TAMPA – After expressing concern about the feel of the new baseballs MLB is using this season, Gerrit Cole said there aren’t too many differences from what is common in his early spring months. .
Asked if he could make a difference, the right said: “Not much. Am I didn’t notice anything. ”
Gary Sanchez agreed.
“I didn’t notice any change at all,” Sanchez said through an interpreter after throwing a massive homer in the Yankees 5-4, a seven-inning win over Detroit at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “If you hit the ball well and find the barrel, it will travel well.”
While the ball looked good to Cole, his results in his first spring action were mixed, but he was not worried after allowing a three-shot run in a 28-step inning in which he threw 15 hits.
“I felt comfortable there, trying to settle in a few fields,” Cole said. “My location wasn’t exactly where it should be.”
He added that he came out of the outing “feeling good” physically and would look to “clean up” his pitching line in his next outing, which Aaron Boone said would probably be with Kyle Higashioka behind the set because the manager wants all his pitchers to throw at different catchers throughout the spring.
Cole’s speed was solid, and Boone called “very good” the short performance of his ace.
Derek Dietrich, who is in the camp with a minor league agreement, started third at the base on Monday and hopes that his left strength will give him the chance to play in the Bronx, where he is confident that his swing will go well from the right field.
Dietrich said that over the years he has been told that “left-handed shooting power will definitely be rewarded at Yankee Stadium. It’s always something I thought about. ”
In addition to playing third, Dietrich said he is “most comfortable” at second base, which is occupied by DJ LeMahieu. He is also able to play first base and corner points.
“I’ve always been a versatile player,” Dietrich said. “A Swiss Army knife to get my bat in line.”
Dietrich spent the first six seasons of his career with the Marlins, most with Giancarlo Stanton.
“The guy is an absolute beast,” Dietrich said. “Obviously, he has matured as a player, just like anyone with experience.”
The two trained together in Miami out of season, and Dietrich said Stanton “works harder than almost anyone I’ve ever played.”
And with Stanton looking to stay healthy in the end, Dietrich added “when he clicks and is constantly on the field, he is absolutely the best player on the field.”
Jay Bruce, another veteran of the camp with a minor league business, made a nice catch near the warning field in the left field. … Aaron Hicks took the place where he stayed a year ago, going in each of his two appearances. … Sanchez didn’t have the only huge blow of the afternoon for the Yankees. Chris Gittens, a 27-year-old outfielder, cleared the scoreboard in the center left with his big slam in the fifth. Gittens hit 23 homers for Double-A Trenton in 2019.
Boone and Detroit manager AJ Hinch met on their own field before Monday’s game and Hinch