Aaron Decide hits fiftieth house run of 2022

August 30, 2022

ANAHEIM — Greater than 44,000 voices crammed the air at Angel Stadium on Monday evening, booing lustily as Aaron Decide obtained intentional walks in two of his first three plate appearances. They made no secret about what had drawn them throughout Interstate 5’s congested thoroughfare on a picture-perfect Southern California night: historical past.

With a mighty eighth-inning swing, Decide delivered, connecting for his Main League-leading fiftieth house run.

Decide’s solo blast off Angels reliever Ryan Tepera trimmed the Yankees’ deficit to a run, however the comeback ended there, with the guests accepting a 4-3 loss — their third consecutive defeat.

“I’m not downplaying it, however I simply don’t like speaking numbers,” Decide stated. “It doesn’t imply something as a result of we misplaced. We will discuss numbers and all that form of stuff when the season’s over with; we will assessment it. However for proper now, crucial factor for me is getting some wins.”

Truthful sufficient, however 50 house runs in a single season is a outstanding achievement, one worthy of recognition. There are solely three Yankees who’ve loved a number of seasons of fifty or extra homers, with Decide, who hit 52 as a rookie in 2017, now listed alongside Babe Ruth (1920, ’21, ’27, ’28) and Mickey Mantle (1956, ’61).

As well as, Decide is simply the seventh participant in AL/NL historical past to succeed in 50 homers earlier than September. Sammy Sosa had three such seasons and Mark McGwire two, so it has occurred 10 instances. Decide is the primary to do it since present teammate Giancarlo Stanton with the 2017 Marlins, and the primary Yankee since Roger Maris (51) in 1961.

“I feel he’s going to do one thing unbelievable. He already has,” Stanton stated. “We’ve acquired a month extra to look at. He’s going to assist us get some wins, and we’ll be all proper.”

The AL (and Yankees) document for house runs in a single season is 61, set by Maris in 1961. With 33 common season video games remaining, Decide is on tempo to eclipse Maris with 63.

“At this level, I don’t assume something would actually shock me with him,” stated reliever Clay Holmes. “Who is aware of? He might rattle off 5 within the subsequent few video games. I feel he can do something.”

This West Coast journey has already delivered hints of the media fuss dramatized by Billy Crystal’s 2001 movie “61*” — together with a short skirmish between a author and a tv digital camera operator, who elbowed for place in entrance of Decide’s locker on Monday. The eye solely figures to extend as Decide attracts nearer to Maris’ mark.

“It might be an honor,” Decide stated. “Like I’ve stated each single day, it might be an unbelievable honor to be talked about with these guys, however I can’t communicate on something that hasn’t occurred but.”

Stanton stated that he has been most impressed by Decide’s exercise behind the scenes, happening hours earlier than the sport, out of view from followers and tv cameras.

“I watch him work daily, simply seeing when he doesn’t really feel his finest,” Stanton stated. “None of you guys are going to know that, however the guys who see him daily can inform. He’s nonetheless on the market producing; he’s nonetheless on the market displaying up. I’d say that’s the largest factor, moreover the numbers.”

Decide’s fiftieth got here three innings after the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, doubtless his high competitors for the AL MVP Award, hit his twenty ninth of the season — certainly one of three lengthy balls surrendered by Frankie Montas, who fell to 0-2 with a 7.01 ERA in 5 begins since being acquired by the Yankees earlier than the Aug. 2 Commerce Deadline.

Although Decide believed that his massive blast signaled a comeback within the making, the Yanks have been turned apart within the ninth, with rookie Oswaldo Cabrera’s deep fly ball caught on the warning monitor for the ultimate out.

Boone was requested if, final result apart, he might recognize Decide and Ohtani clearing the fences in the identical sport.

“I imply, probably not,” Boone replied. “Ohtani hit a giant homer in opposition to us that harm us. I definitely respect his expertise and what he’s to this sport. I’ve that respect and admiration for him and the way in which he goes about issues, however I do not actually get caught up in making an attempt to understand the opponents — particularly once they’re beating us.”

So these followers, the identical ones who howled and jeered as Decide obtained free passes within the third and fifth innings, filed for the exits — maybe not having seen their favourite staff win, however because of Decide, they no less than witnessed one thing value remembering.

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