Another subplot in an already-fascinating ALDS emerged on Monday.
“You’ve got to do a good job of being clean, being tight. It’s part of the game. We’ll look at it and make any adjustments we need to make and try to keep them off second,” Schneider said.
Video on Monday showed Yankees slugger Aaron Judge gesturing toward his helmet while at second base in an apparent signal to hitter Ben Rice on three splitters from Dominguez during the ninth inning of Sunday’s Game 2.
Rice fouled one off and took the other two for balls, eventually drawing a walk.
Schneider said the team is working on ways to prevent the tipping.
“I think if you’re doing the same thing, you’re in a good spot. If your hand’s in the same spot in your glove on all your pitches, you’re in a good spot. If it’s not, it’s fair game, you know what I mean? … Just being consistent is your best bet,” he said.
It’s not the first time the Yankees have taken advantage of Blue Jays pitchers in that way.
On Sept. 7, Rice hit a three-run homer off Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer with Judge also standing at second. In that instance, Cody Bellinger on first base relayed the pitch to Judge, who flapped his arms to signal to Rice whether a changeup was coming.
After, Schneider and Scherzer both acknowledged the veteran righty was tipping his pitches.
“They’re good at it,” Schneider said of the Yankees’ knack for picking up pitches. “Max has got to be a little bit better. It was obvious in the change-ups … and it’s fair game.
“The whole Major League Baseball knows the Yankees are good when they got something. I’m not the only one that’s going to say it. Maybe I’m the only one who’s going to say it publicly, but we got to do a better job of making sure we’re not giving anything away.”
Now, with Toronto one game away from eliminating the Yankees from the post-season, the issue has reared its head once more.
Game 3 of the ALDS between the Blue Jays and Yankees goes Tuesday from the Bronx, with first pitch slated for 8:08 p.m. ET / 5:08 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
