It might not have always been pretty, but through all the bumps on the road, the Yankees have made it; they’re back in the postseason. As we’ve routinely seen in this great sport, all you need is a ticket
to the dance. Before finding out on Sunday if they’ll play in the Wild Card round or earn a bye, take a moment to enjoy some of the finest defensive plays this team has made in September. We’re posting this a little early since all of the focus will be on playoffs shortly, but don’t worry — if someone makes a web gem of some kind this afternoon against the Orioles, we can add it after the fact.
September 2nd: Max Fried makes a sliding catch, turns two
The Yankees started the final month in the best possible way, with a commanding win over the Astros in a battle of two outstanding southpaws. Max Fried had thoroughly outdueled Framber Valdez through six innings to help the Yankees take a 7-1 lead, but maybe his outing looks a little bit different without this terrific glovework from the lanky yet surprisingly quick on his feet Fried. Nine-hole hitter César Salazar tried to bunt the two runners into second and third, but he couldn’t quite get it down properly and got doubled up at first. Fried would go on to retire Jeremy Peña to end the frame.
September 7th: Aaron Judge diving grab
Trailing by one run in a crucial rubber match against the Jays early in the month, the Yankees saw danger creeping around the corner. Luckily, Aaron Judge was in right field and not Giancarlo Stanton; otherwise, that ball drops, the game is tied, and the Yankees could very well be playing for nothing in the final game of the season. Judge preserved the 4-3 score, which went on to last the entire game as both teams’ pitching flourished after the first three frames.
September 9th: Trent Grisham’s leaping grab at the wall
In terms of impact on the final result, this play doesn’t hold a candle to the previous two, but it’s not Trent Grisham’s fault that the pitching staff imploded to concede a month-high 12 runs to the Detroit Tigers. It’d be a shame not to recognize the efforts of Grisham to take away a multibase hit from Trey Sweeeney. At the very least, the Yankees managed to avoid a sweep in that series despite being outscored 26 to 12.
September 11th: Yankees turn a slick double play in the third
Perhaps not the most difficult of plays, there was something particularly appealing about the timing of this double play. José Caballero and Jazz Chisholm Jr. worked with great fluidity to nullify the threat of rookie Cam Schlittler against the heart of the Tigers’ order. That game would go on to become a blowout, but at the time, this play was fairly crucial. It was also the win that salvaged the sweep at the hands of Detroit.
September 23rd: Ryan McMahon makes slick backhanded play
That Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are terrific, most Yankee fans are well aware of, but this pitching staff will need more contributors if it is to succeed in the playoffs. Perhaps the best candidate to help in that department is Luis Gil, and his latest start of six two-run innings against the White Sox came with a neat play from the Yankees’ corner infielders, Ryan McMahon and Ben Rice.
