”He was the missing piece”, He is now writing the story. Yankees are back again.
After signing a luxury $162 million, eight-year contract with the Yankees, Carlos Rodón was supposed to be an All-Star, but he has since forgotten about his awful first season with the team.
On Wednesday night, Rodón won a career-high sixth straight start after retiring the first 16 hitters faced, enabling the Yankees to win seven straight games as they defeated the Minnesota Twins 9-5.
The Yankees’ manager, Aaron Boone, stated, “We want to write a script on somebody so often.” “Reggie Jackson used to frequently tell me that he thought of his bat as his pen. He could always alter the story. He was always capable of writing the epilogue.”
With an opponents’ batting average of.217, Rodón is 8-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 73 innings pitched, 71 strikeouts, and 20 walks. The left-hander, who is 31 years old, has struck out 24 batters with fastballs, 6 with changeups, and 2 with cutters.
“It wasn’t just one thing he did today—all of his pitches worked. Everybody was at work. “I believe they effectively complimented one another,” remarked Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “We were swinging a little bit before we knew what he was coming with.”
After having trouble during his first spring training session the previous year, Rodón’s left forearm injury was identified. Back tightness in April caused him to halt down, and on May 9 he received an injection. It wasn’t until May 29 that he started throwing bullpen sessions again.
Rodón made his Yankees debut on July 7 after playing three minor league games from June 20 to July 1. He lost his first three starts. His final record in 14 starts was 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA; his season finale against Kansas City on September 29 left a lasting impression. In a 12-5 loss, Rodón let all eight batters he faced get to base and finally score.
In an effort to get him back on track, pitching coach Matt Blake emerged from the dugout. The two spoke for a short while, but Rodón turned his back on Blake and motioned for him to go back to the dugout, even though the coach was still speaking.
“I was obviously very frustrated with my performance and even the attitude I had leaving the season,” Rodón stated. “It increased my appetite for the off-season. My only goals are to win and to give my teammates my best effort. I don’t want to disappoint my comrades.
They made an effort to lift his spirits.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole stated, “It’s not like one magic thing that you can say makes it all better.” “I think it´s just the everyday aspect of connecting with him on a human level.”
Prior to his tenth major league season, Rodón had a typical spring training, turning in five starts and 19 1/3 innings of relief work. After failing to receive a decision in his first two games of the season, he began to settle into a routine.
“Everyone was still aware that the man we had signed was still alive. Simply needed to exercise some patience,” closer Clay Holmes remarked. “There was still some of that confidence deep down in there.”
As part of the Yankees pitching staff that leads the big leagues with a 2.79 ERA, Rodón has had a 2.48 ERA since giving up seven runs in a defeat to Baltimore on May 2.
“In your professional life, there will be moments when everything is given to you,” Boone stated. “But, it doesn’t have to end there, particularly if you possess the kind of talent Carlos does.” To his credit, things did not go well at all the previous year. However, he set out to ensure that he placed himself in a favorable position to offer himself the best chance of success.”
