Video summary
Aaron Boone addressed the team's recent struggles, specifically focusing on pitcher Garrett Cole's difficulty in keeping the ball in the park during his second consecutive start. Boone explained that while Cole possessed decent stuff and command, he failed to locate his pitches in critical spots, allowing hitters to make hard contact rather than generating swings and misses. The manager noted that opponents fouled off many pitches and capitalized on the lack of precision, turning potential outs into hits. Despite these challenges, Boone expressed confidence that Cole has enough time to correct his execution issues and perform better in upcoming games, emphasizing that this was a minor setback for a pitcher who has generally been effective all season.
The discussion then shifted to bullpen management and offensive performance, where Boone defended the decision to use Tim Hill over Yairo Yarborough late in the game. He explained that Yarborough had recently thrown a high pitch count and needed rest, making Hill the more efficient choice to handle the situation. Regarding the offense's inability to capitalize against pitcher Brandon Thornton, Boone praised Thornton's ability to mix his fastball with a slider and cutter effectively, particularly against right-handed hitters. Although the Yankees managed some decent swings, Thornton's command of the inside part of the plate prevented extra-base hits, turning potential power opportunities into fly balls or weak contact. Boone acknowledged that facing such a well-executed pitching staff made it an uphill battle for the lineup.
Finally, the conversation covered the broader context of the season's volatility, addressing concerns about Garrett Cole's arm health and Tim Hill's inconsistent performance against left-handed batters. Boone clarified that Cole's stuff remains sharp post-Tommy John surgery and that his lower whiff rate is partly due to staying deep in the strike zone rather than a lack of velocity or movement. Similarly, he noted that Hill has made mechanical adjustments recently and feels he is back on track after a mid-season slump, though occasional rough outings are part of the reality of playing in this league. Boone also touched on rookie Brandon Lombard, noting that while his stats have been poor lately due to fouling off pitches instead of making contact, these fluctuations are normal for a young player thrust into the major leagues against elite competition.
Read the full video transcript
Aaron, for the second straight start,
Garrett Cole struggled to keep the ball
in the ballpark. Why do you think that
was?
>> Yeah, I mean, look, I I think this was a
little different than San Diego where
San Diego ends up pitching really well
after a few um you know, change up
didn't get to where probably wanted.
Didn't have the fade on it and and
Lindor's able to ride it out. I thought
not a terrible pitch to Ten after some
secondary. He gets to an up and in
heater that he's able to ride out of
there. Uh the bench homer looked like a
slider middle middle, but you know, some
of the hard contact looked like the
strike throwing was there, the stuff
looked okay, but just not getting at the
places he needed to get to. And and and
they made him pay for it today. You
know, they they really, you know, they
didn't miss. Um and and that was that
was a little bit of it, too. You know,
they were fouling pitches off and then
getting the balls and and there just
wasn't much swing and miss, I think,
because he wasn't getting it to some
spots. understanding it's just two
starts and it is Garrett Cole, but do
you think he has enough time to get it
right?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Yeah. Expect it to be right next time.
>> You look at that
uh you decided to go with the stood at
bat late. You decided to go with Hill
there instead of Yarborough. What did
you like about that?
>> Well, Yarbs threw 30 something pitches
the other day, so we were already kind
of stretching them. So wanted Timmy for
that, you know, fourpocket, you know,
especially when you're chasing. So, um,
just trying to be effic more as
efficient as we can there when you're
when you're chasing. Um, so yeah, it was
just a
>> yards kind of overextended
>> usage thing. A and as far as the offense
is concerned, why do you think they
struggled?
Well, I [clears throat] thought Thornton
did a really nice job with his fast ball
fast slider cutter combo. Like he was
able to land his slider enough to have a
secondary presence. He obviously got a
lead there and and the strike throwing
was really good. Um I thought he had a
good presence with his foram at the top
of the zone. He controlled the inside
part of the plate well to our
right-handed hitters. So, there were a
couple swings I felt like we got off
decent swings, but he was in there
enough and just off the barrel enough to
turn them into fly balls and not, you
know, slug or extra base hits. Um,
thought he threw the ball really well.
Um, and then, you know, kind of uphill
battle there a little bit, you [snorts]
know.
>> Yeah.
>> Brendan,
>> do you think Garrett's arm is getting
tired? No,
>> it's not even coming off of uh Tommy
John after this.
>> No, I think I think his stuff's in a
good place. I think it's just um you
know being you know that sharpness
um where you're you know strike throwing
he's been so good and the command's been
so good really for him all year for the
most part. You know just that next layer
of command of getting it to to his spots
and he'll be fine.
>> Gary, you mentioned his stuff being good
but his whiff rate has been down. I
think he just had three today. What do
you make of that and is that a concern?
>> Um, I think it's, you know, partly
product of being in the strike zone as
much as he is. Um, you know, I think
when he's executing that that highest
level, he there will be that swing and
miss in there because he's got the I
feel like the stuff is there. The the
curveball, you know, the slider's been a
little bit of a work in progress for him
kind of throughout. you know, um, you
know, the change up today wasn't a great
pitch for it, but he's had he's had a
presence with that pitch, especially
against left-handed hitters, I feel
like, much of the year. So, you know,
it's just that last layer of execution,
and that's a fine line between, you
know, getting hit a little bit and like,
let's He's having a great year. Like, he
got roughed up obviously today. Um, but
you know, that's just that fine line
between that last layer of execution and
you got a hot team in here that's
swinging the bats well and and hit them
around a little bit.
>> Randy and Zack,
>> Tim Hills kind of had a roller coaster
season. Really good extended start there
and then some struggles and got back
again and now he's had a couple rough
outings against left-handed hitters,
too. What are you seeing from Tim?
>> Um, yeah, I a couple lately. you know,
today's in a kind of lower, you know,
leverage spot. I do feel like over the
last month, he's throwing the ball well
again. Made some mechanical adjustments
um with with his delivery and w with his
slot that I feel like got him back on
track. And I I feel like he's in line
with that. Like, you know,
Bob a homer where out last year, you
know, he's I I thought making a lot of
pitches to him and then just got one up.
Um, and then the walk to to uh Euing,
which is that's the one that you kind of
kick yourself on a little bit, but I
feel like right now and over the last
several weeks, for the most part, he's
in a good place throwing the ball. I
feel like it's crisp again, whereas
there was that stretch in the middle of
the season where he probably went four
or six weeks where it was a little bit
of a struggle for him.
>> Zack,
w with Lombard, I think he's three for
27 this month. What What do you What are
you seeing in his at bats? Obviously, a
rookie being thrust into this is tough,
but
>> uh I feel like having competitive at
bats, a little bit of swing and miss on
some or some foul balls on some pitches
that he probably gets to handle. That's
like, man, that's where you got to make
your money on. You know, you foul those
off. That's where you turn in your just
off a tick. Um, you know, I feel like
there's he's not chasing a bunch, you
know, at a walk today. Um, but yeah, I
mean, that's I mean, that's part of the
throws of the season. you're going to
have, you know, stretches where, you
know, you had a big grand slam a few
days ago and, you know, you're going to
have stretches where you you wear it a
little bit for a few days, but I don't
feel like he's too far off with that.
But it's a product of just in this
league especially and as good as these
guys are, you got to when you get a
pitch to handle, [snorts] you know, you
need to not put a good swing on it. You
need to you need to stick it. And you
know that's that's probably where you
miss here for a few