Through seven games, the Yankees lead the American League with 11 steals and only trail the Brewers (15) in the big leagues.
Yes, the Yankees are running it back.
But the team they are running back — the post-trade-deadline version — is one that clearly can run.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked in the second inning and quickly stole second and third, and José Caballero then stole second base behind him, both coming around to score and setting an aggressive tone in what became an 8-2, home-opening victory over the Marlins on Friday.
“We’re a really athletic team,” said Cody Bellinger, who was brought back in part because of his athleticism, which he demonstrated again with a remarkable catch in the ninth inning. “We believe that we’re one of the best teams out there … and we want to be showcasing that.”
Against Miami catcher Liam Hicks, who has a poor defensive reputation, the Yankees took advantage and went 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts, two apiece from Chisholm and Caballero, while Aaron Judge swiped second in the eighth inning.
But the Yankees’ aggressiveness and desire to force the Marlins’ defense to make plays — some of which worked, some of which did not — shined through in other ways, too.
With two outs and a runner on third in the third inning, Caballero pushed a bunt down the first-base line, an attempt at a hit that backfired.
With two on base in the sixth inning, Ryan McMahon lofted a fly out to left on which Austin Wells, in a big surprise, tagged up from second base. The throw from Griffin Conine beat Wells, but the catcher proved nimble with a slide that avoided the tag. Wells then scored on a wild pitch.
In the eighth inning, Trent Grisham attempted to go from first to third on a Judge single to left and was thrown out because he lost contact with the base.
It is early, but these Yankees do not look like a team that simply waits for a home run.
“We have a handful of guys that can really push it in the running game,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So far, I think the guys are doing a good job of taking extra bases, too.
“I thought Grish going there, and he beats the throw — he just came off [the base] obviously on the slide — but really good job by them today of being smartly aggressive.”
Anthony Volpe (left shoulder surgery recovery), who began facing live pitching Wednesday, is set to head north “in the middle of the month,” Boone said, to begin a rehab assignment.
That could position the shortstop for a season debut in late April or early May.
Team USA hockey heroes Jack Hughes and Aerin Frankel threw out the ceremonial first pitches, after which “U-S-A” chants rang out from the crowd.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
