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Yankees first baseman Luke Voit really did his best to say all the right things on Sunday after his first game since his dream world was turned upside down.
His initial reaction to the Yankees’ trade for Anthony Rizzo?
“I’m glad he’s a part of the squad,” Voit said from the Zoom Room at Yankee Stadium after being activated from the injured list and going 0-for-4 in the 2-0 loss of Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners.
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Sees was not credible in saying he was happy his GM was traded for an all-star first baseman when he was finally healthy and on the verge of returning. Sees finally admitted that Rizzo’s trade was “frustrating.” He also admitted he would play for “29 other teams” who might want him next season while “playing with all his heart” to try and help the Yankees for the rest of this season in any role in the game. which he’s thrown… “whether it’s off the bench or playing first or DH-ing or whatever.
Voir joined the Yankees on Sunday after three AAA rehab games because Rizzo, three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, tested positive for COVID after Saturday’s game, his ninth since being traded by the Chicago Cubs in July. 29, the day before the baseball trade deadline.
The Yankees pushed hard to trade Sees after acquiring Rizzo, and it hurt.
“After the Rizzo affair… my name was often thrown out there,” Sees said. “As far as you can look (the trade rumors), you have no idea. With all the growling and stuff, it was more I left my phone on the table and if anything happened, it happened. I’m still a New York Yankee.
Sees loved to start his career with the Cardinals in his hometown of St. Louis, but it was nothing to be successful with the Yankees. They were the ones who really gave him a chance to play, and he took it like a bull smashing down a barn door. It suited a very strong and tall man whose determination matches his enormous right-handed power.
Voir was the iron man for the Yankees in 2020, playing more than anyone at his club, 56 of 60 games, and most of them limping on a very painful foot that was surgically repaired after the season. Sees did not just persevere. He led the majors with 22 home runs and became the vocal leader of a ball club that had to fight and fight their way to another playoff spot.
This year, Voit showed up to spring training determined to prove to opponents that he was no flash in the pan for a short season. Confident and outspoken, Voit has said he wants to lead the league in the circuits again.
Five months and one week after the start of the 2021 campaign, Voit has as many relays in IL as he has homeruns, three in 30 games.
His knee pain during spring training was apparently nothing, but led to surgery in March to repair a torn meniscus and then to miss the Yankees’ first 33 games before his debut in the May 11 season. On May 26, he was back on IL with a right oblique strain, which led to 23 missed games. He returned to IL for the third time on July 12 with an inflamed left knee and was sidelined for 21 more games before returning on Sunday.
All the while, the Yankees barely patrolled while playing .500 baseball for much of the season, and the offensive struggles of an overloaded roster of right-handed hitters were often the main culprit. Ahead of the trade deadline, Brian Cashman balanced things out by trading two really big left-handed sticks, all-star outfielder Joey Gallo on July 28 and Rizzo the next day.
“I understand,” said Voit. “I haven’t traveled much this year. I guess the right opportunity has presented itself for the front office to do something. I played about 20 games this year.
Rizzo was an immediate hit for the Yankees, winning a homerun in his first two games and delivering a single eighth inning equalizer in his third in a Miami Marlins sweep two weekends ago. . A week later, Rizzo is out for at least 10 days and Voit is back eager to show everyone that he is healthy and can still be an offensive force that makes a difference.
“I can go there every day,” said Voit. “I’ve had about 100 days off this year so I’m fine.”
Sees looked rusty on Sunday. Facing Seattle southpaw Yusei Kikuchi, he struck twice, once with bases loaded, and jumped short with two ons and two out. Against Mariners right-hander Drew Steckenrider, Voit burned a field short in his last appearance at home plate on which JP Crawford played well.
“I thought hitters got better as they went along,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think he made a good adjustment to Kikuchi by his third at bat, but he probably left the zone a little more than he would like.”
Voir was disappointed with his results, but he is delighted to be in good health. Judging by his rehab batting matches, he’s confident he’ll be back in his 2020 form soon.
“During my rehabilitation I was hitting balls really well,” said Voit. “I was hitting balls like I did last year. I feel good. This is probably the best I have felt in a long time. Obviously, the results were not there (Sunday). I dropped the team in two places – big places to drive in the races – but overall I’m happy to be back with the guys. It’s been a really strange year for me and I’m excited for this playoff push. “
The push is the only objective of Voit on the field. The Yanks started playing better baseball a few weeks before the trade deadline, then got very hot once Rizzo joined them. Sunday’s loss, which ended a five-game winning streak, left the Yankees with a 61-50 record that puts them 6½ games behind the AL East leaders Tampa Bay Rays and 2 ½ games from the second AL Wild Card.
For about a week and a half, Voit will likely be an everyday player again. After that, it is not known how much he will play. Another injury from an outfielder or designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton could open up a lot of batting in DH. Then, after the season, Voit could end up first on the Yankees’ first base depth chart again if Rizzo uses his impending free agency to sign elsewhere. Sees, who still has three years of team control after 2021, could stay put or be traded.
“I’m just worried about (Monday night’s) game against Kansas City,” said Voit. “This year is the worry of winning a World Series with the Yankees.”
Sees probably thinks his Yankees’ days are about to end. How could he not? But he’s believable when he says he’ll focus on being a valuable puzzle piece for a 2021 Yankees ball club that now looks like a very tough end to the season if it gets in there.
“I know I show my emotions when I play, but I don’t let things bother me too much,” Sees said. “It’s just something I was lucky enough to, I guess from my family. I can always go overnight and rinse it off.
Sees still has some control. If he starts hitting home runs like he did last year, he’ll likely get regular hitters and work his way to a starting position in 2022 with the Yankees or someone else.
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