Yankees’ Austin Wells drawing rave reviews for work behind plate: ‘Just gets better’
NY Post
OAKLAND, Calif. — Austin Wells’ bat had cooled off some through the first three weeks of September.
His work behind the plate had not.
The Yankees rookie catcher drew rave reviews for his work with Gerrit Cole in Friday’s 4-2, 10-inning win over the A’s, having a hand in helping the ace cruise through a nine-inning, two-hit gem at the Coliseum.
“He’s been great for us,” Cole said. “He came in with a good foundation already, and he just gets better and better the more he plays.”
Cole is one of the game’s best at reading hitters’ swings and adjusting his plan of attack from there. Veteran catcher Jose Trevino is also adept at the skill, which is part of why that battery has had so much success together.
But Wells has come into his own in that regard, an important development with his bat being so important to the Yankees lineup as their regular cleanup hitter.
JUPITER, Fla. — A.J. Minter isn’t prepared to declare himself ready for the Opening Day roster, but he took a significant step in that direction on Wednesday.
Patrick Mahomes’ contract continues to provide valuable salary cap relief.
We’ll soon learn how much Falcons owner Arthur Blank values $10 million in cold, hard cash.
TAMPA — Add one more quirk to a Yankees rotation that has become quirky: Without their No. 1 starter, their No. 2 starter likely will not shift ahead in the order.
The Jets were quiet on Day 2 of free agency after adding a new quarterback Monday.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Brett Berard has displayed both a fiery passion and an admirable patience in the last six months of his hockey career, which reached the NHL level for the first time at the end of November.
PORT ST. LUCIE — The baseball calendar says the Mets have about two weeks until Opening Day, but Francisco Lindor’s mind is on another timetable as these dog days of spring training pass.
The man with the best nickname on the team is one of the few Knicks who has made it this far relatively unscathed in the court of public opinion.
For a guy who seemingly is always headed out the door, Darius Slayton has a way of never leaving.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Rangers stood by their defensive structure in the immediate aftermath of their Weekend of Missed Opportunities, in which they had two chances to capture the top wild-card spot in the East and failed to do so in such disappointing fashion.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Luis Torrens helped inject life into the Mets’ season last year but now faces even larger responsibilities with the team.
The Jets are having a Fields Day.
SACRAMENTO — P.J. Tucker understands his reputation as a hard-nosed player who is willing to vocalize displeasure.