The mind is willing, but does Gary Sanchez’s body allow him to stay on the pitch during season 60 of the MLB match, which is scheduled to begin July 23 in Washington?
When spring training disappeared on March 12 because of the corona virus, Sanchez overcame back problems but was far from the Yankees clubhouse due to the flu. Shortly after the close, Sanchez returned to the Dominican Republic and continued to try to lower the squatting position to turn the low pitch into a boundary line, according to the instructor who had arrested Tanner Swanson.
Now, with a 6-foot-2, 230-pound body fresh from not having to endure wear for three months capturing five and six days a week, Sanchez said he felt good and the 27-year-old promised when Manager Aaron Boone put his name on the list of players who will be available.
“As far as the number of games I will play, I’m not sure. I can tell you that whenever my name is on the line, I will be ready to play, “Sanchez said during the Zoom session after the Yankees practiced Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.” They will make a decision and see how many games I can catch behind, but if my name is in the line, I will be ready to play. “
Gary SanchezN.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg
Given the lower body injuries of the past two years Sanchez landed on the list of injuries twice each season and restricted him to 89 matches in 2018 and 106 in 2019, endurance has been a problem.
Maybe a 60-game schedule will help Sanchez stay outside of IL and on the field to work with an early rotation that is elite, dominant bullpen and a part of, if healthy, a muscle-bound line.
In a small sample taken from the capture of Gerrit Cole in an intrasquad game late Tuesday, Boone was impressed with Sanchez’s defensive work during the close. Sanchez said he recorded the training and sent it to Swanson.
“To go there [Tuesday night and catch five] “innings with Gerrit, I think they did a very good job,” said Boone, who made Sanchez capture two innings on Monday night. “I feel they are in a good yard [Tuesday]. … I think Gary did a very good job. I’m sure the bats will be there. I was encouraged about where he was now. “
Sanchez, the All-Star twice, got dinged for his defense, which increased last year, but despite the strength of the right hand was real, the last two seasons Sanchez fought .211 with 0.776 OPS to negate some of the 52 homers and 130 RBI in 195 matches.
Given that the opener is 14 days away, there is little time for players and pitchers to be sharp after a long layoff dominated by COVID-19 and labor problems.
“I think two weeks will be enough for me to get ready and catch nine innings,” Sanchez said. “[Tuesday] I caught five and [Wednesday] I feel very, very good. I hope next time I catch five more. Depending on how the manager wants to extend my innings, follow the plan. ‘
With veteran Austin Romine a Tiger reserve through a free agent, the Yankees will go with Kyle Higashioka as Sanchez’s reserve. Higashioka, 30, has done well but has only played 56 major league matches, where he has a hitting average of .164. He has no Romine experience and could be another reason Sanchez needs to stay on the field more than he has in the last two seasons.
