NEW YORK – When Jazz Chisholm Jr. wasn’t included in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, the Yankees second baseman received a text message from manager Aaron Boone, reading in part, “You might be the most important person in the building tonight.”
Chisholm received no such message before Wednesday’s must-win Game 3 of the AL Division Series, though Boone selected similar words to explain the decision. After being limited to two runs thus far by Rays pitching, Boone shuffled his lineup, giving starting nods to second baseman Anthony Volpe and third baseman José Caballero.
“I just felt like I wanted to change a couple of things up,” Boone said. “It’s two guys that have been an important part of what we’ve done all year. I felt like it was the right thing to do tonight.”
Caballero -- who has said he hopes to make the Rays pay for trading him last summer -- is starting at the hot corner in place of Ryan McMahon. Additionally, the Yankees elevated Trent Grisham to the leadoff spot, hoping to increase traffic ahead of the heart of the lineup.
“Thinking about it on the plane ride home, I kind of made my decision there, and then just stewed through the lineup yesterday,” Boone said. “I’m excited to get those guys in, and hopefully it will be a little spark for us.”
The 28-year-old Chisholm is hitless in six ALDS at-bats, with a walk and a stolen base. He’s got plenty of company; entering Game 2, Ben Rice and Austin Wells have been the Yankees’ most productive hitters. Everyone else had combined for one hit in 46 at-bats.
“I did not [text Jazz] today, but we’re ready to go,” Boone said. “As I talked to these guys before the series, it’s going to take all of us. Just because you’re not in the lineup doesn’t mean you’re not the most important player tonight. It might be in the biggest spot, so he’s ready to go.”
It has been a difficult season for Chisholm, who came into the year aspiring for 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases as he potentially moves toward free agency. Chisholm didn’t get close to most of his goals, batting .231/.312/.399 with 19 homers, 55 RBIs and 41 steals in 137 games.
Chisholm also committed one of the Yankees’ four errors in ALDS Game 2 at Tropicana Field, a throw wide of first base that he said he’d attempt again if given the chance.
“Honestly, I’d probably still throw it, the play that was trying to be made,” Chisholm said. “I just feel like I probably try to make an even better throw.”
Boone said he felt those comments have been taken too literally.
“I don’t think he should have thrown the ball, but when you throw the ball, you can always play catch at a high level,” Boone said. “[I had] more of an issue with making the throw and then being erratic. But sometimes when you ask athletes questions, you’ve got a lot of people around, they answer a certain way.”
Boone said he’d look for Volpe to “spark” the lineup. He has one hit in three at-bats this postseason, and batted .265 (13-for-49) with three doubles, a homer, nine RBIs and five stolen bases since re-joining the club in early September.
“It felt like it made some sense to get him in there tonight -- a few more righties at least in the lineup tonight, give a little more balance,” Boone said.
First baseman Luis García Jr. had three hits in AL Wild Card Game 2 vs. Boston, but is 0-for-7 with two strikeouts in the ALDS. Boone said he didn’t consider substituting Paul Goldschmidt for García.
“I always feel like he’s a ticking time bomb,” Boone said of García.