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New York Times
31 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Blue Jays' fielding strength magnified by Yankees' defensive collapse
TORONTO — Good defence is like a comfortable pillow. The benefits are often unnoticeable. It's easy to take for granted. For nearly three seasons, the Toronto Blue Jays have owned that top-of-the-line, ergonomic pillow. They've won back-to-back American League team Gold Glove awards and sit top 10 in defensive runs saved and Outs Above Average again this year. Advertisement A diving catch or perfect relay throw draws attention, every so often, to Toronto's best asset. But, for the most part, it's the team's quiet strength. It's difficult to appreciate when routine plays are just that — routine — until truly bad fielding swings a pivotal division game. The New York Yankees outhomered the Jays 7 to 1 in three games at Rogers Centre. But the gloves earned Toronto a series win. Wednesday's error-filled, 8-4 victory lifted the 60-42 Blue Jays to a tie for the American League's best record, earned a tiebreaker advantage over the Yankees and highlighted the crisp defence that lives quietly behind the team's 2025 success. 'The little things,' Ernie Clement said. 'The fundamental things, the things that you don't really think about are so magnified when you're playing a good team. And we've absolutely keyed in on that.' The Yankees committed four errors in the series finale — a number that doesn't fully encapsulate the many miscues. Cody Bellinger drifted helplessly in right field, losing a ball in the sky that dropped for a Clement triple, and Max Fried failed to cover home plate, allowing George Springer to dart home for an extra run. The Jays have committed just two errors, total, in six games since the All-Star break. When asked whether games like this give him extra appreciation for Toronto's sound fielding, manager John Schneider was clear: 'Hell, yeah.' 'Outs are precious,' Schneider added. 'And you can see how the game can get flipped with one swing.' Leo Jiménez darted to his left on the first play of the game. Trent Grisham's bouncing ball seemed destined for the outfield turf before Jiménez leapt, with glove outstretched. The second baseman snared the ball, pivoting onto his back to fire a throw to first that beat Grisham by millimetres. After a replay confirmed the out, the home crowd unleashed an appreciative cheer. After review, the runner is out! What a play by Leo Jimenez. 😮💨 Watch Yankees vs. Blue Jays LIVE on Sportsnet 📺 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 23, 2025 The flashed leather that kickstarted Wednesday's contest would not become the norm, as the Yankees followed it with four costly errors. But it's become expected in the field, for Toronto. The Jays' defence has stolen 13 more outs than average this season, according to Baseball Savant. The fielding has saved 10 runs, despite top fielders Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez missing significant time. Both numbers are best in the American League East and top three in the AL. Advertisement 'Every single night there's something crazy that we're doing,' Chris Bassitt said. 'I don't really take it for granted, because I'm like, 'How in the world?' But it's just, we make a lot of top plays.' Defence was Toronto's defining feature the last two seasons. The Team Gold Gloves were all the team won. Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Chapman and José Berríos' 2023 Gold Gloves were consolation prizes after they crashed out of the postseason in consecutive wild-card games for the second straight year. This year, though, fielding is one strength, not the only one. Rounding out the other facets lifted Toronto to true contender. But as the offence jumps from dismal to solid and the bullpen resurrects after a disastrous 2024, defensive strength has faded to the background. The fielding is still there for the Blue Jays, though, and could get better with returns from Varsho and Giménez. On nights like Wednesday — facing defensive performances like the Yankees' — the Jays' quiet strength became loud again. (Photo of Alejandro Kirk and Yariel Rodríguez: Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images)
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
How has the Red Sox' Ceddanne Rafaela become one of the best defensive outfielders in all of baseball?
Related : 'I was taught to do it that way coming up,' Rafaela said. 'So that's just how I've always done it.' The result is a pre-pitch approach that is highly unconventional for an outfielder, but is the foundation of Rafaela's elite defense. Per MLB's Statcast, Rafaela's 13 Outs Above Average leads all American League center fielders and is tied for sixth among all position players, making him a candidate to win a Gold Glove in his second full big league season. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'He's an infielder at heart,' said Kyle Hudson, the Red Sox' third base coach and outfield instructor. 'Guys that go from the infield to the outfield, they have the ability to react quicker. And he's taken those instincts and those reactions to the outfield, and you're seeing it translate to probably the best jumps in the game right now.' Advertisement Hudson attributes Rafaela's standout defense to a mix of elite physical traits, including agility, acceleration, and anticipation. Those attributes all factor into Rafaela's biggest differentiator, which is his reaction time the split-second after the batter makes contact. Advertisement Advanced metrics affirm the eye test: Rafaela's 'outfielder jump' is measured at 5.6 feet above average, according to Statcast. That would be the best mark by an outfielder since MLB began tracking jumps in 2016. 'It all starts with my preparation,' Rafaela said. 'I prepare each pitch, before the game, during [batting practice] for that … I always expect the ball to come to me.' Outfielders are commonly taught to keep their weight balanced on the balls of their feet as the pitch comes in, so they can break in any direction upon reading the ball off the bat. On the contrary, Rafaela's mechanics require him to commit to a direction sooner, but also enable him to reach full speed sooner. Then, he uses his agility and instincts to change angles while already in motion. Related : The result is evident in Rafaela's 'burst' ― defined as feet covered by an outfielder between the first 1.6-3 seconds after contact ― which is 3.2 feet above average, according to Statcast. The mark would be MLB's highest since 2021. 'I would never teach a guy to take a pre-pitch like he does,' said Hudson. 'But obviously I didn't want to change it because of his ability to react.' Because Rafaela starts moving so early, he takes a less direct path to the catch point ― Statcast grades his route efficiency as the league's seventh worst. But since he's moving at full speed by the time he adjusts, Rafaela easily makes up the ground. 'By the second step, I know where the ball is going to be,' Rafaela said. Advertisement Sacrificing route efficiency for first-step quickness is a tradeoff Hudson embraces, especially when paired with excellent ball-tracking skills. That paradox was similarly true of former Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who had the league's worst route efficiency in 2018, when he won the American League Gold Glove. 'What we found [with] outfielders are the elite ones have quick reactions, and then they're able to adjust on the fly and then adjust in the route. And [Rafaela] does that probably better than anybody,' Hudson said. 'The body awareness that he has, his ability to adjust, his ability to finish the play, is probably better than anybody I've seen.' In any pre-pitch setup, Hudson said it's critical to maintain consistency on each pitch, which requires discipline over the course of a game, let alone a season. When Rafaela was first called up in 2023, Hudson noticed that he would sometimes lose his pre-pitch form, which Rafaela has worked to correct. 'It would be just kind of like a 1-2 step, and he wouldn't have the little hop … he got a little bit more consistent last year, and then this year, he's been nothing short of perfect ― like he hasn't missed a pitch,' Hudson said. Related : The progression is a credit to Rafaela taking pride in the minute details of his game, and also the rapport between Rafaela and Hudson. 'He's always on me,' Rafaela said. 'And I tell him to be on me, so when I'm [lagging], he can tell me so I can get back on track.' The adjustments have stuck this year, as Rafaela has acclimated to the rigors of the big leagues and seen more consistent time in center field. Last season, he started 72 games in center, 71 at shortstop, and 4 at second base. This season he's started 95 games in center and just five at second base, all of which have come in the past two weeks. Advertisement Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela says that "by the second step, I know where the ball is going to be.' Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Rafaela also has had 'It was his first full season [in 2024]. He played a lot of games and lost weight and he grinded through it,' said manager Alex Cora. 'But this year, he was prepared for 162 and he's showing it.' And while Rafaela's recent offensive strides have raised his overall ceiling, defense will continue to be his calling card ― and provide the Sox with a dynamic presence in center. 'You're seeing what's happening from him just being out there and going to get those balls every single night,' Hudson said. 'It's pretty special what he's doing.' Matty Wasserman can be reached at
Fox Sports
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Boone says Yankees' defense 'just not good enough' after 4 errors in loss to Blue Jays
Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said his team's defensive performance was 'just not good enough' after New York made four errors in an 8-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night. 'We've got to, obviously, tighten it up,' Boone said. 'Confident we will. We'll continue to work at it. We have good defenders here, but tonight was obviously a rough night for us." Left-hander Max Fried and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. made throwing errors, while first baseman Ben Rice and outfielder Jasson Dominguez made fielding errors. The Yankees also made several miscues that didn't count as errors, including Cody Bellinger losing a flyball in the twilight and no one covering the plate after Fried's errant throw in the fifth inning. 'Today was a little shaky,' Bellinger said. Davis Schneider scored from third base when Fried bounced his throw home on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s chopper. 'Tough angle and just not a good throw,' said Fried, a three-time Gold Glove winner with Atlanta. George Springer scored from second base after the ball rolled away from catcher J.C. Escarra. The Yankees made seven errors in the three-game series, including a pair of poor throws that led to runs for Toronto in Monday's series opener, a 4-1 Blue Jays win. 'We haven't been playing that well on defense,' slugger Aaron Judge said. 'We've got a lot of things we've got to clean up.' New York also struggled defensively while getting swept in four games at Toronto from June 30 to July 3 as the Blue Jays leapfrogged the Yankees atop the AL East. 'Obviously, we've had two (crummy) series up here,' Boone said. 'There's no way around it. Maybe we'll get a chance to come back here at some point and flip that script.' New York has committed 52 errors in 102 games. The Yankees are 41-22 when they play error-free baseball but 15-24 when they make at least one miscue. 'It's in our control so we'll take care of it,' Judge said. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 3
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Boone says Yankees' defense ‘just not good enough' after 4 errors in loss to Blue Jays
TORONTO (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said his team's defensive performance was 'just not good enough' after New York made four errors in an 8-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night. 'We've got to, obviously, tighten it up,' Boone said. 'Confident we will. We'll continue to work at it. We have good defenders here, but tonight was obviously a rough night for us.' Left-hander Max Fried and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. made throwing errors, while first baseman Ben Rice and outfielder Jasson Domínguez made fielding errors. The Yankees also made several miscues that didn't count as errors, including Cody Bellinger losing a flyball in the twilight and no one covering the plate after Fried's errant throw in the fifth inning. 'Today was a little shaky,' Bellinger said. Davis Schneider scored from third base when Fried bounced his throw home on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s chopper. 'Tough angle and just not a good throw,' said Fried, a three-time Gold Glove winner with Atlanta. George Springer scored from second base after the ball rolled away from catcher J.C. Escarra. The Yankees made seven errors in the three-game series, including a pair of poor throws that led to runs for Toronto in Monday's series opener, a 4-1 Blue Jays win. 'We haven't been playing that well on defense,' slugger Aaron Judge said. 'We've got a lot of things we've got to clean up.' New York also struggled defensively while getting swept in four games at Toronto from June 30 to July 3 as the Blue Jays leapfrogged the Yankees atop the AL East. 'Obviously, we've had two (crummy) series up here,' Boone said. 'There's no way around it. Maybe we'll get a chance to come back here at some point and flip that script.' New York has committed 52 errors in 102 games. The Yankees are 41-22 when they play error-free baseball but 15-24 when they make at least one miscue. 'It's in our control so we'll take care of it,' Judge said. ___ AP MLB:
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Braves Catcher Listed As Best Available By MLB Insider As Deadline Nears
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Atlanta Braves are falling well out of playoff contention, and they are looking to get back to October next year at the trade deadline. In the meantime, they are looking to move expendable assets while holding on to multi-year players, but Mark Feinsand has their catcher Sean Murphy as the best catcher at the deadline, despite his long-term contract. ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 12: Sean Murphy #12 of the Atlanta Braves hits three-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth inning at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2025 in St... ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 12: Sean Murphy #12 of the Atlanta Braves hits three-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth inning at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. More Photo byMurphy is one of the best offensive catchers in the game and has a Gold Glove along with it. With 16 home runs and a 133 OPS+, and a contract through 2029, Murphy would not only take the reins behind the dish this season, but he would be the catcher of the future. The Braves are focusing on returning to the playoffs next year and are set on keeping their controllable players, but everyone could be available at the right price. Thanks to the emergence of Drake Baldwin, the Braves have a pair of catchers who both demand playing time with their performance alone. The Braves could be comfortable letting one go. This could be a decision the Braves make after the season ends to allow themselves to confirm what they are seeing from Baldwin and that he is ready to take on the full workload of a starting catcher. If the Braves make the call to ship off Murphy, the Padres are an attractive candidate with their major league assets they could bring back in return for the backstop. The Padres need a catcher, and the Braves could take advantage of their surplus. More MLB: Royals Reportedly Willing To Trade, Looking To Compete Next Year
