Since the start of the season, Aaron Hicks has not yet had a single start on the sidelines of his team’s first three games. Today, during the third duel of the season, he is still on the bench.
In two games, he had one appearance at bat…he blew the air.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, he was not entitled to a turn at bat in the first games. He warmed up the bench due to the debut of Anthony Volpe.
This afternoon, for the first time in the regular season in the Majors, he plays in the field. He is at the center on this Sunday.
The infield surplus pushes IKF to the bench and forces the manager to vacate, more often than not, the hitting position of choice for an infielder.
Result? Giancarlo Stanton plays more consistently down the right, which pushes Aaron Judge elsewhere in the potato field. This cuts repetitions to Hicks, by force of circumstance.
It is done accordingly since last year, the two fellows did not exactly dominate. They don’t deserve to be starters and they will have to be patient.
When will the same treatment for Josh Donaldson?
But does that mean they will hardly ever play? No, not so much. They’re just going to be complementary pieces.
In the case of IKF, Aaron Boone said he was going to use him all over the place and it will be up to him to use his athleticism to help the club.
He also added that Hicks was going to play, but in the last few days he didn’t really like the matchup with the Giants and their pitchers. Hicks will be playing shortly, though.
If the guys are pros (and everything indicates they are), it’ll help the team. But if not, Boone will have a problem at hand.
