Turning a Corner


Yankee fans are crossing their fingers that's the case for Gary Sanchez. Widely criticised for his trouble blocking pitches in the dirt, and a shockingly sub-.200 batting average, the Yankee catcher was one of the team's standouts Tuesday night.

Stuck in a 1-for-28 slump, Sanchez smacked a three-run homer at Tropicana Field to cap a seven-run 3rd inning. Later, he added an RBI single and tagged out onetime Yankee Ji Man Choi at home plate to halt a Tampa Bay rally. It was Gary's first four-RBI game since April. Of greater importance, his pitch calling and framing helped Luis Severino win his 19th.

With the Yankees heading to the Wild Card game next Wednesday night -- and thanks to the Mariners extra-inning win over the A's, mostly likely in the Bronx -- the best news for Sanchez is, that like everyone else, the post-season starts with a fresh stat sheet. Everyone comes in with blanks (or zeros) across the board, so that.190 average and the league-worst total of passed balls are merely history.

(My image of Sanchez is from the Yankees/Rays game on September 28th, 2017.)

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