The Yankees might need solved their shortstop downside with Oswald Peraza. In his restricted postseason appearances, the rookie has confirmed to be an above-average defensive shortstop. He’s now not the shortstop of the longer term, he’s the shortstop of now.
Never was that extra obvious than in Game 2 of the ALCS on Thursday at Minute Maid Park. In the primary inning, Peraza made a stunning defensive play to rob Jose Altuve of successful. In the seventh, he made a play to get Chas McCormick out and aided Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo with an inning-ending double play. Altuve hit a screamer to Torres, who fielded it from the bottom and flipped it to Peraza. He made an off-balance, spinning throw to Rizzo and the primary baseman made a improbable choose to finish the double play and preserve the Yankees inside hanging distance down only one run.
Defense must be prioritized with the Yankees down 0-2 to Houston within the sequence.
For the final two years — if not longer — we’ve heard in regards to the Yankees’ two stud shortstop prospects, Peraza and Anthony Volpe. The membership has been so excessive on them that they stayed away from making any offers for a center infielder in free company final winter, even supposing it was a traditionally good shortstop class. Instead, the Yankees traded for Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a cope with the Minnesota Twins that included third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Ben Rortvedt. This was a stop-gap measure, addressing the current with a watch towards the longer term.
Offensively, Kiner-Falefa was positive. Defensively, he appeared to develop a case of the yips in high-pressure conditions. Still, the Yankees most popular to play the 27-year-old over Peraza within the last month of the season for his expertise. Kiner-Falefa was additionally the popular shortstop within the ALDS towards the Guardians, however after failing to transform grounders into outs in Game 3 he was benched in favor of Peraza.
It proved to be the proper determination with tight scores in Games 4 and 5 and the margin for error is simply as skinny — if not thinner — towards the Astros. Manager Aaron Boone went again to Kiner-Falefa in Game 1 due to the matchup towards Verlander and mentioned he would proceed to go day-by-day with two relying on the pitching.
However, Peraza has but to get successful within the postseason. He went 0-for-3 on Thursday. The Yankees had an opportunity to get his bat prepared within the common season however they gave the begins to Kiner-Falefa. This determination will undoubtedly be rehashed at a later date, however for now, it’s clear that Peraza is the most suitable choice at shortstop.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com