Don't let Yankees' Subway Series collapse distract from another Anthony Volpe gaffe

It surely would've been nice if Yankees fans could be celebrating Anthony Volpe's impressive showing at the plate this weekend against the Mets. He went 2-for-6 with three RBI, driven by two clutch hits on Sunday. He also walked an astounding seven times.

Unfortunately, his efforts did nothing to help the Yankees win on Friday, and his contributions went to waste on Sunday. Then, after the Yankees blew a three-run lead in the ninth in the finale, Volpe made what should be referred to as a defensive miscue on the game-ending play.

As much as we'd like to sweep it under the rug and credit his success at the plate, we can't. This is a fundamental play, and it's important cooler heads prevail in these tense moments.

With runners on first and third and Carson Benge at the plate, the Yankees moved left field Max Schuemann to the infield. They went with five infielders to try and throw out the game-winning run at home.

Benge hit a slow chopper up the middle, a shade toward the second base side, where Schuemann was positioned. Would he have made the play? We truly do not know, it would have been incredibly close. But he never got the chance to, because Volpe came barreling in from the shortstop side to collide with Schuemann. The run scored. The game ended.

Anthony Volpe still struggling with shortstop fundamentals for Yankees

After the game, Volpe said he and Schuemann were "both trying to make a play in a do-or-die moment", but it was obvious Volpe completely disregarded the strategy behind the alignment. The Yankees brought in the extra infielder to cover more ground and to maximize the possibility of fielding the ball cleanly and get off a throw to home.

Volpe thinking that darting across the infield, securing the ball, and throwing away from his body would have solved the issue is simply poor baseball acumen. If Schuemann backhands that and makes a seamless transfer, we have a play at the plate, at the very least. If Volpe fields that, his momentum is taking him in the complete opposite direction, where was already wildly outstretched.

Slow down the video of the play. Pause it multiple times. There is a 0% chance this was how Aaron Boone wanted his shortstop to react with the game on the line, even though he defended Volpe's reaction when he was asked about it afterwards.

More of the same, and we're sick of it. In moments like these, nothing goes unnoticed by Yankees fans. Everybody had their chance after the 26-12 start to get away with this type of malfeasance. But now that they're 28-19? Not quite.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow