Gammonized by the Gammonites

So, I’m watching the game yesterday reveling in the joy and comfort that only baseball brings when I noticed a disturbing phenomenon. My internal monologue, normally limited to ponderings such as, “Will the weight of Aaron Judge’s new tooth throw off his delicate balance in the batter’s box?”, “Is Luke Voit continuing to shrink?” and, “How much does Aaron Boone hate talking to Michael Kay?" started to shift.

When Gleyber let a ball get by him that most shortstops gobble up easily my rational mind said, “It’s the first Spring Training game. Not only meaningless but he’s not in game shape yet which is totally understandable.”  

Ah, but much like the devil/angel on my shoulder schtick so prevalent in film and TV, a little Peter Gammons appeared on my shoulder and said, “He doesn’t have the range. He’s really a second baseman. This poor play at shortstop will effect his at bats.” That Gleyber got a hit in his next AB didn’t matter. 

It happened on the first play of the game as well. Aaron Judge let a ball drop in front of him instead of diving full out to get it.  “Smart. He’s fragile. Afraid to dive. It’s only a matter of time.", sez me, “The yoga will save him!" spoke the little shriveled up old man on my shoulder as he gummed some Cracker Jacks. 

The third time it happened Sanchez had gone down swinging on three straight fastballs.

I started to feel genuine unease. Not because the pitcher showed Sanchez no respect because he knew he couldn’t catch up to it. Not because he looked like a 38-year-old DH trying to find a walnut. Not because I worried about what was going to happen when they mix in a curve, and that the Yankees have made a huge mistake trusting this guy.

I felt unease because I heard the voice say, “First at bat, timing not down, pitchers ahead of the hitters, 3^rd in baseball in exit velocity…” 

And I thought, “Yeah, it’s early. He’s in the best shape of his life. He’s been working with the Yankee hitting coaches all winter to adjust his swing. Exit velocity IS an important statistic…”

And with increasing horror, bringing in Aroldis Chapman in the 9^th inning of an elimination playoff game level horror, I realized I’d been Gammonized by the Gammonites.