Jazz Chisholm let another umpire in his head after botched call in Yankees vs. Twins

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the best second baseman in the American League. He's a 40-40 player since arriving in New York. He made an instant impact after the Yankees traded for him last summer, and he's managed to bottle and retain it this season, leading on the field with plenty of flourishes. He confidently speaks his mind. He builds the Yankees up with fervent belief. And, sometimes, he needs to listen to himself and just move past things that bother him.

Chisholm Jr. has managed to wave one particular red flag this year multiple times, butting heads with several different strike zones and occasionally getting penalized for it. When Chisholm gets hosed, it bothers him, and he lets it linger. It got him ejected (and temporarily suspended) in Tampa. Jose Trevino inspired the umpires to toss him in Cincinnati. He posted "SMD" and aimed it in the direction a fan who tried to talk back at him after a loss in Houston two weeks back, and was lucky to dodge punishment there, too.

And, on Monday evening, in a game in which the Yankees have largely been caught sleeping, Chisholm cannot afford to get caught up in another mess. He's too important to an offensive attack that hasn't managed to start much of anything in Minnesota yet.

Chisholm was, of course, correct in his anger. He was hosed on a 1-2 pitch by home plate umpire Sean Barber, serving as the seventh of Simeon Woods-Richardson's eight strikeouts through four innings of work. But then he did the one behavior he must curb; he took it to the field, continuing to jaw at Barber after emerging from the dugout to play defense.

Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. jawing at umpire Sean Barber after bad strike three call vs. Twins

Chisholm Jr. has to channel the fire internally, responding by imprinting his typical brand of baseball onto a Twins team that should be playing out the string.

So far, it seems like the pressure is very much on the Yankees in this one, even after finishing their "Gauntlet" smelling like roses. This was supposed to be the "easy" part of their schedule, and their early incompetence is beginning to make them aggrieved. That has to turn around. Quicker than they're probably thinking.