Did the Yankees 27-Year-Old Second Baseman Find Focus within Tragedy?
It happened three days ago. A talented ballplayer who often was unaware of his own professional errors suddenly seemed sullen. The happy-go-lucky persona was not present. The New York Yankees were a game away from a Boston Red Sox sweep, and the season was about to go down the drain. It was then that the second baseman of the New York Yankees met the moment and turned heads. He reached a milestone, but even that did not bring the usual joy.
One never can tell when a turning point in a career or in life will occur. All we knew was that Jazz lost his best friend. It's not clear whether it was a childhood friend in the Bahamas growing up. It may very well have been a teammate or even a family member. What was clear, according to Jazz Chisholm Jr, is that it changed the narrative of his life. " It felt just kind of surreal," Chisholm explained post-game. “Today felt like a different type of day, especially with the 100th home run coming up.” Jazz was stoic, and a serious side emerged that many fans had wished he would show more often concerning his play since his arrival in New York.
The next three games saw the Jazz Chisholm Jr. talent switch ignite. He may have saved the season with his two-home run barrage against Boston, which included the 100th of his career. He helped the Yankees save face and, in turn, may have extended his time in pinstripes. He added another home run along with a hit last night against the Washington Nationals. The swing looks 70% again. In the field, Jazz has been solid and exciting at times. When you have produced eight assists, have seven put outs, and start four double plays in a set of three games, the professional play is quite noticeable.
Chisholm has often gotten in trouble with his quotes that always downplayed grievous mental errors and lack of patience. He has hinted at how tough New York crowds can be, as every action is watched like no other city. Yet Jazz will see that New York is sympathetic to and respond to players who give their all. Does it take a deep personal loss to bring it all into perspective? It may just have done that for the two-time all-star.
Jazz is showing how deep a loss it truly was because the focus in his play is there. The only question remaining is, will it last? The Yankees will benefit greatly from a Jazz who is finally ready to show what a game-changer he can be. If so, it will be a life-changer that will be the catalyst. Sean Neumann accomplished something that Yankee manager Aaron Boone, nor team captain Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton, has been able to do. None has been able to stir the deep well within Jazz, and if he leaves it all out on the field going forward, we know who that effort will be attributed to.
