Mike Tauchman

New York Yankees: Mike Tauchman’s Season is Likely Over

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Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

New York Yankees’ outfielder Mike Tauchman was removed in Sunday’s game against the Boston Red Sox with an apparent left leg injury. Reports on Monday said that Tauchman suffered a grade 2 left calf strain which most likely ends his season.

“I hurt for him,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s been such an important player for us. I know he’s a big part of us moving forward, even though obviously it’s not going to be on the playing field for a while. Right now, I’m just bummed for him, but we’ve got to keep moving.”

After tracking down a hit into left field yesterday, Tauchman was clearly uncomfortable going to field the ball. He hopped to it before throwing it into second base.  “I planted coming in on that ball and I felt it grab up on me,” said Tauchman. “It felt a little bit like I got kicked, which would be weird because I was the only person in left field.”

Tauchman’s absence will be covered primarily by Cameron Maybin. Even though Maybin has been dealing with wrist issues, he spoke of it before Monday’s game against the Red Sox where he indicated that he believes that is behind him. Clint Frazier, who just recently was called back up, will most likely also be seeing more playing time.

This season Mike Tauchman has batted .277 with 13 home runs and 47 runs batted in. He’s proved to the New York Yankees that he can produce both offensively and defensively in the major leagues.

New York Yankees have difficult decision to make in the outfield

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New York Yankees, Cameron Maybin

With the New York Yankees heading into the back end of the regular season, difficult decisions loom for manager Aaron Boone. Specifically, in the outfield, the Yankees are stacked with talent and potential for the playoffs.

Finding the right players, however, is the tricky part. Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, and Brett Gardner will all be postseason players. Beyond those starting three, the Yankees and Boone need to make several difficult decisions based on who will provide the most value and efficiency at the plate.

Injuries have plagued the team this season, which has forced regular starter Giancarlo Stanton out for a majority of the campaign. He will likely be the designated hitter for the playoffs if he can manage to return in time.

As a whole, the outfield has been as productive this season as last, when it was one of the majors’ best. With a .835 OPS of 2019 compared to .812 last year, the unit is not only productive at the plate but also defensively.

Adding the likes of Cameron Maybin and Mike Tauchman have allowed the Yankees to experiment with different combinations of players and avoid significant fatigue to their primary starters. Maybin and Tauchman have a combined .853 OPS and 3.5 wins above replacement in 504 plate appearances.

Boone will have a difficult decision to make when it comes to choosing between the two journeyman players. The former is a better base runner and is just as talented on the defensive side of the ball, but Tauchman is a lefty and provides the lineup with a bit more diversity.

Throw in the likes of Clint Frazier, and Boone might not be sleeping much for the next several weeks. Frazier, who is had a tough time staying at the major league level with attitude issues, still has offensive value despite his defensive woes.

Gardner will likely retain his spot for the postseason given his veteran leadership and ability to come in clutch. Hicks, who has been dealing with injuries throughout the season is the primary centerfielder and will also earn a spot.

The final outfield spot will likely come down to Maybin and Tauchman — I favor Cameron simply because he offers more in every facet of the game than Mike. Stanton will be the obvious choice to hold over the left-field position if he can play defense, but he is looking like the penciled in designated hitter once he returns.

New York Yankees: Will these 2 players earn postseason roster spots?

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Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

With the postseason right around the bend for the New York Yankees, they must start to gain momentum heading into the back end of the regular season.

With a stellar performance by starting pitcher James Paxton against the Texas Rangers, allowing just one hit and striking out 12 batters over seven innings, he is elevating his game at the perfect time. Yankees also smash six home runs through seven, five of which came during an eight-run two-inning rally.

As the playoffs near, the Yankees must begin to think about the roster and who can play an impactful role moving forward.

Could the seemingly outcasted Clint Frazier earn the nod for the postseason? Or will the Yankees elect to go with more established players like Cameron Maybin?

It is also possible they pull up Mike Ford as a third first baseman given the recent injuries to Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion. While that is unlikely, there are plenty of things manager Aaron Boone can do to ensure he has the firepower in the batting order against teams with better pitchers.

Nonetheless—

Here are two New York Yankees players that could be pulled up for the postseason:

1.) OF Mike Tauchman

With only two hits in his last 31 at-bats, Tauchman is currently hitting a rough patch before the regular season comes to an end. However, he has had a rather impressive campaign, hitting .279 on the season with 12 homers and 45 RBIs. He also has 31 walks to his name.

As a back of the order hitter, Tauchman offers value as a lefty and as a defensive player. Over 81 games this season, he has earned a .993 fielding percentage with two total errors. He has played every outfield position this season and can be utilized as a utility player in the scenario of an injury. He offers average offensive abilities but better defensive, which makes him a decent option if Boone elects to keep him for the postseason.

2.) OF Clint Frazier

One of the more questionable Yankees players is Clint Frazier.  His privileged attitude and inability to abide by Yankees law has seemed to push them down the pecking order for potential pull-ups to the majors. However, Frazier has been a solid offensive player while at the top level for the Bombers this season. Hitting .276 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs, Frazier holds value in that facet.

While his sample size is only 250 plate appearances and 196 at-bats, he has elite bat speed and can produce in clutch moments. That gives him value for a potential playoff roster spot, but his defense is so bad that he cannot be trusted in the field. That factor alone will likely leave them off the active roster for the playoffs, but he can’t be rolled out with time left to prove his worth. This season he has a .952 fielding percentage with six total errors.

If Frazier wishes to earn a spot for the postseason, he must show better defensive qualities, more so then he put on display several days ago against the Oakland Athletics.

New York Yankees: Shut Out For the First Time in Over a Year

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

On Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2019, the New York Yankees were shutout by Mike Minor and the Texas Rangers.

Minor went 7 and 1/3 innings, allowed 5 hits, one walk, struck out 5, and lowered his ERA to 3.12 (Baseball-Reference). This outing could make the Yankees front office second guess their decision to not get a starting pitcher at the deadline.

The Yankees only amassed 6 hits in the game and left six runners on base (Baseball-Reference). Mike Tauchman had two, Tyler Wade, Gary Sanchez, Mike Ford, and Luke Voit each had a hit (Baseball-Reference). The Yankees have seemed to struggle against some of the teams in the AL West the past few seasons.

One Shutout will not Stop this Offense

The last time the Yankees were shutout was June 30, 2018, against the Boston Red Sox (mlb.com). This team has lost a lot of games since then, but they were not shutout in any of them. That is fascinating. This offense has revolutionized the value of powerful bats up and down the lineup. They have set records: most home runs by a team (until the Twins passed them two days ago), most home runs in a calendar month as a team, and consecutive games with a home run as a team. Those records should not be taken lightly.

Again, once everyone is healthy, whether it is the end of the season or next season, there is no record that this offense cannot break. Anyone can lead the offense on any given day, that is what makes this offense different from any other in MLB history. The New York Yankees’ offense should be a force come the postseason, especially at home with the lively crowd at their backs.

New York Yankees: The Top 3 “Next Man Up”

by
Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are notorious for having the most players on the injured list this season. Since it seems that the Yankees can’t keep their guys off the IL, replacement players have been called upon to fill in roles. The phrase “Next Man Up” has been used by fans this season to show that this dominant Yankees team is not superstars, and every guy they call up will compete. Here’s a list of the top three “Next Man Up”:

Gio Urshela

“The most happy fella,” Gio Urshela has been a surprise superstar for the New York Yankees this season. Known for his stellar defense, Urshela has shined offensively as well. Every night it seems that he’s in the mix of players who have done something productive to help the team win.

Currently, Urshela’s batting average would tell you that he’s been a seasoned Major League player. However, it’s only a first real year in the pros and he’s dominating. Urshela is currently slashing .337/.379/.585 which stands with some of the other premier players in the MLB. For reference, Mike Trout is batting .298 and Urshela is batting .337. Keep in mind, Trout only has 42 more at-bats then Urshela…

Mike Tauchman

One of the most surprising stars of the Yankee lineup, Mike Tauchman has proven that he’s capable of performing in the big leagues. Taking Giancarlo Stanton’s spot while he’s rehabbing, Tauchman seems to also be in the mix of players contributing every night.

Tauchman was given his chance this year with the Yanks and hasn’t taken it lightly. In 69 games with the club, he’s batting .289 with 12 home runs. His defense has also been nothing short of spectacular. Take a look at this robbery…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wqt-HlX9vI

All MLB outfielders who have a .290+ BA, .360+ OBP, and a .540+ SLG, are Cody Bellinger, Charlie Blackmon, George Springer, Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, and… Mike Tauchman (yes, you read that right).

Cameron Maybin

A 13-year veteran in the major leagues, Cameron Maybin is a guy who’s bounced around from team to team. The Yankees acquired Maybin to seek outfield help when everyone was on the injured list earlier this season. From then, he’s been nothing short of a “backup.” Maybin has earned every right to be in the Yankee lineup and his offensive and defensive numbers show it.

Maybin is batting .312 this season with eight home runs and 26 runs batted in. He’s buried a little bit behind the all-star Yankee outfield, but in his short time playing Maybin has contributed just about as much as he can.

New York Yankees: Why Tauchman is a Better Option than Frazier

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Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

There’s been controversy ever since the New York Yankees surprisingly demoted Clint Frazier to triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders. However, the promoted of Mike Tauchman to the Bronx is what the New York Yankees should have done from the beginning.

Now both players can swing it. Tauchman and Frazier have shown aggressiveness and pop when they are at the plate, but there’s still something that separates them. Tauchman stays more consistently in the zone while Frazier tends to chase a bit. However, for the most part, Frazier and Tauchman go hand-in-hand when it comes to offensive talent.

The factor that separates the players the most is their defensive ability. Mike Tauchman is far beyond Frazier in the outfield. It is believed that Frazier was demoted due to his lack of defensive soundness. And for Tauchman, he’s one of the best defensive outfielders in the Major Leagues.

Another thing to note about Clint Frazier when comparing to Mike Tauchman is attitude. When Frazier was sent back down to triple-A, he took his full 72-hour gap before he had to report to Scranton. When Tauchman was sent down for a few games, he was there that night to be in the lineup. That right there says something about Frazier’s character compared to Tauchman.

Both players will definitely make an impact when October rolls around. Frazier will most likely be on the postseason roster and he could be utilized as a DH with Edwin Encarnacion. Tauchman is just so consistent, he’ll be wanted in the lineup. Consistency over everything.

New York Yankees Weekly Recap + ESM Yankee Players of the Week 8/5-8/11

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New York Yankees, Gio Urshela

Weekly Recap:

After coming off a four-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees made short work of the Baltimore Orioles with a sweep at Camden Yards. The bombers outscored the last-place Orioles 32-12 in three games, now sitting at 13-2 against their division rivals. This also includes a perfect 10-0 record at Camden Yards. The last time the Yankees lost to the Orioles was on March 31, the third game of 2019 for both squads.

From Baltimore, they traveled to Toronto, though did not fare as well against the Blue Jays. Despite winning the opener 12-6, they would drop the next two by scores of 8-2 and 5-4. In the finale, the Yankees would take the lead in the fifth on a Brett Gardner ground-rule double but had to endure a 13-pitch battle between closer Aroldis Chapman and Blue Jays rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to scrape away a 1-0 victory.

On the week, the New York Yankees finished 5-2 as they continue to lock down the A.L. East and look towards October. Here are the division standings entering Monday:

A.L East Standings (As of 8/12):

New York (A.L.): 77-41

Tampa Bay: 69-50, 8.5 Games Back

Boston: 62-58, 16 Games Back

Toronto: 49-72, 29.5 Games Back

Baltimore: 39-78, 37.5 Games Back

Gary Sanchez returns from I.L.:

The New York Yankees’ lineup received reinforcements on Saturday when catcher Gary Sanchez was activated from the 10-day I.L. Sanchez had been on the I.L. since July 24 with a Grade 1 Groin Strain, his third groin injury in the past two seasons. In his two games back last week, Sanchez went 1-for-7, his one hit being a 426-foot solo home run in Toronto.

Injury Updates on Severino, Betances:

Sanchez isn’t the reinforcements the New York Yankees will receive, as both Luis Severino and Dellin Betances are making significant progress in hopes of making their 2019 debuts. While in Toronto, Severino threw a 29-pitch bullpen, reporting that the session was “better than I expected.”

Severino’s session was the first time he has been on a pitcher’s mound since March when he went down with right shoulder inflammation, followed by a Grade 2 Lat Strain. This comes after signing a four-year, $40 million extension that has him under team control until 2022.

Betances meanwhile threw a 20-pitch session, reporting similar results. The four-time all-star went on the I.L. in March with right shoulder impingement. He had initially resumed throwing in early June but soon was shut down again after an MRI revealed a low-level lat strain. Betances was set to be a free agent at the end of the year, but his absence may result in a short term extension.

And now, it is once again time for…

Empire Sports Media’s Yankee Players of the Week:

Gio Urshela:

5 games, 9-20 (.450), 5 HR, 10 RBI, 8 Runs Scored, 1.300 SLG %

Mike Tauchman:

7 games, 10-24 (.417), 5 HR, 10 RBI, 5 BB, 7 Runs Scored, 1.125 SLG %

For the second straight week, ESM presents your CO-Yankees of the Week! This time, the honor goes to Mike “the Sockman” Tauchman, as well as Mean (Woo!) Gio Urshela.

Despite starting the week recovering from a pair of pitches fouled off of both legs in the series finale against Boston, Urshela made up for lost time with back-to-back multi-homer games against Baltimore and Toronto. Entering Monday’s doubleheader against Baltimore, Mean Gio is hitting .323 with 17 home runs, 61 RBI, and a .940 OPS.

The Sockman had a very similar week in terms of production, also hitting five dingers and driving in 10. Entering Monday, Tauchman is batting .300 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI, and a .960 OPS.

Honorable Mentions (Not In Order):

Brett Gardner:

6 games, 9-23 (.391), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 Runs Scored, 1.243 OPS, 1 Interesting Ejection

Another solid week is in the books for the longest-tenured Yankee, though it came with some fireworks. During game two of the four-game series with Toronto, many in the Yankees dugout were chirping at home plate umpire Chris Segal over questionable strike calls. The result was Segal throwing out a player who wasn’t involved, namely Gardner.

Upon realizing what had happened, the veteran outfielder stormed out of the dugout and had to be restrained by Aaron Boone as he ripped the young umpire.  Gardner did hit his bat into the dugout ceiling but never said a word to Segal before the ejection.

But the ejection itself was not the source of Gardner’s anger, but rather what came of it. After his ejection, Aaron Judge, who was in the midst of a slump, was brought in as a defensive replacement.

“The whole thing is Judgey finally getting a much needed day off,” Gardner said after the Yankees lost 8-2 that day, “He has to go into the game in the fourth inning because of what happened. That makes me madder than anything. The last thing I would do is intentionally get thrown out and him having to come off the bench like that.”

Two days later, Gardner got his revenge thanks to an RBI ground-rule double in the fifth, the only offense for either side in a 1-0 bomber victory.

Masahiro Tanaka:

Vs. Baltimore (8/5): ND, 5.1 Innings, 10 Hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Vs. Toronto (8/11): W, 8.0 Innings, 3 Hits, 4 SO

Despite giving up five earned runs in his previous start against Baltimore, Tanaka Time in Toronto was a good time Yankee fans. Through eight shutout innings, he allowed only three hits and struck out four. For his career, Tanaka is now 13-5 with a 2.69 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 123.2 Innings against Toronto.

James Paxton:

Vs. Baltimore (8/7): W, 6.2 Innings, 5 Hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO

Typically when James Paxton had a quality start this year, the offense couldn’t back him up. That wasn’t the case last Wednesday in Baltimore, as the bombers put up 14 runs in a 14-2 victory. That was more than enough for the Big Maple, who would allow only one run and strike out seven through six and two-thirds innings. This start ended up being Paxton’s second straight quality start.

D.J. LeMahieu:

7 games, 9-28 (.321), 1 HR, 5 RBI

Cameron Maybin:

5 games, 8-22 (.364), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 Runs Scored, 1.119 OPS

New York Yankees: The Embarrassment of Riches

by
Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

The sensational year that the injury-riddled New York Yankees are having could not have been predicted by the organization.

Most of the credit has to go to the Yankees front office, principally General Manager Brian Cashman. Considered to be one of the best general managers of all time, Cashman has worked his magic yet again. He is famously known for turning unknowns into stars when they come to the Bronx. Looking back to last year, the trade for Luke Voit was just the beginning. His pure power and ability to hit to the opposite field turned him into a star, using the short porch in right field. 

Fast forward to this year, the Yankees add Mike Tauchman (from trade), DJ Lemahieu (free agent signing), Gio Urshela (free agent signing), Edwin Encarnacion (from trade), and Cameron Maybin (from trade). The big question is: with all of these guys producing, who is going to be left out? The notable Yankees Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Luke Voit, Aaron Hicks, Edwin Encarnacion, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez will all slowly make their way back in late August through late September. It will be tough benching players who have proven their worth at the MLB level. Players like: Mike Ford, Breyvic Valera, Kyle Higashioka, and Tyler Wade will most likely be optioned to Triple-AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre when everyone comes back. However, all of these players have contributed to the team at some point during the year. 

The Significant Contributions of the Yankees’ Newcomers

The stats for some of the newcomers to the Yankees are something that would be seen in a video game. Mike Tauchman has been a pleasant surprise while replacing Giancarlo Stanton. He is batting a career-high .299, with a .371 on-base percentage, and .934 OPS (Baseball Reference). DJ Lemahieu is having an MVP-caliber season for the Yankees. He is leading the American League in batting average at .336, a career-high in home runs with 18, and runs batted in with 76. He has also been able to play multiple positions at a high level, which makes him even more valuable.

Before his offensive surge, Gio Urshela was remembered for making a costly error for the Cleveland Indians in the 2017 ALDS. His numbers this year have made everyone forget that ever happened. He is slashing with a .314 batting average, .522 slugging, and a .882 OPS. Urshela is currently nursing a leg injury and is day-to-day (Baseball Reference). The Yankees acquired Edwin Encarnacion in a trade with the Mariners. He was leading the AL in home runs until Mike Trout’s unreal July home run surge. He has 30 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 57 walks. A fractured bone in his right wrist led to his placement on the 10-day IL. Last but not least, Cameron Maybin, the veteran leader the Yankees needed, has been a clutch performer as well. He has shown speed on the bases as well with 10 stolen bases. 

Despite all of the production from the “next man up”, the Yankees have a good problem heading into the postseason. Cashman and Boone now know they can trust any of these hitters on the roster to fill their role, whether as a starter or off the bench. As long as the starting pitching can keep their earned run averages down to four, the Yankees should be fine with all of the “savages” in the box.

New York Yankees: Weekly Recap + ESM Yankee Players of the Week for 7/29-8/4

by
New York Yankees, Domingo German

Weekly Recap:

After winning only one of four games at Fenway Park last week, the New York Yankees returned home hoping to regain momentum. After splitting a two-game series with Arizona, the legendary rivalry resumed in the Bronx, though the story would be very different this time. The Yankees would sweep the series, sending Boston plummeting further down in the standings, dropping to 14.5 games back after Sunday’s finale.

The sweep was huge, not just in terms of the standings, but also in showing that the starting rotation is improving. James Paxton, Domingo German, and J.A. Happ all went at least five innings and got wins in their respective starts in this series.

Torres, Ursehla avoid I.L.:

While the Yankees relished in finishing off the sweep on Sunday, it came with a couple of brief injury scares. Gleyber Torres, who was 0-3 with a walk on Sunday, was taken out in the eighth inning with what the team called a “core issue.” Not too long afterward, Eusebio Torres, Gleyber’s father, tweeted:

Translated from Spanish, the tweet reads:

“After the scare tonight, GT is leaving the hospital and everything is fine, the bus waits for him, and they go straight to Baltimore.”

Most likely as a precaution, Torres played the following day against Baltimore as the DH. Torres going to the I.L. would have been another significant blow to the Yankees. They already lost both Aaron Hicks (strained flexor tendon in right elbow) and Edwin Encarnacion (right wrister fracture) last Saturday.

Gio Urshela was also banged up on Sunday after fouling a pair of pitches off his left shin and right knee. He did not play in the first game against Baltimore.

Sanchez to go on rehab assignment:

According to manager Aaron Boone, catcher Gary Sanchez will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Following games on Wednesday and Thursday, the all-star catcher will rejoin the Yankees sometime this weekend in Toronto. Sanchez has been on the 10-day I.L. since July 24 with a Grade 1 Left Groin Strain. This is his third I.L. stint due to groin injuries in the past two seasons.

 

And now, with that out of the way, it is now time for this weeks…

Empire Sports Media’s Yankee Players of the Week:

James Paxton & Domingo German:

Paxton:

Vs. Boston (8/2): W, 6.0 Innings, 2 Hits, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

German:

Vs. Boston (8/3): W, 7.0 Innings, 5 Hits, 2 ER, 7 SO

That’s right, the Big Maple and the Ant are ESM’s first-ever Yankee Co-Players of the Week! Both starters turned in quality starts in back-to-back days against the Red Sox, helping the Yankees to a four-game series sweep.

Paxton kicked off the series with his typical first-inning troubles, allowing a two-run home run to J.D. Martinez. After a Gleyber Torres grand slam in the bottom half of the first, Paxton settled down, allowing only one hit and two walks from the second inning on, finishing with six innings of two-run ball and six strikeouts. This was a huge redemption start for Paxton after getting shelled for seven runs in four innings during his last start at Fenway Park.

The next day, German had arguably one of his best starts of the season in game one of a doubleheader. Despite giving up solo shots to Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradly Jr., German tossed seven innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts. This start helped keep the bullpen fresh, as the Yankees deployed Chad Green as an opener in the nightcap.

Honorable Mentions (In no order):

Gleyber Torres:

6 games, 5-24 (.208), 3 HR, 7 RBI, .667 SLG%

Despite hitting just over .200 for the week, Gleyber Torres contributed to the sweep of the Red Sox. In game one, down 2-0, Torres took Eduardo Rodriguez deep for a go-ahead salami, capping off the offense for both teams. The next day, in the nightcap of a doubleheader, Torres knocked a pair of solo shots as part of a 3-for-5 night scoring three runs.

Mike Tauchman:

5 games, 5-17 (.313), 1 HR, 6 RBI, .353 OBP%

The sockman continues to show why GM Brian Cashman may just know what he’s doing despite the opinions of some Yankee fans. After Sunday’s game, Tauchman has slashed .372/.433/.617/1.050 with four home runs and 22 RBI since May 5.

J.A. Happ:

Vs. Boston (8/4): W, 5.2 Innings, 7 Hits, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

While Happ’s stat line in his latest start isn’t fantastic, he was cruising through the first four innings, allowing only two hits during that span. It was one of his better starts of the year, and the Yankees are now 15-7 in Happ’s started in 2019.

Tommy Kahnle:

1-0, 3.0 Innings, 0.00 ERA, 4 SO, 2 Hits, 1 BB

Kahnle continues his resurgent 2019 with an excellent month of July overall. In 12 July appearances, the righty allowed only one earned run, good for a 0.77 ERA during that span. He also struck out 17 and held opposing batters to a .128 BAA. Due to his strong month, Kahnle was named the American League Reliever of the Month for July.

Gio Urshela:

5 games, 7-18 (.389), .421 OBP%

 

How did the New York Yankees unlock the best in Mike Tauchman?

by
Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

What could the New York Yankees possible have done to unlock the best in Mike Tauchman?

Battling injuries and incompetence from the get-go, the New York Yankees have had to take ill-advised measures to supplement the loss of players and talent.

Signing Mike Tauchman was probably never on their list of things to do, but he has become of the more integral parts of this blossoming team. The 74-and-39 Yankees are in a position to run away with the AL East title and make the playoffs with ease, leaving the Boston Red Sox over 15 games behind.

The riddle general manager Brian Cashman had to solve goes a little something like this:

“You leave home, make three left turns, and return home, where you find two men wearing masks. Who are they?”

The answer is the catcher and the umpire; however, I’m convinced it’s Tauchman and Gio Urshela because they’re certainly robbing everyone of their sanity. Career average to below-average players aren’t supposed to be batting over .290. Both Tauchman and Urshela are doing just that, but there’s more to their insane seasons.

Both are playing exceptionally well in the field as well. Tauchman made an incredible catch against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. Check it out below.

The 28-year-old has been a ghost at the top level since his inception, but his offensive prowess this season has proved one thing. Every player is capable of more. Tauchman, who doesn’t even seem to know how he’s managing such success, stated:

“Yeah, kind of just realizing what is important,” Tauchman said Tuesday, according to the NY Post. “Things you really have to stay on top of. It’s nothing like reinventing the wheel or anything. It’s probably what most of us talk about. I just got a little bit better at it. And more comfortable with it.”

The success Tauchman is enjoying seems to be entirely mental. His fundamentals haven’t been changed, and his technique remains the same, but the passion for the game and producing for his team is the priority. The Yankees have done something special this season, and while the injuries have been troublesome, they’ve built careers around unknowns.