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TAMPA, Fla .– Talks are cheap at this point in the baseball program, but words will carry the weight of two of the most important Yankees of 2021. Any team that includes both Corey Kluber and DJ LeMahieu on the roster must appreciate conversation at high prices.
With Kluber and his alter ego “Klubot” joining LeMahieu’s “The Machine” in pinstripe LeMahieu, the Bombers have two of the most focused contenders in the league. It’s all business for both players, with the common goal of playing to their potential and bringing a World Series championship back to New York.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be the loudest person in the room,” Kluber said. “Like most people, the more comfortable you feel in a situation, the more you open up. I think that’s part of team building; one aspect of Spring Training is a little different now. . [due to COVID-19]. It is important to build this clubhouse culture. “
So far, the Yankees are excited about what they’ve seen from Kluber, who said his right shoulder was no problem for him. Kluber missed most of last season with the Rangers with a torn major teres muscle in his right shoulder. He said he didn’t feel like he was rehabilitating anymore; rather, Kluber is preparing as if he normally would at this point in the season.
“I haven’t had any problem with that now or anywhere during the rehabilitation process,” Kluber said. “It’s encouraging. Honestly, I don’t feel like I’m working on shoulder enhancement or anything like that yet. I think it’s in a place where, like anyone. what part of your body needs maintenance throughout the year. But I don’t put more emphasis on it than I am at the moment.
This allows the Yankees to dream of a front three in the rotation which could be made up of Gerrit Cole, Kluber and Jameson Taillon, with Luis Severino expected to return mid-season. A two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, Kluber turns 35 in April and is two years into the 2018 season where he went 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA in 33 starts for the Indians.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there have already been internal comparisons between the personalities of Kluber and LeMahieu, the latter having been the club’s most valuable player over the past two seasons.
“When we started down that path with Corey, you start to dive into a guy’s makeup,” Boone said. “Some of these comparisons were naturally pronounced because of the presence of DJs. There are probably similarities. I like to think that as much as these guys are ‘Klubot’ and ‘The Machine’, they’re low key to some. respects. But they’re also guys who, when you step into them, they have some really cool personalities. “
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake previously served as organizational pitch coordinator with the Indians, where all but one of Kluber’s big league innings were pitched. Blake described Kluber’s mental approach to pitching as “very concise and effective”.
“If you have direct questions for him, from my point of view he’s very sympathetic,” Blake said. “We can understand a lot at the launches level, going back a while and to the people we’ve shared experiences with. I think the most valuable part of him that people talk about is his consistency and preparation. very focused and detailed. It’ll fit in here. “
Yes, Kluber has heard the nickname “Klubot” a few times from his teammates; it’s not his favorite, but he doesn’t mind.
“I wouldn’t say I don’t like it; I just think it might have been a bit of a stretch at first [in Cleveland]”Kluber said.” I wouldn’t say I’m against it. It doesn’t really make a difference to me, honestly. “
More importantly, Kluber said his early days in the Stripes reinforced his belief that he had joined a top-notch organization, one that will give him the opportunity to be the last team standing in October.
“There are guys without a lot of experience; there are guys who come back from injury,” Kluber said. “As a group, we can’t pay attention to it. We just have to do the best job of preparing ourselves and being able to present a lot. That will take away those question marks at the end of the year.”
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