Jazz Chisholm Jr. found himself on the bench to start the Yankees’ deciding Game 3 of the ALDS, and he didn’t want to hear about it postgame.
The Yankees’ lightning rod and soon-to-be free agent responded to a reporter when asked about his benching: “No comment, next,” Chisholm said.
The Bombers went on to lose 4-3 in Game 3 to complete the sweep on Wednesday night as the Rays dominated in every aspect.
Chisholm had a poor performance in the ALDS, going 0-for-8 with a walk in three games against the Rays.
He was benched to start Game 3 in favor of Anthony Volpe at second base.
“Just felt like it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of going with Volpe on Wednesday in favor of Chisholm. “I felt like I wanted to go with him today.”
Broadcaster Brian Anderson indicated that he saw Chisholm’s reaction to the news.
“I tell you one thing Jazz doesn’t like: not being in the starting lineup,” Anderson said when Chisholm entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter. “He was upset.”
Chisholm was met with boos from the fans after popping in his first at-bat as he took over for Jose Caballero, who drew the start at third base.
Chisholm then barely beat out what would have been a season-ending double play in the ninth inning on a hard hit ball to second base.
“It doesn’t hurt,” Chisholm said when asked about how it felt to be booed at home. “It’s just confusing because it’s the playoffs and we’re trying to win games. So you’re booing a guy that’s playing, trying to help the team win”
The Yankees enter another disappointing offseason with fans clamoring for changes that the front office has been hesitant to enact.
Chisholm might not be a part of that solution, as the Yankee second baseman is due to be a free agent and will surely demand a big salary with loads of suitors.
He also hasn’t been excluded from the issues in the Bronx.
Chisholm got the Yankees off to a bad start in Game 2, attempting an impossible double play in the first inning, where he threw the ball away and allowed a runner to score on an error.
The impending free agent also appeared to have a mental lapse when he wasn’t playing close enough to throw the ball home and attempt to get a runner trying to score on a ground ball hit right to him.
“I grew up as a Yankee fan,” Chisholm said, reflecting on his time in New York on Wednesday night. “Being from the Bahamas, watching Derek Jeter. I loved my time as a Yankee. I had great times as a Yankee – had an All-Star year, had a Silver Slugger year. Who doesn’t want to stay with the team you have such great times with?
“I do hope to be back.”
