BOSTON — Regarding lineup decisions that seem to infuriate a different set of fans on social media daily, Aaron Boone essentially places such issues in the good-problem-to-have bucket.
“We have a really good team and a lot of really good players in there that deserve to play even on some days they’re not in there,” the Yankees manager said before a 4-1 victory at Fenway Park. “And that doesn’t mean they’re not the most central figure in that day [off the bench].”
Wednesday’s decisions against Boston’s Ranger Suarez — a lefty traditionally difficult for lefty hitters — included Paul Goldschmidt starting over Ben Rice at first base and Randal Grichuk hitting sixth and playing left field, moving Cody Bellinger to center while Trent Grisham took a seat for a second straight game.
Rice has crushed both lefties and righties this season, but Boone wanted Goldschmidt to start against a pitcher with such extreme splits.
Goldschmidt went 0-for-4, though he began the game with a 10-pitch battle that ended with a groundout and made several nice picks at first base.
Even when Goldschmidt starts, Boone has shown a willingness to sub in Rice as soon as the lefty is lifted from the game. This time, Rice pinch hit for Amed Rosario in the sixth and struck out, now 1-for-2 with a home run, sacrifice fly and walk as a pinch hitter.
The Red Sox have not announced Thursday’s starter, but it could be lefty Payton Tolle. Boone suggested that if that is the case, Rice would start, marking his second start in three games against southpaws.
Goldschmidt has seen increasingly limited playing time as Rice has begun to establish himself against lefties, too.
Boone said the 16-year pro and former MVP has handled the situation “great.”
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“Benny’s earned more and more opportunities, and I think he’s done a great job against left-handed pitching,” Boone said. “And obviously what he’s become and the presence he is. It has been more challenging [to find Goldschmidt time].”
One way to shoehorn both Rice’s and Goldschmidt’s bats in lineups against lefties would be to put Rice at catcher and sit Austin Wells, but Boone said such a move was not imminent. Rice has caught bullpen sessions and live batting practice to stay sharp.
“At some point, it’s possible,” Boone said of trying Rice as catcher. “Nothing that I have scheduled out.”
Sitting Rice has gotten the most attention because of a bat that has taken a star turn, but benching Grisham — usually the leadoff hitter, earning $22 million and hitting better after a slow start — could be controversial.
But it has not been controversial, Boone suggested, because all the players understand and are ready coming off the bench. Grisham ended up pinch hitting in the sixth and went 0-for-2.
“Want to keep everyone going,” Boone said. “There’s roles for everyone to have that certain guys have real strengths against certain players and want to take advantage of those, too.”
Red Sox starter Sonny Gray is not quite part of the rivalry again, having been placed on the injured list with a hamstring strain Tuesday.
But the former Yankee had been excited to pitch against his former team, telling Boston media this winter that it felt good to wind up with a team “where it’s easy to hate the Yankees.”
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Gray, who has pitched well with the A’s, Reds, Cardinals and Twins but struggled with the Yankees, told Boston media he never wanted to be a Yankee in the first place. General manager Brian Cashman then said that Gray had told people around the league and with the Yankees back in 2017 that he wanted out of Oakland and wanted to be a Yankee, which helped prompt a deadline trade.
Approached Wednesday, Gray did not want to comment further on his or Cashman’s remarks, or his time in New York.
“I don’t have anything to say,” Gray said.
The Yankees placed Ryan Weathers on the paternity list and recalled righty Jake Bird.
Boone anticipated that Weathers’ schedule will not be affected. He likely will start Saturday in Houston.
Anthony Volpe went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in seven innings in his second rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
