Big Mac Reacts to Anthony Volpe's Return to the Yankees

Craig Carton (0:00)

Buddy Bootylicious, 344, Carton Show with Big Mac.

Yeah, a little Celine Dion, why not? On a beautiful Thursday in New York City. Okay, we're gonna do this once, but we're gonna have at it. And you'll be the first guy to go, because you're the resident Yankee fan, the real Yankee fan here. And it's a very simple question. You can expand a little bit, obviously, but Volpe's been one of those guys. It's kind of a love-hate type of thing. I think most Yankee fans are like, no, it's enough, send him down. If I never see him again, I'm good with that. Volpe goes down to the minors by all accounts, has not only been a consummate professional, but has found his stroke, has only made a single error in, I guess, about 20 games in the minors at second base. And as we all learned yesterday, with the injury to Jazz Chisholm, Anthony Volpe is back, meaning he's playing second base. He's not back to come off the bench.

Chris McMonigle (0:56)

I would think.

Craig Carton (0:57)

So here's the question.

Chris McMonigle (0:58)

I'd be surprised if he's not the starting second baseman tonight.

Craig Carton (1:00)

Do you, are you, and how did I phrase it? Are you done with Anthony Volpe, never want to see him again?

Or are you of the opinion, happy to have him back? Good to see him back in the lineup.

Chris McMonigle (1:15)

I mean, I hate to edge it and say some, hedge it and say something between the two. No, happy to see him back. If it's one or the two, I never give up on...

Craig Carton (1:23)

And it can't be based on, well, if he's successful, it's today. Today. Are you happy he's back or wish you never saw him?

Chris McMonigle (1:29)

Well, I wish Jazz wasn't hurt. So I wish I never saw him.

SPEAKER_3 (1:33)

Jazz is hurt. Well, that's what I'm saying.

Craig Carton (1:35)

Like they could have gone copy arrow. I just been done with it.

Chris McMonigle (1:38)

Correct. I'm glad they're doing this over that. I'm glad Anthony Volpe is here. We said we would send him for years. Here's the other thing to what we complain about. The Yankee fans who will cry about this also have two big complaints. One meritocracy.

Right? Oh, it's a meritocracy. Now, I know for three years he struggled, but we also said Volpe has to go down. It's ridiculous. They never send him down. They treat it like he's been guaranteed shortstop. They never send him down and see if they can figure him out. Well, they sent him down. And for 20 games, it looks like he's figured it out. And he's performing. He deserves this shot. There's no question about it. Now, do I want to see him penciled in next year as the starting second baseman of this team? Because Jazz is a pretty serious. That's what I'm saying. Like, I'll be pissed, I mean, barring him going through this and into the playoffs and being great the rest of the way here. I don't want him to be penciled in to be the second baseman next year. Not good enough. But for this two week stretch with Jazz out, I am glad he's back. He went down, he worked his ass off. He's produced for two, for like a month and a half. Let him come up here and show what he's got. It's better than Caballero who, I'm sorry, I'm tired of seeing Caballero. He is better suited off the bench. So for me, I think this is the right thing to do. I think he deserves these two weeks. If he's awful, then we never see him again. If he's good, they're going to have decisions to make.

Craig Carton (2:53)

177 at bats in the minors, 11 home runs.

Chris McMonigle (2:56)

Including 177 since he went down this last time.

SPEAKER_3 (2:59)

Oh, I didn't put it in. That's what I'm saying.

Chris McMonigle (3:01)

That's because he started the year in the minors and he didn't hit well when he started in the minors.

Craig Carton (3:05)

Since being sent down. That's a fair point. Let me see if I can get it to you.

SPEAKER_3 (3:10)

Anthony Volpe.

Chris McMonigle (3:11)

All 11 home runs were during this time though.

Craig Carton (3:13)

All right, so here you go. Following his demotion, you guys call this a slash line? Is that what we baseball people refer to it as?

Chris McMonigle (3:22)

Yeah.

Craig Carton (3:22)

Weirdos.

SPEAKER_3 (3:23)

It's a slash line. No, no.

Chris McMonigle (3:25)

It's a term that's been around forever.