Why is Yankees’ Gary Sanchez starting Wild Card Series Game 2? Aaron Boone explains and defends his decision

One of the things that Yankees manager Aaron Boone brings to the table is his ability to talk up his players when they don’t deserve it.

For instance, Gary Sanchez is returning from a one-game benching to do the catching for the Yankees on Wednesday night when they try to sweep the Cleveland Indians in their best-of-three American League Wild Card Series.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Since Sanchez is in the lineup, he’s right where he deserves to be, too, batting ninth for the first time in his career after hitting .147 in the regular season and entering the postseason in another slump.

In his pre-game interview, Boone went on and on about how the Yankees’ analytics show that Sanchez has been swinging the bat for about a month like he did prior to 2020. The two-time All-Star hit .232 with 34 homers and 77 RBI in 106 games last year.

Also, Boone argued that Sanchez batting in the No. 9 hole is not a statement of what the organization thinks of Sanchez these days.

“I don’t think so because when we’re healthy and the length of our lineup is at its best, I feel like (our) 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (hitters) a lot of times are very interchangeable,” Boone said. “And with us with being obviously a little right-handed heavy, a lot of the decisions sometimes come down to how I’m going to, for example, tonight split up (switch-hitter Aaron) Hicks and (left-handed hitting Brett) Gardner.

“So I think it’s more a testament to the strength of our lineup and what we’re capable of.”

Most of that is a fair argument because the Yankees regulars are healthy after many of them missed time in the regular season due to injuries. They showed how lethal they can be in Tuesday night’s Game 1, a 12-3 blowout win over the Indians.

But Sanchez has not pulled his weight all year, and while he was unlucky at times late in the season, he also had more than a few bad at-bats mixed in.

No matter, Sanchez got the start in Game 2 after sitting out the series opener when ace Gerrit Cole worked with personal catcher Kyle Higashioka for the fifth start in a row.

“I know how capable (Sanchez) is, how talented he is,” Boone said. “And even though the results weren’t great for Gary necessarily down the stretch, I do feel like the last four-to-six weeks the at-bats have been considerably better. And I know the impact he can have with certainly one swing.”

Boone didn’t give much thought to stick with Higashioka to catch Game 2 even though starter Masahiro Tanaka ended his regular season with a bad outing (4 IP, 5 runs, 4 ER) while working with Sanchez.

“I was pretty convicted that I wanted to go with Gary,” Boone said. “I talked briefly with a couple of my coaches about it, but I was pretty set on wanting to go with Gary in the spot.”

There was a lot of evidence that seemingly could have led to Boone benching Sanchez again. Such as, in addition to Sanchez’s brutal season as the plate, he had a lot of struggles again receiving. No AL catcher had more errors (6) or passed balls (5) and his 26 percent rate throwing out baserunners was only league average even though his arm is one of the best.

Also, Sanchez never has been a good postseason player. Actually, he’s been a poor one with a .176 average over 27 games. Last year, he was 1-for-12 against the Twins in the ALDS, then 3-for-23 against Houston in the ALCS.

This season, Sanchez was a whiff machine striking out 64 times in 156 at-bats. As usual, he hit for power, but his 10 homers and 24 RBI came with a .253 on-base percentage and a 618 OPS. Also, his .147 average was the lowest in the majors for players with at least 90 at-bats.

Sanchez had just one small hot streak during the 60-game season, the stretch where he hit .296 with three homers and eight RBI in seven games from Sept. 11-18. But from there, Sanchez closed the season going 2-for-20 with seven strikeouts and three walks in his last seven games.

Aside from the results, Boone says that he was encouraged watching a lot of Sanchez’ September plate appearances.

What did Boone see that he liked?

“Quality contact,” he answered. “I wouldn’t even say the last few (at-bats). I’d say the last month. When we dig into the numbers the last month and what probable actual results would be, it’s a lot more in line with what he’s been his entire career.

“He’s had a handful of balls that have just missed going out to centerfield. His walk rate is ticked up a little bit. He’s not chasing as much. He’s a lot closer to the hitter when we see him at his best. I feel like over the last month the results haven’t quite followed yet.”

And that’s why Sanchez got the Game 2 start.

“Hopefully he can provide something down at the bottom of the lineup and help lead Masa have a really good start,” Boone said.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

———

©2020 NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J.

Visit NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J. at www.nj.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.