Dunedin, Fla. – As the battle for the final spot in the Yankees’ rotation continues, Aaron Boone said his focus is simply not on whether Devi Garcia or Domingo Jarman – or anyone else – will fill the No. 5 slot.
“Opening day and the beginning of the season is a big thing, it’s a long season,” Boone said Sunday. “Both those people and the beginner must be counted in big ways. Let us want to continue this and on April 1, when we are determining our roster, we have a good, hard decision to make – but it is also not a final decision. “
It is certainly possible that Garcia could start the season at an alternate venue to preserve her innings and give her more time to sharpen her control, which she admitted she did not want her to do with Blue Jay Be in a solid outing against.
Garcia tossed it in three innings and delivered an undisclosed run in a 5–1 win over Toronto at the TD Ballpark. He threw 44 pitches and some in the bullpen instead of making his fourth start and touched 95 mph.
The German is scheduled to start against the Phillies in Tampa on Monday.
“The Germans have looked more major league ready,” said a scout in attendance on Sunday. “But the way this season is going to work with the need of so many pitchers in different locations, they are better off starting with Garcia in a controlled environment, anyway.”
“I feel really good,” Garcia said through an interpreter. “My command was not exactly where I expected it to be.”
Boon agreed with Garcia’s assessment, but was able to make an outing when he liked making adjustments with his deliveries to make the big pitches needed to get out and out.
In a possible sign of development on the mound, the 21-year-old was able to put his fight through the issue in the second.
After leading Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a flyout by Cavan Bigigo, Garcia allowed Lourdes Gurrill Jr. to double right. The right fielder scored on Greg Allen’s throwing error, but Garcia got Randall Grichuk to fly and then hit. Reece McGuire.
In the third, Garcia fell 2–0 behind Marcus Semen, once again after a walk to George Springer, before being a double play grounder at the end of an inning.
This is the kind of progress Boone talked about before the game, when he mentioned Garcia’s previous start in Lakeland against the Tigers, in getting some double-play ground balls after he fell behind the batsmen. Were able
Boone said he would not “get caught up in the performance either.”
“It’s continuing to be more about him,” Boone said. “We want him to continue to develop and work on the pitches and command the ball how he wants it.”
He finished with two walks and a pair of exits, but was unwilling to stake his claim for a spot on the roster.
Garcia said, “Every time I go out and I ask for a lot of myself, I try to give it to her.” “I try to improve every outing. I think if you keep doing this, bit by bit, you can tell your case. “
Garcia said, “You come to camp and you understand the possibilities. You get excited about that. It’s not a decision I can make. I just want to give the best I have and throughout the process, Don’t forget to enjoy it. ‘
And if the Yankees have a season, they believe they are in-store for Garcia and the Germans – who will almost certainly be called out in a big way throughout the year – if not started on 1 April.
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