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TAMPA – For those worried that the nerds already have too much of a say over the Yankees, it certainly won’t encourage you to know that the team’s ultra-popular machine has been joined by a Klubot.
Again, who wouldn’t want Corey Kluber to become the pitching version of DJ LeMahieu on the team?
In fact, the Yankees would likely settle for Kluber, the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, providing half of LeMahieu’s average value (4.45 wins over substitution, according to Baseball-Reference.com) in his first two Yankees seasons, as long as he’s ready to go in October. Although Brian Cashman and his company bet $ 11 million for Kluber, 34, to bounce back from two injury-prone seasons, his approach to the game and potential benefits have not been lost on them.
“I think when we started down that path with Corey, and you start to dive into maybe some guy’s makeup or whatever, some of those comparisons were naturally pronounced just because DJ is here obviously,” so there are probably some similarities, ”Aaron Boone said on Friday, after a pitching and catching practice session at the Yankees player development complex. “I also like to think that as much as these guys are The Klubot and The Machine and low key in some ways, they’re also guys who, when you get there, have some really cool personalities.
Kluber, who pitched for Stetson University alongside another quiet guy named Jacob deGrom, said of his nickname on Friday: “I wouldn’t say I don’t like it. I think maybe that was a bit of a stretch, would be my thought. I wouldn’t say I’m for or against. It doesn’t make any difference to me, honestly.
If you’ve watched Kluber lead the Indians to Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, a win before ending the franchise title drought, you could tell the grip was underplayed, so much was its freshness on the mound. and his drought in the media room were significant. When his manager, Terry Francona, lifted him up in the seventh round of Game 1 of the AL Championship Series, with the Indians holding a 2-0 lead, Kluber headed for the dugout and did not not recognized the standing ovation from Progressive Field. When a disruptive New York reporter (OK, that was me) asked him about possible dissent, a surprised-looking Kluber replied, “I’m still locked up at this point. I can’t just flip a switch and turn it off.
Spoken like a real Klubot, didn’t he?
“I think that’s his character. I wouldn’t say ‘dry’ in my words, but I think it’s very concise and effective in his language and communication, ”said Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake, who got to know Kluber while working in the Indian minor league system. . “I think it opens up more in a part of the social fabric of a team. I think he derives a lot from those relationships. I think the most valuable part of him that a lot of people are talking about is just his consistency and preparation and the way he conducts his job and is very focused, detailed and attentive. It’s going to fit in here with a lot of guys.
“For sure. I don’t think I’ll ever be the loudest person in a room,” Kluber conceded. “But I think probably like most people, the more comfortable you feel in a situation, the more you open up to people. I think that’s part of the team spirit. “
LeMahieu joined the Yankees for 2019 after receiving a surprisingly large commitment ($ 24 million over two years) and experiencing a few disappointing seasons. The soft-spoken veteran quickly became a clubhouse and a crowd favorite, his actions speaking loudly and his few words echoing, and the Yankees held him back for $ 90 million in January.
It’s very hard to imagine Kluber, arriving under similar circumstances, reaching a new career high in the stripes like LeMahieu. It’s easier to wonder if he can join ace Gerrit Cole as a starting option in the playoffs. What if he can imbue his teammates with wisdom and consistency along the way.
It’s something other than a cheesy proposition. All eyes are on the Klubot to see if he can turn it into reality.
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