Yankees’ Volpe Misses Easy Out, Drawing Laughter from Duran
NEW YORK — Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox couldn’t help but laugh while standing on second base after the New York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe gave him a free base runner during a tense 1-0 game in the ninth inning.
Ceddanne Rafaela hit a grounder to shortstop, a play that should have resulted in an easy out for the Yankees with closer David Bednar pitching. However, Volpe mishandled the situation. After fielding the ball, he attempted to throw to Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base to tag Duran, who initially sprinted for third before returning to his original base. By the time Chisholm received the throw, Duran was already safely on second, leading Yankees manager Aaron Boone to express his discontent with the play.
“It’s obviously not the right play,” Boone stated. “There was an opportunity to catch a guy off in scoring position, but it didn’t lead to a run anyway. He made a good play on the contact. Are we really going to scrutinize it? I get it wasn’t an out, but it was a heads-up (play).”
While Volpe later managed to throw Duran out at home plate during a failed play, critics pointed out that it was reckless not to secure the easier out first. Even Yankees legend Paul O’Neill expressed frustration over Volpe’s choice, highlighting the team’s need for better decision-making in tight games.
Volpe had a slim chance at getting Duran out at second base, but the risk outweighed the potential reward. The Yankees’ position in a divisional matchup made this a risky gamble. “If Duran doesn’t impact the throw, Jazz might still complete the play,” Boone explained. “The decision wasn’t ideal, but there was some awareness involved.”
Despite consistent support from the Yankees, Volpe has struggled significantly this season. With the third-worst wRC+ among qualified shortstops, he ranks poorly in both baserunning and defense. His .276 on-base percentage is one of the lowest in Major League Baseball, yet the Yankees treat him as unassailable.
Volpe faced loud boos during Friday’s game after striking out three times in the eighth inning, extending his slump to 1-for-25. Manager Boone was hesitant to pinch-hit for him, despite the unfavorable matchup against Garrett Whitlock. This continued faith in Volpe is puzzling, especially given his drop in performance and regression in nearly every aspect of his game as he approaches Year 3 in the league.
The Yankees do have José Caballero available, who has performed well since his acquisition, yet they remain committed to Volpe. They maintain that his defensive skills overshadow his current stats and emphasize his work ethic. However, with significant regression noted this season, concerns about Volpe’s future remain prevalent among observers, questioning the team’s decisions moving forward.
(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)
