Hour 4: The Return on Anthony Volpe

Craig Carton (0:00)

Malik Neighbors did not practice today with a knee injury. I didn't know if he heard his knee, I knew the shoulder was bungled. But Malik Neighbors did not practice today because of the knee.

Andrew Thomas did not practice.

Dellin Betances (0:11)

That groin is flaring up apparently.

Chris McMonigle (0:13)

He's gonna practice tomorrow or Friday, and he'll play.

Craig Carton (0:16)

Isaiah Likely was limited in practice today with both a knee situation and a groin. Cam Scadaboo, limited in practice today with a shoulder thing. But Deontay Banks, full participation with that calf issue.

Chris McMonigle (0:31)

Yeah, I expect until we hear more, I expect all of them to play.

Dellin Betances (0:34)

I agree. I agree.

Craig Carton (0:35)

But I didn't realize that Malik Neighbors had a problem with the knee.

Chris McMonigle (0:37)

Yeah, I didn't know he had the knee.

Craig Carton (0:38)

That's the first time I've heard that.

Dellin Betances (0:39)

Yeah.

Craig Carton (0:39)

We saw him go for the shoulder on that first catch.

Chris McMonigle (0:41)

It could just be knee, sore knee with the surgery. I don't know, just whatever.

Dellin Betances (0:44)

But yeah.

Craig Carton (0:45)

I know it's Yankees, but the Giants count.

Chris McMonigle (0:47)

No, Giants, absolutely.

Dellin Betances (0:48)

You want to win this game.

Craig Carton (0:49)

And they have a big game on Sunday.

Chris McMonigle (0:50)

Yeah, they have a huge game against Watt. Another winnable game.

Craig Carton (0:52)

Absolutely right.

Chris McMonigle (0:53)

Another winnable game. You got to stack up the winnable wins.

Craig Carton (0:55)

Against a banged up quarterback for Washington, too.

Chris McMonigle (0:58)

Absolutely. No, this is a game they got to go win. And they can.

Craig Carton (1:01)

Joining us now on the hotline is former New York Yankee, Dellin Betances, who I think is across the street right now at the dugout.

Chris McMonigle (1:07)

Yeah, he's getting ready for the dugout.

Craig Carton (1:09)

Getting ready for the big Corona pregame party. Dellin, it's Craig and Big Mac. How you doing, buddy?

Dellin Betances (1:15)

Hey, how you got going, man? Thank you for having me. Doing great.

Craig Carton (1:18)

Appreciate your time. Give me a sense, Dellin, as a guy that knows the area well growing up here, and also played for the Yankees, your expectation of this Yankee team and how they come out of the gate tonight for game three.

Dellin Betances (1:31)

Well, I think the offense got to come out aggressive. I feel like they put themselves in a hole here. Max Reed is going to be great. He's been great all year, so I'm not worried about him. I think the offense has to find a way to get some guys on base and create some runs early, because I think Cash is going to be aggressive with Volpe, so the offense has got to get going here.

Craig Carton (1:56)

Do you agree with the decision to play Anthony Volpe over Jazz Chisholm tonight?

Dellin Betances (2:02)

Well, if you look at Mick Martinia's splits, Reidy have actually fared better against him, so I actually like the decision. And Volpe played well in the wild card series, so in a short stage, you got to switch things up and you got to make decisions quickly, so I don't mind this right here.

Chris McMonigle (2:20)

Let me ask you a question because this has been a talking point. I know you were a leaf pitcher, but eight lefties in a lineup, do you think that is something where a pitcher can get, even if the splits are worse or whatever and he's worse against left-handed pitching, the idea that all game long he's pitching the same way, he's able to find a groove, he's able to work on different things that he might not be able to against right-handed pitching? Do you think there is something to that, where these guys can settle in against a lineup that looks one way?

Dellin Betances (2:50)

Definitely. You can definitely see that, especially for Nick Martinez. Nick Martinez is a guy that a lot of his change of the throw that a good amount. So that pitch is working for him. It could be tough for the lefties. It's a pitch that wasn't good for him later in the year, but it's a pitch that's usually good for him.

So if he gets grooved in there and feels good with that, it could get the Yankees, the lefties, in trouble there.

Chris McMonigle (3:13)

And then offensively also, a lot made about not long at bats. They really haven't worked the pitch count all that much. They're moving Trent Grisham to the top of the order, I think, to do that. Do you think they should be uber aggressive as they've been, or would you like to see the offense kind of make this guy, make Nick Martinez work a little bit to start the game?