Alex Verdugo’s slow trot to first base on a groundout during Wednesday’s loss to the Rangers was so blatant that it became a topic of conversation on the TV broadcast, and was enough for Aaron Boone to be asked about it by reporters after the 10-6 loss for the Yankees.
Boone defended his outfielder, saying he is “beat up” and “plays his ass off,” but Keith didn’t want to hear any of it.
“I don’t give a damn! I don’t give a damn about Verdugo being beat up,” Keith said. “I cannot watch him loaf to first base anymore. Not when Jasson Dominguez is down there hitting home runs. Not when Jasson Dominguez is trying to come up and help this team.
“Now Verdugo’s job is safe. He can just groundout to second base, lead the league in groundouts to second base and just trot down to first base, and the manager just takes up for him.”
Dominguez was not called up on Sunday when rosters expanded, which set off a large portion of the fanbase, and watching Verdugo’s baserunning on Wednesday only intensified frustration from fans like Keith, who want to see the team’s top prospect get playing time over Verdugo, who has largely struggled since May.
“They could have won the series, but are just stuck on stupid…it’s dumb,” Keith said. “It is so stupid to just go through the motions. They are such an unserious group with the things that they do.”