Aaron Boone left no doubt on Saturday that Gary Sanchez will be behind the plate for the Yankees wild-card game, regardless of who is pitching.
Asked if Sanchez — who has struggled defensively throughout his career — was definitely the starting catcher for the win-or-go home game, Boone said: “Yeah.”
Boone also said he didn’t anticipate replacing Sanchez with Austin Romine late in the game.
Sanchez then went out and had a brutal game, with a passed ball and a throwing error leading to an unearned run in the third. He managed to block the plate successfully in the fifth, when Aaron Judge threw out Steve Wilkerson.
The manager conceded before the game that Sanchez has to be better in that area of his game.
“He needs to continue to be better at it,’’ Boone said before the Yankees clinched a playoff berth with a 3-2, 11-inning win over the Orioles on Saturday at the Stadium. “But I would say the vast majority of the work he’s done [defensively] has been positive.”
Boone said he believes Sanchez has been better since he returned from a second stint on the disabled list. Saturday was Sanchez’s 15th game behind the plate since coming back. He made a throwing error on a stolen base attempt on Friday. And he’s made five of his 15 passed balls since then.
“Honestly, winning for me is everything,’’ Sanchez said through an interpreter. “Stats and numbers … they don’t mean anything unless you win.’’
In addition to the issues behind the plate, Sanchez has been even more disappointing offensively. After another hitless game, Sanchez is 9-for-58 with two homers and a pair of doubles since the second groin injury. Sanchez was bumped down to the No. 8 spot, the lowest he had started a game since Sanchez’s first full week in the majors over two years ago.
“I still go back to just thinking he’s such a natural hitter that I think it’s hard to hold those guys down for such a long period,’’ Boone said. “That’s what I’m going on and hopefully there is that stretch in him where he really gains some momentum with some good, positive at-bats where he gets some results and it snowballs from there.”
Boone took over for Joe Girardi, who was let go after getting to within a game of the World Series. Now Boone gets his chance in the playoffs.
“So far I’ve loved the opportunity, the people I get to work with every day,’’ Boone said. “I love these guys. I’m excited I get a chance to chase after that prize we all long for.”
