Adam Ottavino isn’t a fan of a runner starting an extra-inning game on second base. And he has company in Chad Green and Jordan Montgomery.
In Tuesday night’s intrasquad game, the Yankees put a runner on second several times. Ottavino started the top of the third inning with Tyler Wade on second.
“It is not real baseball,” Ottavino said when asked if he liked the new rule that will be used this season to avoid lengthy extra-inning games. “You get used to it but I don’t particular like having a runner out there that I haven’t earned.”
Wade was on first base before Green threw the game’s first pitch.
“I am not a fan of it because who wants to pitch with a runner on second and no out in an extra-inning game,” Green said. “It’s not something you necessarily look forward to when you are about to run out there. I think I heard Otto say he would like people to earn it, to get on second, and I kind of echo that. It’s not something I enjoyed.”
“Horrible,” said Montgomery who doesn’t have to worry about the rule since he is a starter.
Green started working on the pitch during the offseason and in spring training 1.0 and feels a lot more comfortable with the new grip of the breaking ball.
“It’s no secret that I tend to be one dimensional and not having a secondary pitch that I trust too much,’’ said Green, whose fastball is overpowering. “Being more comfortable, being more versatile, getting some easy outs and not having to grind through every inning.’’
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Asked if he had an update on Luis Cessa and DJ LeMahieu, Boone simply said, “No.”
Later in the Zoom call, Boone was asked if LeMahieu has been able to do baseball activities while in quarantine or has he been shut down and starting from zero when returning.
“Not from zero but I don’t want to get too much into commenting on them while they are away on COVID,” Boone said.
Montgomery looked like vintage Andy Pettitte for three innings of Tuesday night’s intrasquad game by striking out six batters. He then tired and didn’t retire any of the six batters he faced in the fourth.
“I would have liked to finish a little stronger. Just try to take a few positives out and work on the negatives for a better outing the next time,” said Montgomery, who will move from fifth starter to fourth if Masahiro Tanaka isn’t ready at the start of the season.
As for the positives, Montgomery liked the way he pitched against a lineup that featured Aaron Hicks, Luke Voit, Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton and Brett Gardner.
“I struck out six in three innings against some really good hitters,” Montgomery said.