Yankees Insider Floats Drastic Solution as Anthony Volpe 'Killing Them'
The New York Yankees are suffering a harsh stretch of the season that has seen them relinquish first place in the American League East division to the Toronto Blue Jays.
There has been plenty of blame to go around as the Yankees suffer pitching injuries, offensive regressions and defensive missteps, but one culprit has stood out above the rest: Anthony Volpe.
After earning a Gold Glove Award in his rookie season and batting .243 last year, Volpe is batting just .219 with a career-low .963 fielding percentage at shortstop this season. While the Yankees might have hoped for another positive step from the shortstop, he has seemed to take a step back in virtually every facet of the game.
And, as a result, New York Yankees insider Joel Sherman suggested the team make a drastic move to the batting order in search of a solution.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees watches from the dugout during the first inning of Game Five of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles...
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees watches from the dugout during the first inning of Game Five of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium on October 30, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo) More
Elsa/Getty
"The shortstop has regressed at pretty much everything," Sherman said during an episode of the "Pinstripe Post" show. "I believe 100%, he must bat ninth. He is coming up with the most runners on base over and over and ... the way he's being attacked, he is killing them offensively."
Volpe typically bats in the middle of the order, but Sherman argued this move would not only give the Yankees a better chance to score runs by limiting his at-bats, but that it might reduce some overall pressure on him and help him on the defensive side as well.
"To me, he's got to hit ninth," Sherman added. "I would try to de-emphasize his place in the lineup to see if I could kind of calm him down and get a better all around version of him because this guy, the ball is finding him and the bat is finding him at the worst times."
As the Yankees look to right the ship heading into the All-Star break and renew their early season success in the second half, it might be time to make a big change with their young shortstop.
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