Yankees' takeaways from a winning weekend at San Francisco
· Yahoo Sports
SAN FRANCISCO – In a few subtle words, Aaron Judge voiced last year’s lingering regret.
Before the Yankees finished their season-opening, three-game sweep at Oracle Park, Judge said “finishing out series’’ was a pregame conversation Saturday.
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“That’s what’s going to make the difference between winning a division, or ending up in a tie and losing it,’’ said Judge, referencing the eventual AL champion Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 path.
“Every game matters.’’
Hours later, Judge dented a parked ambulance with a fifth-inning insurance run – his second homer of the year – in a 3-1 win against the Giants, before scores of family, friends and spurned Bay area fans.
“Just soaking up the atmosphere,’’ said Judge of the entire scene. “We took care of business. That’s the most important thing.’’
Yankees' challenge at hand
Once more, manager Aaron Boone mentioned how much of a pest he’d been to his players during spring training.
The subject? Being great at the new ABS system, with measured reasoning – taking the emotional part out of it.
On a day when seven challenges reversed calls by plate ump Chad Whitson, none was bigger than Trent Grisham’s third-inning helmet tap with one out, none on base.
Suddenly, a called third strike was ball three. Grisham would walk and score on Ben Rice’s two-run double, giving the Yanks a 2-0 lead off starter Tyler Mahle.
Yanks' catcher Austin Wells went 2-for-2 in his defensive challenges, which included getting a K for Tim Hill.
Ben Rice's strides at first base
At first base, Rice’s defensive play is being graded daily by Yankees Universe.
And so far, the diligent offseason and spring training work has led to a sharp start – with several good scoops, a tricky catch of a pop up near the line and better footwork overall.
“You give him a challenge, he’s able to conquer it,’’ Boone said of his Dartmouth educated catcher-turned-first baseman.
"The more games I get under my belt, the more comfortable I’m going to feel,'' said Bird, who held the bag on Jose Caballero's relay, securing a double play to end the sixth, with runners at the corners.
"The reality is, I’ve got to keep getting in-game reps to keep feeling better.''
Jake Bird, flying high in Yanks' bullpen
As Yankees debuts go, it couldn’t have been much worse than Bird’s 2025 intro.
Acquired at the trade deadline from Colorado, Bird gave up seven runs in three games and wasn’t heard from until spring training, where he was no lock to go north.
“Good just to kind of have a fresh start,’’ said Bird, whose sinker-sweeper combo was in good working order Saturday.
Not wanting to pitch Camilo Doval three times in four days, Boone got five big outs from Bird.
With runners at the corners, none out in the sixth, Bird made Willy Adames chase a third-strike sweeper then got Harrison Bader to tap into one of the Giants’ four DPs Saturday.
“That was huge right there,’’ said Rice of preserving a two-run lead. “Monster.’’
Will Warren gets through "chaos''
As important as Will Warren was to the 2025 staff, his first full season was marred by first-inning trouble – to the tune of a 6.00 ERA.
Warren battled his command during most of Saturday’s 4.1 innings (83 pitches), yielding one run – ending the Giants’ 20-inning scoreless streak to start 2026.
“There was a lot of chaos there,’’ but Warren “minimized the damage overall’’ with an aggressive tact, Wells’ guidance and a little extra velocity than 2025.
And he won a big battle in that first inning, a 10-pitch at-bat – striking out Heliot Ramos on a 97-mph fastball to strand runners at the corners.
No. 700 for Aaron Boone
Saturday marked Boone’s 700th MLB victory since joining the Yankees as a rookie manager in 2018.
He’s the seventh Yankee manager in the 700 Club, led by Joe McCarthy (1,460 wins).
Heading into Sunday's off day, moving into a three-game series at Seattle, Boone's weekend was succinct: “I loved that we played well.
"But it’s March.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees' takeaways from a winning weekend at San Francisco