we’re playing meaningful baseball year in and year out, and especially this time of year,” Boone mentioned. “Obviously, our goal every year is to get to the postseason and go win a World Series, but the fact that there’s been that level of consistency, it’s a pretty remarkable feat. It’s a testament to a lot of people that have been a part of this organization.”
In fact, Yankees followers need an entire lot greater than a file above .500. With the staff championship-less since 2009, Boone is nicely conscious.
He’s additionally on the identical web page.
“Don’t get it twisted,” he continued. “As much as we’re proud of [the streak], I don’t want the headline to be ‘Boone’s excited about the winning season.’ I get it. We’re in it to win it all.”
