New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has sent a warning to inconsistent pitcher Clarke Schmidt to level up his gameplay in order to retain his place in the team.
Clarke Schmidt, who was selected by the New York Yankees in the initial round of the 2017 MLB Draft, has been highly regarded by the team’s management and coaching staff. However, he has struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout his professional career and has yet to establish himself as a reliable pitcher.
Meanwhile, this season, the pitcher arrived with a lot of hope. The unfortunate injury of Frankie Montas vacated the spot of the fifth starter in the rotation. Hence, Clarke, with his newly devised weapon, fought tooth and nail in spring training to clinch the empty spot. However, the persistent injuries dealt by the remaining pitching staff came in as a blessing in disguise. He received an opportunity to start early this season but failed to grab it.
Under Fire Pitcher Clarke Schmidt Gets Stern Warning From Yankees Skipper
Clarke Schmidt has made two starts so far in the season. However, both ended on a horrific note. In two starts, he has recorded a 9.45 ERA and 8 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched. Moreover, the new cutters he mastered to tackle the left-handers this season have fallen flat on his face. Schmidt has struggled with control, which overall affected his outings. Certainly, the management is not happy. The manager, Aaron Boone, has also openly issued a warning to the pitcher.
Aaron Boone, who made a weekly appearance on the Talkin Yanks podcast, said he wants Clarke Schmidt to control his fastballs. Boone believes the cutters, slider, and all other variations only work if you have a strong command and grip over your fastballs. And for the moment, Clarke is visibly struggling with it. Hence, the skipper stated that Schmidt could only be a successful starter if he controlled his fastballs. This message clearly came as a warning for Clarke to improve his game or else face the axe. The regular starters will slowly return to the bullpen in a few weeks. Hence, time is running out for Schmidt.
Domingo German Could Last Only Three Innings In His Second Start
The pitchers continue to disappoint the New York Yankees. After Clarke Schmidt failed to live up to the expectations, his peer, Domingo German, put up an absolute horror show against the Cleveland Guardians. It was his second start of the season, and the pitcher could only last for three innings. He threw 87 pitches on the mound and gave away two hits and one run with zero strikeouts.
Furthermore, the visibly dejected pitcher stormed out of the field in frustration. The fans, who felt let down, bashed him on social media. However, the Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, came to his rescue. He backed the pitcher and said it was one of those nights where nothing goes right for you. But he still believes German is an integral part of the rotation and will make a comeback in no time.
