I barely know this Yankee team. From new starting pitchers to position players making their debut, the Yankees are making it work in the new normal following a COVID-19 spread across the team after the All Star Game last week. One shining star has to be Greg Allen who went 3 for 6 over the weekend against the first place Red Sox. The Yankees snagged two out of three against Boston, giving the team a much needed lift after players went down to injuries and the virus. Allen is in the center of it all and he's loving getting a shot at the big leagues after being shepherded for this moment by one of baseball's greatest players.
“Coach Gwynn had a monumental impact, and it was one that I probably unfortunately didn’t even realize the true impact of until I was no longer at San Diego State,” Allen said. “But it was an incredible blessing just having a chance to be there. Having this chance to be under his tutelage ... he was just a phenomenal coach, but even a better person. He loved his players, loved his family and loved to try and make everyone better. And he loved the game of baseball, loved to compete,” said Allen as reported by NJ.com.
Allen was recruited by San Diego's finest, Tony Gwynn, who at the time was the head coach for San Diego State. Recall that Gwynn died at the young age of 54, but lived to see his protege get drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Indians in 2014. Many of the qualities of Gwynn are found in the 28-year-old Allen who has been lighting it up since stepping in for Aaron Judge and the rest of the outfield on the IL pretty much indefinitely this season.
“He can really defend in the outfield,” Boone said. “He can run obviously. He’s given quality at-bats from both sides, even at-bats that haven’t ended in a result necessarily. It’s a big league at-bat. It’s competitive. It’s not a lot of chase. “He can help us,” reported NJ.com.
And help is what the Yankees need. From speed to small ball to quite frankly, consistent offense, the Yankees need to break away if they are going to be competitive and catch the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox for a shot at the post season.
Right now Rougned Odor, Gleyber Torres, Ryan LaMarre and Greg Allen are holding up this Yankee team. And although I see these new numbers and strange guys in pinstripes right now, I am all in as they seem to be the spark the team needed to get things going. Let's go Yankees!
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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