There are so many Yaz facts that memorize kids all over New England, and one of the most impressive has to do with the MLB All-Star Game. There are only six men in the history of the game who have made an All-Star team 18 times. One of them is Carl Yastrzemski
Mike Yastrzemski unfortunately misses his first chance to get the same honor. The 2020 All-Star Game was canceled when the season was cut to 60 games, all of which were played after the traditional break in the schedule.
But Mike still has a shot to pass Carl in a different way. His grandfather was the MVP of the American League in 1967, and currently the younger Yaz has as strong a claim to the NL MVP Award as anyone.
Yastrzemski entered the day leading the Majors with 2.1 Wins Upper Substitution and added to that great start with a go-ahead solo homer in the sixth inning Sunday, his seventh of the year. The Giants went on to win 6-1, claiming a whip from the Diamondbacks and their sixth straight win.
[BALK TALK: Listen to the latest episode]
At halftime, the Giants are 14-16 and currently have the first Wild Card spot with percentage points over the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets. The rebuild year has largely turned into a surprise playoff push due to the outfielder turning 30 on Sunday and in his second season of the major leagues finding himself talking to the likes of Mookie Betts and Fernando Tatis Jr. , although he sure is not it will be the one who does it.
“I just focus on the important stuff by keeping my focus on winning and influencing the game in some way, whether it’s on the offensive side defensively,” Yastrzemski said. “That’s where my focus has been and that’s translated to keeping a level head and not having emotional swings with ups and downs. I think that’s where it helped me to just stay in the game and to be level-headed and ready for the big atbat when it comes. “
There might be something really big in his future. If the season ended today, the Giants would go to Wrigley Field – or maybe a bubble – for a postseason series. But if the season ended today, it’s unlikely that Yastrzemski would actually win the MVP Award.
Tatis Jr. is the most exciting player in the game and has a flashier resume, with 12 homers for a San Diego Padres team that finally reaches its ceiling. Betts has 11 homers and has been the best player on a Los Angeles Dodgers team that is in 119 wins in a normal year. Bryce Harper’s Philadelphia Phillies has played seven fewer games than the Giants, but he has seven homers and leads the NL in OPS with 100 points.
[RELATED: Giants designate Hunter Pence for assignment]There’s some great competition, but Yastrzemski is right there with an all-round resume, and like the others, he comes up with a built-in narrative. He hits .309 with a .429 on base percentage and ranks first in the league in extra-bass hits (20), second in runes (28) and fourth in RBI (23). His defense has also been strong, and he has shown a skill to play a solid center field.
“He’s extremely disciplined, he’s actually just building off what he did last year,” said Alex Dickerson, who hit a three-run shot in the seventh. “He’s so good at taking good swings to good pitches for what’s already a long stretch of (at-bats), and he also plays great defense every day, to the point that he’s playing every game and every inning out for the for the most part. It has been a lot of fun to watch. I hope it continues. “
