Isiah Kiner-Falefa will not be glad along with his work at shortstop this season for the Yankees, although he does contend that his defensive workload is usually higher than that of others.
Kiner-Falefa mentioned he has made too many “bonehead performs” and never accomplished sufficient efforts, although to finish a play, a participant should participate in it within the first place.
The Yankees shortstop is pleased with his vary and fewer pleased with the 11 errors he took into Friday’s 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Purple Sox. He was tied with eight different fielders, one shy of the foremost league lead held by the Rockies Ryan McMahon and the Astros’ Jeremy Peña.
“I’ve undoubtedly had some dumb errors this yr — that’s for positive,” mentioned Kiner-Falefa, who went 1-for-5 and didn't commit an error in Friday’s loss. “However in previous years, I’ve at all times had extra errors [than others] as a result of I’ve gotten to extra balls than anyone else within the league.”
Final yr with Texas, Kiner-Falefa tallied 19 errors, the second-most amongst shortstops, with a greater fielding share than he boasts now. However he led MLB in assists — earned by touching the ball earlier than a putout is recorded by one other fielder — with 436. Aside from first basemen, nobody needed to deal with balls in play extra.
He's not among the many assists leaders this season, however he's a believer that there are balls within the gap solely he can attain. Six of his errors got here on balls hit within the air, a degree of frustration he mentioned he needs to appropriate.
Within the Yankees’ loss Sunday in Boston, his seventh-inning throw that bounced to Anthony Rizzo allowed J.D. Martinez to achieve to start the body. Three batters later, Trevor Story cleared the bases and the Purple Sox had a commanding lead.
However in the identical collection, the 27-year-old from Hawaii ranged deep into the shortstop gap, slid and threw throughout in a single fluid movement to nail Xander Bogaerts.
“I undoubtedly have to play higher on protection, however I additionally actually like among the performs I’ve revamped the course [of the season]. However I undoubtedly can do loads higher,” mentioned the shortstop who was acquired for his contact abilities (which have been as marketed) and defensive benefit (extra up for debate).
Kiner-Falefa mentioned he seems to be on the metric defensive runs saved and his plus-3, based on FanGraphs, was the Eleventh-best amongst main league shortstops getting into Friday.
(“That’s the one factor that issues,” he mentioned.)
Defensive statistics, particularly in an period of shifting, are troublesome to trace, and Statcast’s outs above common was far much less encouraging: Kiner-Falefa entered play because the Twenty eighth-best defensive shortstop amongst 36 who certified.
His imperfect play has not dented a Yankees workforce that's cruising atop the AL East, however for a participant who brings little pop — he had not homered getting into play Friday — the query might come up whether or not the Yankees see shortstop as a place to improve both on the commerce deadline or with call-up of one in all their high prospects, Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe.
Supervisor Aaron Boone sounds thrilled with the Yankees’ present shortstop.
“All the things we have a look at, he’s been a very good defender,” he mentioned Thursday of Kiner-Falefa, who received a Gold Glove at third base with the Rangers in 2020. “I might say he’s had most likely three or 4 errors that have been most likely dangerous errors … however have a look at the physique of labor of what he’s been defensively: He’s been one of many sport’s finest defenders at shortstop.
“He’s had a handful of powerful errors that he most likely shouldn’t make, however that occurs at a place like that.”
Kiner-Falefa mentioned he views his missteps as higher made now than later. He's not sweating concerning the Aug. 2 commerce deadline and is concentrated on being prepared for October.
“I feel all people within the clubhouse and within the group is aware of I’m the man,” Kiner-Falefa mentioned. “That’s what they’ve mentioned to me.”
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