Video summary
Aaron Boone discusses the Yankees' momentum following their fifth consecutive victory, highlighting the significance of early scoring in relieving pressure from the pitching staff. He notes that while getting runs in the first or second inning has been challenging recently, doing so allows pitchers like Cam Schlichter to perform more effectively. In this specific game, Schlichter faced a tough lineup from the Blue Jays but managed to pitch six strong innings while surrendering only one run. Boone acknowledges that Schlichter struggled slightly with consistency and walked more batters than usual, yet he finished well in the fifth and sixth innings when needed most. The manager emphasizes that despite the difficulties, Schlichter's ability to make big pitches when backed into a corner demonstrates his quality as a pitcher.
The conversation then shifts to Spencer Jones, who has been delivering consistent performances over the last two nights. Boone explains that even during a brief slump where Jones did not get many hits, he never felt overmatched and made necessary adjustments against opposing pitchers. The manager praises Jones for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different pitchers and adapting his approach accordingly. This adaptability, combined with the valuable experience he is gaining daily, has allowed him to string together good results. Boone sees a lot more potential in Jones as he continues to learn and prove himself in the big leagues, particularly noting his strong play in the outfield and on the bases.
Boone also reflects on the contributions of relievers Ryan Helsley and Paul Blackburn, describing them as rocks for the team night after night. He highlights how Helsley successfully transitioned into his role last year and elevated his game this season, while Blackburn has enjoyed a successful transition to relief pitching with his stuff appearing sharper than before. The manager appreciates that both players are neutral in terms of handedness, allowing the coaching staff flexibility in matchups without feeling forced to use specific pitchers against left-handed or right-handed batters. This versatility and the ability to complement each other make them an effective duo for closing out games.
Finally, Boone addresses the status of Cody Blackwell, who played six innings in the field but has not yet received a detailed report on his performance aside from general positive feedback. While Sunday is certainly a possibility for him to return to the rotation, the team will wait to see how everything went before making any final decisions. The manager expresses satisfaction with the overall team effort and the positive reports coming in, thanking the reporters for their questions as they wrap up the discussion on the successful stretch of wins.
Read the full video transcript
Aaron, another close home run there
early with Spencer Jones just off the
bat. What are you thinking in that spot?
>> Thinking it's our week for that. So, um,
obviously I don't have a look at it from
from our dugout there. So, I'm just kind
of trying to give it some body language
and I, you know, obviously didn't didn't
have an idea. I looked over there and I
saw I saw John challenging right away,
which is, you know, it's a crew chief
thing. So, I didn't necessarily think
that meant anything, but uh I haven't
even looked at it, but I'm assuming
another very close one.
>> Put two up there. Wound up obviously
working in your favor in that one in the
second. Two two in the second. Scoring
early has been a little bit of an issue
for this team as of late just to get two
in that first or second inning and allow
Cam Schlitler to go to work. It's just
big to take some of the pressure off
your pitching staff.
>> Yeah, I think so. You know, especially
for Cam who, you know, kind of struggled
tonight, frankly. Um I thought finished
pretty well. The fifth and the sixth
there might have been his best innings.
Um but struggled to kind of get in a
rhythm but didn't break, you know, and
and and obviously made some big pitches
when he needed to. Uh anytime he was
kind of backed into a corner up against
it a little bit, kind of the best of the
night came out. So that was good. But
for him to, you know, give us six strong
and one run, you know, and make those
runs, those early runs stand up was was
big.
>> You say that struggle, but when you look
down, it's six innings in just one run,
more walks than we're typically used to
seeing, but just what do you think it is
about that Blue Jays lineup that seems
to make him work a little bit more?
>> I mean, you know, they're kind of their
super powers, you know, they put the
ball in play. Um, but I I think tonight
was more of just a little bit out of
sync more than anything.
um you know because obviously he was
just struggling struggling to throw
strikes consistently and and certainly
like he normally does. You know I
thought last week o over there other
than you know the you know not finishing
necessarily great over there like I
thought he threw the ball really well. I
was, you know, tonight was a little bit
different, but you know, it it's not
always going to be perfect, obviously.
And, you know, for him to find a way to
to get us six innings and get a ton of
big outs on the night, um, is a
testament just to how good a pitcher he
is.
>> Peter,
>> Aaron, what are you seeing from
Spencer's approach right now that's
allowing him to string together these
good performances?
>> Yeah, I mean, the last two nights have
been really good. You know, I think he
even when he went through a little bit
of a lull there in this last week where
he wasn't getting a lot of hits and
stuff, you know, it's been good to he's
he's never felt overmatched or anything
and, you know, making some good
adjustments. Um, I think has a has a
feel or an idea of of, you know, what an
opposing pitcher strengths and
weaknesses are and how they might try to
attack him. And, uh, you know, he's
doing a good job with that. He's he's
been adaptable is the way I put it. But
um you know the experience he's gaining
um I feel like is is very valuable and
he's he's applying it well every day.
>> Tom
>> Erin, what has Spencer meant to the team
over the last six or eight weeks? Yeah,
he's he's again, you know, I feel like
it's been a it's been a really good year
for him in in his development and, you
know, and now take that to the big
leagues and and he's come up here and,
you know, I think he continues to kind
of find his way and, you know, certainly
prove that he can play up here. Um, and
I look, I think there's a lot more in
the tank for him to continue to to to go
and learn. Um, but he's showing the
ability to do that and that's been
really encouraging. I think he's done a
really good job in the outfield. He's
done a good job on the bases. So, um,
it's been great to see him take
advantage of of of some real run here.
>> Bob,
>> Eric, you talk about the job that
Hedrickk and Blackburn seems to do night
after night after night. Yeah, I mean
it's been awesome, you know, um
um
you know, both both good stories in
their own right and just, you know,
Hedric,
you know, kind of transitioning to that
role last year and I think really
leaning into it and owning it and
getting better at it last year, but then
preparing in the offseason for it and
obviously has gone to another level this
year and and been a rock for us. And
then Paul, it's been fun to watch him,
you know, a successful starter in this
league that now has made the transition.
Feels like his stuff has ticked up. I
feel like him and our pitching group
have done a great job of just um really
honing in on and tightening up his
arsenal and what he needs to use and how
he gets outs. And and the great thing
about both of them and why they
complement each other really well is is
they're both very neutral, you know, uh
right or left. Um
I I you know I don't I don't look at it
and say, "Oh, it's the lefty lane. Let's
get Hedrickk in there." And vice versa
with with Paul. So they complement each
other really well in that regard.
>> Uh Brian to the left.
>> Have they told you anything about how
Cody's night went?
>> No.
>> Over for three. Uh but he played six
innings in the field.
>> Oh, okay. Yeah, I haven't heard anything
yet.
>> I mean, are you so expecting then? I
don't know. You tell me. Um, are you
thinking uh Sunday then for him?
>> Uh, we'll see. That's that's certainly
in play, but we'll we'll circle up
tonight and see how it all went. I
haven't got a report other than than the
Hulk report right now. It's
>> a good one. Thank you.