Losing Anthony Rizzo It’s not just about his bat, but his defense. So, when Ben Rice has been called upon to fill the lefty’s shoes, he’s being asked to fill some big shoes, and while the Yankees The rookie stood his ground, he made a mistake on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays that he wishes he could have back.
In the first round, Justin Turner it came with no one out and the men in second and third and Toronto already leading 1-0. Turner hit a soft ball down the first base line and Rice decided to release it to see if there was a foul. This did not happen and the ball hit the bag allowing Turner to get there safely first and apply more pressure to the holder. Carlos Rodon.
“Probably the inexperience there hurt him, but it’s one of those plays that will probably never happen to him again,” said the coach Aaron Boone said after the game. “In the end, you probably caught it, but you know the run is scoring there and it’s spinning and if you think you’re fouling it, it’s a feeling…it’s just a weird play. But probably one he should have picked up and removed.”
Rice echoed his manager’s sentiments.
“These are strange pieces. I’ve seen my fair share of this. Normally it stays fair, but I thought it was going to start going over the line and it didn’t,” he said. “I probably should have come and got him, but it is what it is.”
We’ll never know if Rice’s early strikeout would have changed the game, but Rodon would allow a three-run shot to George Springer in the next at bat to drop the Yankees 5-0 after the first. Rodon would end up allowing eight runs in five innings in 9-2 loss.
For Rice, 25, playing first base is a relatively new experience. The converted catcher has just 55 first base games in the minors, 22 of them this season. In total, he turned 28 double plays, with 37 assists and six errors.
In nine games (seven starts) in the big leagues, Rice has been very solid, making two assists and turning three double plays with no errors on his record.
“He is fine. I think he definitely did well there,” Boone said of Rice’s defense.
Rice says there are a lot of different things he’s getting used to playing first base in the major leagues. Specifically, he talked about the speed of the game, getting used to the way balls come off the sticks and knowing where to be on the field.
But overall, he’s happy with his progress.
“More and more comfortable with each game. The more reps in the game, the better,” Rice said. “It’s the learning process and I will continue to improve as much as I can. I like the improvements I’ve made and will continue to learn.”
With Rizzo still expected to miss several weeks, Rice can continue to get the major league playing experience he needs to solidify his defense. Just don’t use Thursday’s “weird” play against him.
