When he hit with two outs in the 10th inning, fans at Yankee Stadium chanted his name — “Volpe! Volpe!” — pleading for the Yankees’ slumping rookie shortstop to get a hit and tie the game while letting him know they still supported him.
But when Anthony Volpe struck out swinging on a 92-mph cutter on the outside corner — the second time he made the final out in losses to the Boston Red Sox this past weekend — fans on social media decided it was time to send the kid back to the minors for a reset.
HOW TO GET TICKETS FOR THE SUBWAY SERIES
And which camp is Bucky Bleeping Dent in?
“From what I’ve seen of him, I’ve watched quite a few games, I think his makeup has been fine,” Dent told the New York Post. “He’s going through a little bit of growing pains of playing in the big leagues, facing big-league pitching day in and day out, but I think he’ll grow into the position fine. I think he’ll be fine.”
There’s a but in there somewhere.
“I think he’s got a chance to be a really, really good player,” Dent said. “I just think he hits too many balls in the air.”
Dent, who owns the most famous swing ever by a Yankees shortstop, has noted what others have: a loopy swing with an uppercut that is vulnerable to pitches at the top of the strike zone. Fans on social media on Sunday night wondered why hitting coach Dillon Larson hasn’t been able to fix it. Many mocked Larson’s remark last week that Volpe was hitting “a professional .200.”
Dent attended the Yankees’ 3-2 loss in 10 innings on Sunday, but he didn’t get an extended look at Volpe, who was pulled from the starting lineup. Manager Aaron Boone figured Volpe — who is batting .186 with 79 strikeouts in 225 at-bats — needed time off.
The Yankees point to Volpe’s power production and 14 stolen bases (in 14 attempts) as signs that he’ll break through eventually.
“(Volpe) has still had productive at-bats,” Boone said. “He’s got nine homers. He’s gotten a lot of big…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply