Aaron Boone on Cam Schlittler: "He's been the best pitcher in the league."
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Aaron Boone expressed strong satisfaction with Cam Schlittler's performance, noting that the pitcher made excellent swing decisions and held his own against opposing hitters for most of the night. While acknowledging that Schlittler missed a couple of sliders earlier in the game before being hit by fastballs, Boone emphasized that the pitcher looked very judgy and was generally on pitch. The manager highlighted that although there is always time needed to get timing and rhythm back after an injury, Schlittler's ability to make good choices at the plate led to what Boone considered a very good night for him overall.
The conversation also touched upon the immense value Schlittler has brought to the team this season, particularly given the injuries other pitchers have suffered. Boone described Cam as simply the best pitcher in the league, praising his consistency and ability to start at the top of the rotation throughout the entire year. This reliability is seen as massive for the organization's success. Additionally, the discussion briefly covered Aaron Judge's return, with Boone sharing that seeing Judge complete his baseball activities, including at-bats and simulated outfield work, felt great after a long period of patience and hard work to get him back in position to play extended innings.
Regarding Judge's specific workload for the game, Boone explained that he did not follow a strict pregame script but rather played by ear, aiming for five to seven innings of defense or at-bats depending on how the game moved. Although he would have loved to get Judge more at-bats, the manager felt comfortable sending him back after his last plate appearance once the game's momentum shifted. When asked about Judge's availability for future games, Boone indicated that both playing tomorrow or taking an off day are possibilities, with the final decision depending on how Judge recovers over the coming days leading up to the two-day series against Boston.
Finally, Boone reflected on the significance of the team's winning streak and the pride associated with it, acknowledging that while reaching this point in 2023 required a fight, maintaining such standards is not as easy as people sometimes think. He noted that while winning seasons are a good look at what the organization has achieved over decades, the team is ultimately chasing bigger goals. The segment concluded with praise for Remis's home run, which Boone viewed as a significant hit that showcased the hitter's dangerous capabilities against left-handed pitching, reinforcing the excitement surrounding his performance and potential impact on the game.
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thought I thought was getting himself
into good positions. I thought made good
swing decisions. Um just missed a couple
of sliders in that at bat where before
they uh beat him with the fast ball
there. Um I I thought he I thought he
looked looked very like judgy. Um you
know, obviously there'll be some time
getting getting the timing and rhythm
and everything, but I thought he was on
on pitches tonight for the most part. um
you know, just missed that one to right
center uh and then got frozen on a 3-2
count where I felt like he's for the
most part there making good swinging
decisions. So, I thought overall a good
night for him.
>> Do Do you wake up wondering how he's
going to respond or in your mind he's
he's
>> I mean, yeah, but confident he'll be
good to go. You know, he was not real
pleased with me for taking him out.
Peter,
>> um, on Cam as well, could you just kind
of describe what he's meant to you guys
this season and a year obviously when
some pitchers have been hurt and just
his consistency?
>> Yeah. I mean, he's been the best pitcher
in the league. I mean, you know, when
you have that, you know, going all year
at the top of your rotation, I mean,
that's that's massive and that's what
he's been.
>> And then with Jazz, the injury happened
on a slide to the base. Yeah. Thanks.
Tom
>> Erin, what was the feeling like this
afternoon when you finally could write
Judge's name in the lineup again?
>> Um,
it was great. Uh, you know, honestly, I
was here yesterday with them. We were
here for a few hours, you know, and, you
know, he did all his baseball stuff and,
you know, ton of at bats and then
simulated outfield work and and then was
watching, you know, grinding on video,
you know. So, um, you know, I felt great
about it cuz I know how hard he's worked
to get back. You know, how patient he
had to be there for a while too to get
back. And, um, you know, I just know how
how much he's done kind of the last
really couple few weeks to put himself
in position to go out there and play
extended. So, now it's just about just
continuing getting reps um, under his
belt. But, it was uh, it was awesome.
Joel and Ron.
>> Uh, two things, Aaron. Uh, did you have
a pregame prescription like six innings
of defense or three at bats today or you
were you playing it by ear in some way?
>> Is
>> Yes. Um, in my head I was five to seven.
I was kind of like, you know, the game
was moving. Um, so I probably, you know,
went maybe an inning
on the longer side but after his last at
bat kind of thing. But had he not hit
say in the sixth with how the game was
moving, I probably would have sent him
back out there for the seventh. Um,
so not a not a script. No, I was just
going off of I I would have loved to
have gotten him a few at bats, which we
did. Um, and you know, to get through
six innings and, you know,
because the game was moving, that was
easy.
>> Uh, and the other thing is, do you know,
will he play tomorrow or is it an off
day and play Thursday? And
>> yeah, we'll see. I'm I'll get with him
and and the trainers and see see how we
want to do that. I would say both those
scenarios are in play,
>> right?
>> How long do you figure until he's every
day? Is it like a week, 10 days, two
weeks?
>> Yeah, I don't know. Um it just we'll
kind of listen and watch and you know,
we got two day games Saturday, Sunday.
You got the day game after the night
game Saturday. So, um
I'm just we're just going to kind of
listen to him and how he's recovering
and and kind of circle up on it and
we'll see.
>> And although the standards here are much
higher, is there any pride or
satisfaction in the streak of winning
seasons?
>> Yeah, I think so. I mean,
um
yeah, I mean that I think there's a lot
to be said for that. I don't know how
many years it is now. um you know it's
it's not as easy I think as sometimes
people think. You know we in 23 it was a
fight to get to that you know point. So
certainly not what we're out for or you
know looking to do but I think it's um
you know I think it's a good look at you
know what this organization has been now
for for decades. Um and so I'm happy it
we got there again. Um, but yeah,
obviously we've we've got bigger things
we're chasing.
>> Susan,
>> how big was Remis' home run for both the
game and for him?
>> Yeah, I mean, he you look going back to
the Boston series when we started facing
lefties, you know, he's that's who he
is. I mean, he is he's a very dangerous
hitter. Controls the zone against them.
You know, I go back to the Boston series
where he was on base. felt like
I don't know all weekend and then you
know we had the the Demmer's game where
I thought he had really good at bats
against Demmer's where he was holding us
down. Um, so, um, great, excited for him
and and and a big hit and and the
difference kind of in this ball game,
but that's that's what he's capable