That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies: Five Yankees they’ll hate facing if the divisions merge

By David Esser

Aroldis Chapman New York Yankees (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Aroldis Chapman New York Yankees (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – MARCH 13: Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees in the dugout during the spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Steinbrenner Field on March 13, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – MARCH 13: Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees in the dugout during the spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Steinbrenner Field on March 13, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Gary Sanchez

After winning both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award in 2019, the universal consensus appears to be that Phillies JT Realmuto is the best catcher in baseball. However, there’s a stubborn sect of Yankees fans who seem to be insistent that Gary Sanchez is the one who is most deserving of that title.

Despite hitting just .232 in 2019, Sanchez was an absolute force when it came to driving in runs for the Yankees. Hitting 34 homers and knocking in 77 RBI, Sanchez recorded an OPS of .841, good for sixth-best on a loaded New York roster.

Regardless of where games are played this summer (if they’re played at all), Sanchez will be sure to hit his fair share of long balls in 2020. Not only will this cause a strain on the Phillies below-average pitching staff, but it will cause the Sanchez loyalists to be that more insistent on crowning him the best catcher in the MLB.

Sanchez has been selected to two All-Star games and won a Silver Slugger award in 2017. While he is definitely not the best overall batter on the Yankees, he’s, without doubt, one of the most powerful. He led all catchers in home runs in both 2019 and 2017, and his 61 RBIs last year ranked seventh amongst all catchers.

Sanchez is nowhere near the pedigree of an Aaron Judge or DJ LeMahieu, but the context behind him playing against the Phillies in 2020 is what will make him such a nightmare to face. Having to constantly hear him compared to Realmuto during every single broadcast will quickly grow tiresome amongst the Philly faithful.

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