Austin Wells makes first Yankees start with hope his rehab stint could serve as ‘reset’
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Austin Wells was behind the plate for the Yankees for the first time Sunday since hitting the injured list with cervical headaches.
The catcher went 0-for-2 with a strikeout, but both Wells and manager Aaron Boone are confident that his ability to work on his approach at the plate while on a rehab stint with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will be beneficial.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Yankees hoped the time in the minors might serve as something of a “reset” for Wells, according to Boone.
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Wells has continued to wear a one-piece face mask, which resembles a hockey goaltender’s mask, instead of the more traditional two-piece mask he’d worn throughout his career.
He made the switch shortly before being sidelined and used it in the minors.
While rehabbing, Wells said he took “one or two” foul balls off the helmet and noticed an improvement from his previous headgear.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHe also hasn’t experienced any more headaches, which he hopes are behind him.
The Yankees certainly could use more offense from the catcher position, since Wells, J.C. Escarra and Ali Sánchez have mostly struggled.
Escarra was optioned to SWB after Saturday’s game, as the Yankees preferred to keep the righty-hitting Sánchez around with several left-handed pitchers lined up to face them in the coming week — including Framber Valdez and Tarik Skubal in Detroit.
Boone added that Sánchez and his wife are expecting, which could lead to Sánchez landing on the paternity list and a return of Escarra.
“Ali has earned some opportunities,’’ said Boone, who’s been impressed with Sánchez’s work on defense, as well.
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Gerrit Cole, originally scheduled to start Sunday, was pushed back to Monday in Detroit, as the Yankees looked to give their rotation a break in the middle of a 16-day stretch without an off day.
Cole has made five starts since returning from Tommy John surgery and said he feels good and the extra day was the team’s suggestion.
“It’s not that big a deal,” Cole said, adding it didn’t impact his preparation between starts.
The Yankees felt that with Cole, along with Carlos Rodón, coming back from elbow surgeries, and young pitchers like Cam Schlittler and Will Warren in the rotation, a break was beneficial.
The transition of Carlos Lagrange to the bullpen — at least for now — continued Sunday, with the right-hander tossing a scoreless inning for SWB. He hit 100 mph twice in the outing as the Yankees prepare him to pitch as a reliever for the rest of this season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Yankees have said they want him to be able to pitch on back-to-back days before bringing him to The Bronx, which he still hasn’t done, but it’s becoming clearer that Lagrange will likely be part of a new-look bullpen with the Yankees fairly soon.
Trent Grisham has been doing on-field agility drills, and Boone said he’s “encouraged” by how the center fielder is recovering from a right hamstring strain.
“Maybe a little surprised he’s moving as well as he is,” Boone said.
Without Grisham, they used José Caballero in center after some pinch-hitting moves in the bottom of the sixth, and he was slow to get to Spencer Steer’s grounder up the middle and then threw wildly, which allowed Steer to get to third.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
