2 Yankees who’ve earned an apology from their doubters, 1 not quite there
By Tim Boyle
These two New York Yankees players have earned an apology while this other is getting close to getting one himself.
The New York Yankees aren’t quite where some fans might want them to be. Now without Aaron Judge, it’s time for the team to do more than stay afloat. They need to actually win a lot of ball games and remain one of the best teams in the league.
A big part of succeeding will be for some of those questionable Yankees players to silence their doubters. Lately, two Yankees have done a good job of earning an apology from their doubters. Another is well on his way to getting a “sorry” of his own.
Grab a pen and paper and start writing your apology. These two Yankees have earned it. This other is coming close.
1) Yankees doubters can apologize to Isiah Kiner-Falefa
A favorite of Yankees doubters in the preseason and early on in 2023, Isiah Kiner-Falefa falls into the category of big league scapegoat fans would willing drive to the airport. LaGuardia. JFK. Even Newark. Yankees fans were ready to clean out the passenger seat and drive Kiner-Falefa wherever he needed to be.
An obvious non-answer for the Yankees long-term at shortstop, he was brushed aside for Anthony Volpe. Volpe’s struggles gave the Yankees an excuse to try Kiner-Falefa at more positions. He has actually been able to become a useful utility man whose bat is contributing.
IKF is 15 for his last 46 with 9 RBI. He’s slashing .326/.340/.370 in this span. The hits and RBI lead the Yankees over the last 15 days. A regular in center field and likely to be found there while Judge remains sidelined, he has suddenly become a super utility man with a bat the team can rely on.
The power still isn’t there and for the year he’s slashing .245/.286/.360. It’s working out well, though. He has heated up and could, at the very least, become a player they shop at the trade deadline.