A three-run walk-off homer by Aaron Judge on Tuesday, a three-run go-ahead shot by Gleyber Torres on Wednesday. The Yankees are still the Yankees, ranking third in the majors in homers. But these Yankees are a major-league best 22-8 because they are more than simply another incarnation of the Bronx Bombers.
The 2022 edition is playing more like Pinstriped Perfectionists, doing little things as well as big. The team’s painstaking attention to detail is showing in all aspects of its play — defense, baserunning and, in a particularly unexpected twist, shutting down the opponents’ running game.
Equally unexpected: The coach spearheading the Yankees’ increased emphasis on throwing out baserunners attempting to steal is new third base/outfield coach Luis Rojas, who was part of the Mets’ organization when that team allowed more stolen bases than any other in 2018 and 2019.
Rojas, 40, helped the Mets improve markedly in controlling the running game in 2020 and 2021, his two seasons as manager. But when the Yankees interviewed him for a coaching position last offseason, guarding against stolen bases was not even a topic of discussion.
The Yankees’ announced Rojas’ hiring on Nov. 15. In December, after the start of the owners’ lockout, he was at Yankee Stadium, meeting with Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Their conversation turned so spirited, the two strolled out to the field and talked through different offensive and defensive plays.
Upon returning inside, Boone and Rojas began speaking with some of the Yankees’ analysts about controlling the running game. Rojas explained that he took on that responsibility with the Mets, who last season ranked 20th in stolen bases allowed — a dramatic improvement from years past.
As Rojas recalled, Boone said, “You want to do it? Let’s go. Go ahead and do it.”
Last season, the Yankees threw out only 17 percent of opposing base stealers, the second lowest rate in the majors; and allowed 86 stolen bases, the ninth highest total. It wasn’t all the fault of the embattled Gary Sánchez, who threw out only five of 55 base stealers. Kyle Higashioka threw out only five of 38, Rob Brantly two of five, with pitcher pickoffs accounting for the other five caught stealings.