Video summary
Aaron Boone praised Max Fried's exceptional performance in the Yankees' 8-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins, highlighting his ability to adapt his breaking ball repertoire by effectively mixing sweepers with curveballs. The manager noted that Fried was on the attack throughout the night, striking out six batters without issuing any walks or allowing deep counts, which demonstrated remarkable pitch efficiency for a seven-inning outing. Boone expressed particular satisfaction in seeing Fried maintain this level of sharpness while still being mindful of his pitch count, suggesting that building upon this momentum could be beneficial as the team approaches the postseason.
The conversation also touched on the unique challenge of determining whether a ball hit into the stands was fair or foul, specifically referencing an instance where a runner circled all the bases before returning to the dugout for high-fives. Boone explained that while umpire calls can sometimes be difficult due to the need to locate the ball quickly, the Yankees' perspective provided a clear angle that confirmed the play was indeed foul. This discussion underscored the importance of accurate officiating in close situations and how the team's vantage point helped clarify the outcome immediately after the play occurred.
Spencer Strider's continued success against left-handed pitchers was another focal point of the interview, with Boone emphasizing that Strider has truly dialed in his approach rather than just benefiting from small sample sizes or luck. Although there were early concerns about easing Strider into facing tough lefties given the different roster composition at the start of the season, the pitcher has since "kicked the door in" by consistently controlling at-bats and delivering strong results against formidable opponents. This progression validates the team's patience and strategic adjustments, proving that Strider can thrive even when facing pitchers known for their effectiveness against left-handed hitters.
Finally, Aaron Boone discussed the recent surge in home runs from Ellinger over the past week, attributing this success to the batter finding his rhythm after a brief slump prior to an injury. Boone felt that Ellinger had been in a good spot for several weeks, successfully swinging at pitches within the strike zone and making solid contact. The manager credited this period of consistency for helping Ellinger return to where he needs to be, effectively overcoming the earlier struggles and turning his performance around with timely power hitting that has contributed significantly to the team's offensive output recently.
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Aaron, what did you think of the way
that Max Freed bounced back after his
last one?
>> Yeah, I thought he threw really well.
Um, I thought had a little everything
going. I thought did a good job with the
shape of his breaking balls, you know,
you know, kind of changing up from
sweeper to curve ball. Um, I thought he
flashed a good change up most of the
night and and was on the attack. No, no
walks. Um, no deep counts. I think what
he six strikeouts. Um, so I thought I
thought he was really sharp. Um and
[snorts] and really good to see, you
know, still on a little bit of a pitch
count there. Uh to be able to finish
seven seven innings off as pitch
efficient as he uh did was really good
to see.
>> How encouraged are you to see that at
this point in time of the season knowing
how close you are to that postseason?
>> Yeah, no doubt. Um you know, [sighs]
like [snorts] where he's at after that,
you know, and and hopefully, you know,
maybe build him a little more in the
next one and um hopefully more of the
same. But loved how he attacked the
strike zone and controlled counts and
and really had a presence with most of
his stuff tonight.
>> Yes.
>> Immediately.
>> Yes.
>> How often do you see a guy go around all
the bases and then go through the dugout
and do high fives and have to come back
and play?
>> Um,
I don't know about that. I knew right
away and I I you know because it's I I
think sometimes what's hard is the base
umpires. It's the hardest call because
they got to turn around and find the
ball. That's why Tom Payne came in from
third. He knew right away because he had
a good angle on it. So yeah, we knew we
had a good angle on it too and we knew
it was foul.
>> Spencer keeps producing against some
tough lefties. What is he showing you
left on left?
>> It's been awesome. You know, I I know
the numbers are great. I don't I'm not
even sure what they are now. Um but I
was, you know, even talking to Brad the
dugout. like you know he's done it a lot
off of some really good lefties and not
just you know sometimes you can stumble
into some numbers and especially when
it's smaller sample I feel like I feel
like he's having great at bats against
him and controlling at bats against him
and you know that's a that's a bomb off
a guy that's really tough left on left
tonight so he continues to do that. Um,
I think he I think he really dials in
his approach against some of these
lefties and it's and it's, you know,
ending in some really good results.
>> Erin, did you anticipate that that would
be the case because it seemed like early
on and obviously the roster looked a
little different at the time, but early
on you were kind of easing them in
against lefties.
>> Yeah. Um,
yeah, I was easing him in and uh he's
kind of he's kind of kicked that door
in. So, it's good to see um cuz you know
again you know he's he's faced a lot of
tough lefties too and and really I feel
like been in control of the at bats
which has been good to see.
>> Ellinger has a handful of homers over
the last week. Just what are you seen
from him that's clicking?
>> Yeah, I feel like he's been in a good
spot now for a few weeks. Um you know,
someone asked me couple weeks it might
have been you. I I I just feel like his
bad pass's been in a really good place.
In the zone a long time. [snorts] Um
swinging at the right pitches. Um but I
feel like he's been in a
on [clears throat] a good run here now
for, you know, three, four weeks now. Um
after going through, you know,
especially before he got hurt, you know,
hit a little skid there where he was
scuffling for a little bit and he's come
out and and really found it and and
right where he needs to be right now.