BALTIMORE — As an alternative of difficult fellow shortstops Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals for an All-Star Sport look, Anthony Volpe ended his first half in depressing trend.
Along with being mired in a horrendous droop that’s lasted over a month, Volpe helped boot away a victory Sunday, as his error with two outs within the backside of the ninth allowed a run to attain and prolonged the inning in a 6-5 defeat to the Orioles.
Of the play within the ninth, a easy grounder by Ryan Mountcaste, Volpe mentioned he was “nonetheless processing it. To me, it’s a routine floor ball one million instances over.”
As an alternative, he mentioned his footwork was off and he didn’t deal with the ball correctly in time to get the power at second.
After which Cedric Mullins lofted a fly ball to left that Alex Verdugo misplayed right into a game-winning double.
Volpe mentioned of his error, “It’s a play I do know I’ve received to make and something after that doesn’t matter.”
“It’s robust,’’ Aaron Boone mentioned of the play. “There’s nobody you’d reasonably have the ball hit to. It occurred and we’ve got to maneuver on.”
However it symbolized how unhealthy a stretch Volpe is in.
Following a formidable begin to his second season within the majors, Volpe entered Sunday with only a .602 OPS in his earlier 81 video games.
And since June 6, it’s been worse.
Over 34 video games previous to Sunday’s loss, when he had a double and scored a run, Volpe had an OPS of .424 — with no homers — in 154 plate appearances.
“I believe we’re nonetheless seeing a younger participant working by way of it,’’ Boone mentioned. “It’s no secret a number of the swing modifications he remodeled the winter, he’s taken his lumps right here the previous few weeks. However I do suppose it’s a part of a 22-year-old gaining expertise, studying, on his option to being a extra full and completed product.”
The indicators haven’t been there these days.
Within the offseason, Volpe labored to change his strategy and make extra contact, with the hope it wouldn’t rob him of any energy after he hit 21 residence runs as a rookie.
However for a lot of the season — whether or not it’s been on the leadoff spot or down within the order — Volpe hasn’t achieved a lot of something.
“I don’t suppose, ultimately, it’s going to [hurt his power numbers],’’ Boone mentioned. “Are there some rising pains to get there? I believe he will get again to, finally, the place there may be energy in his sport.”
The method, not less than this season, has been tough.
“Going by way of this has been a little bit little bit of a problem,’’ Boone mentioned.
His .666 OPS on the season is worse than all however two certified AL shortstops and continues to drop.
Previous to the sport, Boone talked concerning the All-Star break being good for gamers each bodily and mentally.
Maybe this proves to be the case for Volpe, who additionally struggled within the second half final season.
For the Yankees to get again to the heights they reached over the primary two-plus months of the 12 months, Volpe must be the participant he was for many of that point.
