Jazz Chisholm Jr. literally could not face questions regarding Aaron Boone’s decision to keep him out of the lineup for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on Tuesday.
When asked about spending most of the Yankees’ 3-1 loss to the Red Sox on the bench, the second baseman conducted the majority of his postgame interview with his back turned to recorders and cameras as he aimlessly rummaged through the hangers and shirts in his locker. With his body language indicating clear frustration, Chisholm originally said “no comment” when approached.
Ultimately, he admitted that he was caught off guard when he found out he wouldn’t be starting via a Monday night text message from Boone.
“I mean, I guess,” Chisholm said when asked if he was surprised. “Yeah.”
Chisholm, fresh off the fourth 30-30 season in Yankees history, added that he had “a little conversation, not much” with Boone about the choice.
“Just move forward after it,” Chisholm continued in a mild manner.
The lefty-swinging Chisholm did enter Tuesday’s game in the eighth inning, taking over at second for Amed Rosario. By the time he came in, the Yankees were already down, 2-1, as Luke Weaver had allowed two runs in the seventh.
“It’s always tough watching when your team is down,” Chisholm said.
Boone decided to start the righty-swinging Rosario against Garrett Crochet, as the backup entered the game 6-for-9 with a home run vs. Boston’s dominant ace. However, Rosario went 0-for-3 on Tuesday, while Crochet allowed one earned run — an Anthony Volpe homer — walked none and struck out 11 over 7.2 innings and 117 pitches.
Chisholm, one of the best offensive second basemen in baseball this season after logging a 126 wRC+ and an .813 OPS, got one at-bat: he flew out to right against the left-handed Aroldis Chapman with the bases loaded for the second out of the ninth inning.
Chisholm posted a respectable .733 OPS against lefties this year, and Rosario can also play third. But the latter is a subpar defender, and with the groundball-reliant Max Fried pitching for the Yankees, Boone wanted Rosario at second and José Caballero, another right-handed hitter, at third in place of the left-handed Ryan McMahon.
With Chisholm taking a hit-by-pitch to his left forearm in the Yankees’ penultimate game of the regular season, Boone said the decision to sit the speedster on Tuesday “pretty much” came down to matchups. He also said Chisholm is fine physically.
Asked if he agreed with Boone’s decision — the manager also went with the right-handed Paul Goldschmidt over hot-hitting lefty Ben Rice at first base — Chisholm replied, “I agree that we could do whatever we could do to win. You feel me?”
Chisholm, well regarded in the Yankees’ clubhouse after previously rubbing veteran teammates in Miami the wrong way, offered a similar response when asked how he initially took the news that he wouldn’t start.
With the Yankees now facing elimination in the best-of-three Wild Card Series, the expectation is that their left-handed hitters, including Chisholm, will start against the right-handed Brayan Bello on Wednesday. That lineup configuration must perform better than the one the Yankees trotted out on Tuesday, or the club will be looking at an early postseason exit.
“I trust all my teammates and I believe in them,” Chisholm said, “so that’s what makes me believe that we can come back and win. And we’re playing at home.”
Originally Published:
