All that Jazz: 'Electric' Chisholm Jr. talks new approach for Yankees
NEW YORK – Arriving at a less-is-more revelation, Jazz Chisholm Jr. believes he’s found that next-level key to personal success.
That means an easier swing, a steadier running gait, a calmer approach in the field.
“If I stay fundamentally sound at 70%, I’m a pretty good baseball player,’’ said Chisholm, whose second straight three-hit night boosted the Yankees to a 9-6 victory Friday night.
Chisholm’s three-run homer and RBI single contributed to an early seven-run lead against the rival Boston Red Sox and starter Walker Buehler, knocked out after two innings.
Of course, the last time Buehler was on the Stadium mound, he closed out the World Series clincher in Game 5 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This time, the Yanks jumped Buehler for five first-inning runs – including Chisholm’s three-run homer on an 0-2 changeup to straightaway center field and a two-run shot by Anthony Volpe.
Volpe left the game shortly after being plunked on the left elbow, forcing home a second inning run; X-rays and a CT scan were negative, and Volpe feels he’ll be available Saturday.
Meanwhile, Chisholm is batting .500 (8-for-16) with two homers, six RBI and three stolen bases in four games since coming off the injured list due to a strained oblique.
Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. at '70%'
“Electric is the only way to describe Jazz,’’ said Yankees rookie starter Will Warren, who rebounded from a rough start last Saturday at Dodger Stadium by being more aggressive in the strike zone.
As Chisholm reasons, “you can be electric while being in control at the same time,’’ though “it’s super challenging for me. The only thing I knew was how to go fast.
“Basically, I was Ricky Bobby. That’s all I knew.’’
Chisholm’s new approach had its first light-bulb moment on April 29, the day he was injured at Baltimore – doubling to right despite three small tears to his oblique.
Before his brief minor league rehab assignment began last week, Chisholm convened with the club’s hitting coaches and reviewed video of his minor league days.
“The swing looked so effortless,’’ and a plan was hatched to dial back in some respect – inspiring more contact, less swing and miss.
“(At) 70%, you’re one of the best out there,’’ said Chisholm, quoting a conversation with assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler. “At 100 percent, I might be dog crap. I was hitting .171 at 100 percent.’’
Aaron Judge's take on Jazz Chisholm's approach
“It’s really just about slowing everything down and taking a nice easy swing,’’ said Judge. “And that’s what I felt like I saw tonight, even the homer to center field.’’
Chisholm drove an 0-2 Buehler curveball an estimated 417 feet over the center field wall, a ball that just kept carrying in the warm, humid air.
“I’m looking forward to seeing more of that,’’ Judge said of the at-bat that produced Chisholm's ninth homer of the year, in his 34th game.
In his third time up, Chisholm rifled a single to center off a 1-0 changeup.
“Earlier I the season, I was pulling off that and hitting it foul or rolling over because I was trying to hit a home run,’’ said Chisholm. “I feel like a baseball player again.’’
Maybe the 70-percent stuff sends a mixed message, so Chisholm emphasized, “you can’t be lackadaisical," but “if I stay fundamentally sound at 70%, I’m a pretty good baseball player.
"I really heard that all my life," Chisholm said. "I need to tone down the way I play."