The New York Yankees‘ game this Sunday had a surprising absence, as Anthony Volpe, who has been the target of much criticism for some time, did not start in the matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Instead, José Caballero stepped in to take the position, which had been dominated by Volpe for a long time.
A definitive decision or just a breather for Anthony Volpe?
This marks the first time Anthony Volpe will not play as the shortstop for the Yankees after 46 consecutive games, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, who reported this before the game.
There’s no doubt that the player has been one of the most criticized this season due to his serious defensive errors, which rank him among the worst in MLB in terms of total errors.
Currently, he is the second shortstop with the most errors (16), trailing only Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds (17), a grim statistic that the two have been alternating throughout the season.
Aaron Boone has been one of Volpe‘s biggest defenders regarding his defense, even during the Yankees‘ worst moments (not that they’ve fully emerged from their slump). This move serves only to give both the manager and the player a breather.
Boone has consistently highlighted Anthony Volpe‘s talent in what has been a very poor season for the shortstop. His first appearance as a Yankees starter in MLB came in 2023, when he became the first Yankees rookie (and the second rookie shortstop in history) to win the Gold Glove.
Back then, his offensive numbers were lackluster, with a .283 on-base percentage, the worst in the league, but the Yankees valued his defense enough to keep him in the lineup.
At the recent trade deadline, the Yankees acquired José Caballero from the Tampa Bay Rays, sending a cryptic message that suggests Volpe may not be untouchable at shortstop.
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It remains to be seen how Aaron Boone will manage Anthony Volpe moving forward and whether José Caballero is the answer to the defensive struggles at this critical position that cannot be overlooked in baseball.
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