NEW YORK – After a terrible performance in the Subway Series opener, struggling second baseman Gleyber Torres was benched by New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone on Wednesday night.
Oswaldo Cabrera made his third start of the season at second when the Yankees faced the New York Mets at Citi Field. Boone said he planned to give Torres a few nights off “to sort of reorient himself.”
“I just felt like he needed it,” Boone said. “I just think he's too important and a guy that I'm confident will get going. But it's been a tough battle. It's been a battle. I think he feels that a little bit. I think it's hopefully something that will do him good – mentally, physically – to just take a breather and then work on getting him going. Because when he's in shape like we've all seen him, he's just a really important part of the lineup.”
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Torres began the day with a .215 batting average, seven home runs, 29 RBIs and an OPS of .628 – well below his career marks of .262 and .773. The two-time All-Star made 12 errors, three more than any other second baseman in the major leagues.
“He made too many mistakes. Those mistakes are certainly part of his story so far this season,” Boone said.
However, according to Boone, they are not injury-related.
“He's fine. I mean, he had a little problem with his groin and hip, but it's nothing serious,” the manager said.
Torres had a particularly rough night on Tuesday as the struggling Yankees, still leading the American League East after losing seven of nine games, fell 9-7 to their cross-town rivals.
He struck out fourth in the first inning with the bases loaded and no outs, swinging at the plate – the first of three consecutive strikeouts that allowed Mets starter David Peterson to get out of the inning unscathed.
As the infield got going again, Torres let a grounder get under his glove, resulting in an error that helped the Mets score three runs in the sixth inning.
And after the Yankees got within two runs in the eighth inning with a grand slam from Aaron Judge, Torres didn't run hard on his inning-ending groundout.
“That’s certainly one of the things that caught my attention,” Boone said.
Boone said when he went to bed Tuesday night, he initially had Torres in the starting lineup for Wednesday, but the manager changed his mind after he woke up and called Torres to tell him he would be on the bench.
Torres respects the decision, Boone said.
“Hopefully something that will serve him well in some way,” Boone said.
The 27-year-old Torres could become a free agent after the World Series.
“We haven't talked specifically about it being a burden on him,” Boone said. “He's been such a consistent offensive player his whole career that he's having a hard time getting into shape. I think it's a burden on him – especially the last few days. So that's just my thought process as to why that's the case now.”
From his vantage point in the dugout, Boone believes he's noticed a mechanical flaw in Torres' swing lately.
“I'll leave that up to him and the hitters,” Boone said. “I mean, the thing is, he's worked really hard. But sometimes a little mental hit can go a long way.”
“Sometimes I think just sitting and watching can be beneficial. Not being in the arena, not being in the thick of the action, and watching the game from afar can be beneficial for a regular player.”
