TAMPA, Florida – The discussion is cheap at this point in the baseball program, but words will weigh in on two of the most significant 2021 Yankees. Any team that includes Corey Kluber and DJ LeMahieu on the list should value the conversation at premium prices.
Along with Kluber and his alter ego “Klubot”, joining LeMahieu’s “The Machine” in the band, Bombers boasts two of the league’s most concentrated competitors. It’s a job for both players, with the common goal of playing to their full potential and bringing a World Series championship back to New York.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be the most vocal person in the room,” Kluber said. “Like most people, the more comfortable you feel in a situation, the more open you are. I think that’s part of team building; one of the things about spring training is a little different now [due to COVID-19]. It’s important to build that club culture. “
So far, the Yankees are thrilled with what they saw from Kluber, who said his right shoulder didn’t bother him. Kluber missed most of last season with the Rangers due to a torn ground muscle in his right shoulder. He said he no longer felt as if he had been rehabilitated; rather, Kluber prepares as he normally would at this time of season.
“I haven’t had any problems with him now or anywhere during the rehabilitation process,” Kluber said. “That’s encouraging. Honestly, I don’t feel like I’m still working on improving my shoulder or anything. I think it’s in a place where, like any part of your body, it needs maintenance all year round. But I don’t put more much more emphasis on that than I am at the moment. “
This allows the Yankees to dream on the front of the rotation, which could be comprised of Gerrit Cole, Kluber and Jameson Taillon, with Luis Severino expected to return in the middle of the season. Twice winner of the American League’s Cy Young Award, Kluber turns 35 in April and is two years away from a 2018 season, when he went 20-7 with an ERA of 2.89 in 33 starts for Indians.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there were already internal comparisons between Kluber’s personalities and LeMahieu, the latter being the club’s most valuable player in the last two seasons.
“When I started on this road with Corey, you start immersing yourself in a guy’s makeup,” Boone said. “Some of these comparisons were made naturally because the DJ is here. There are probably some similarities. I like to think that as much as those guys are ‘Klubot’ and ‘The Machine.’ I’m discreet in some ways. But there are also guys who, when you get there, have very neat personalities. “
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake previously served as the organizational pitching coordinator for the Indians, with the exception of all but one of Klube League’s biggest innings. Blake described Kluber’s mental approach to pitching as “very concise and effective.”
“If you have direct questions for him, from my point of view, it’s very nice,” Blake said. “We can relate a lot in pitching, dating back to some time and people with whom we shared experiences. I think the most valuable part of him that people talk to is his consistency and training. He is very focused and detailed. will fit right here. “
Yes, Kluber has heard the nickname “Klubot” several times already from his teammates; it’s not his favorite, but he’s not upset.
“I wouldn’t say I don’t like it; I just think it was maybe a little overlapping at first [in Cleveland]”Kluber said.” I wouldn’t say I’m against it. Honestly, it doesn’t really make a difference to me. “
More importantly, Kluber said his early streaked days strengthened his belief that he had joined a first-class organization, one that would provide the opportunity to be the last team in October.
“They’re inexperienced guys; they’re guys coming back from injury,” Kluber said. “As a group, we can’t pay attention to that. We just have to do our best to prepare and be in a position to play a lot. That will eliminate those question marks at the end of the year.”