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Yankees: Gleyber Torres should’ve gotten day off in Thursday’s B lineup

ByAdam Weinrib|
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 30: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees in action against the Oakland Athletics during a game at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 30: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees in action against the Oakland Athletics during a game at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Aaron Boone gave most Yankees a strategic day off on Thursday. Why not Gleyber Torres?

Yankees fans have been complaining about the lineup since before the dawn of time, an especially annoying escapade when they’re tweeting about a 100-win team (or, in this case, a 9-2 start).

But what if the whining comes from a place of love for our clearly-ailing players?

Since getting drilled in the back elbow in Baltimore and leaving the game to let it mend, Gleyber Torres hasn’t been the same. He’s also played near-constantly, not even taking the next day off against the Boston Red Sox.

But Thursday, following a doubleheader (in which Torres played both halves, and did not record a hit), Aaron Boone put forth this getaway day lineup … with his aching slugger still penciled in there.

We’d rather Gleyber visit Mexico than play today.

Of course, the demotion to the Alternate Site of Thairo Estrada earlier on Thursday complicated this scenario, making it difficult for both DJ LeMahieu and Torres to sit. It’s true! But in terms of giving a guy a blow, Torres has probably shown much more of a reason to hit the pine, just once.

He delivered three hits, including the game-winner, last Sunday in Washington. He currently has five hits on the season.

Boone’s stated goal for the LeMahieu/Aaron Judge combo benching on Thursday was a strategic day of rest.

And it’s valid. Swift overuse of body parts that laid dormant for the entire summer could easily result in injury or breakdown. We don’t want that.

But why not strategically rest the Yankee who needs it most, prior to the team’s arrival in Tampa (where another doubleheader awaits)? Torres looks stiff, stilted, lost, and probably injured, to some extent. LeMahieu looks machine-like in comparison, and has rolled out of bed and hit day after day in 2020.

Before long, something will have to be done about Torres. It would’ve made plenty of sense to start the process on Thursday. Strategic day of rest, you know.

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