Earlier than this yr, when DJ LeMahieu has struggled this badly on the plate, there has normally been an injury-related motive for it.
However the Yankees’ 36-year-old third baseman insisted on Sunday he was absolutely wholesome, regardless of batting simply .177 with a .471 OPS via 39 video games.
“I really feel good,” LeMahieu stated Sunday morning in The Bronx. “Really feel good. Really feel ok to do my job.”
Aaron Boone gave LeMahieu a breather on Sunday in opposition to the Rays, although he solely stated “we’ll see” when requested whether or not it was a one-off or a part of a few-day break for the scuffling veteran.
LeMahieu, who was hampered by a foot/toe harm for components of the final two years, missed the primary two months of this season after fouling a ball off his foot in March and struggling a non-displaced fracture.
Since returning, he has been a shell of his former self, sapped of the productiveness he as soon as supplied on the plate as a former two-time batting champion.
“Simply making an attempt to work via it,” LeMahieu stated. “It simply hasn’t been very constant. I really feel like I’m on to one thing after which sort of go backwards a bit of bit after which get on to one thing. The consistency hasn’t been there.”
Requested about his degree of confidence that he may get away of this, LeMahieu softly chuckled.
“I imply, it hasn’t given me a lot hope during the last month or so,” he stated. “However so long as I’ve performed this recreation, no matter challenges offered themselves, I’ve at all times come out of it, a method or one other. Simply hold displaying up, hold working. That’s gotten me a number of success in my profession.”
LeMahieu stated this has been some of the irritating stretches of his profession, sinking to a brand new low of late as he entered Sunday 0-for-17 over his final six video games.
Oswaldo Cabrera began at third base on Sunday and the Yankees are anticipated to be out there for a nook infielder forward of the July 30 commerce deadline.
However LeMahieu, who nonetheless has two years and $30 million left on his contract after this season, indicated he was simply targeted on himself.
“It sucks. It’s not enjoyable,” he stated. “However I’ll say, our group’s a particular group, so displaying up with a particular group and a particular group retains me going, for certain.”
