Sánchez: 'I have to make an adjustment'

NEW YORK -- Gary Sanchez stared in seeming disbelief at his glove, resting on the dirt after being whacked from his left hand on Friday by the Marlins’ Corey Dickerson. It was the fourth interference error of the year for the Yankees' catcher, who considers that four too many.

“We’ve definitely got to find an adjustment there,” Sánchez said through a translator. “I need to close certain stances to certain hitters.”

Sánchez collected two singles in the Yankees’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Marlins on Friday, but like most of the 27-year-old’s frustrating campaign, that came packaged with another aspect of his game that demands improvement. Dickerson reached base on that fourth-inning swing, but the error did not hurt J.A. Happ’s line. In Saturday's 11-4 win over Miami, Sánchez went 0-for-1 with three walks and three runs scored.

Having focused on his pitch framing at the suggestion of catching coach Tanner Swanson, who experienced success by schooling the Twins’ Mitch Garver on that one-knee-down approach, Sánchez’s comfort level still appears to be a work in progress.

Sánchez said that he does not believe the stance is responsible for his four interference errors -- the most of any big league catcher entering play on Saturday.

“It has happened before,” Sánchez said. “The bottom line is, I have to make an adjustment; maybe just move back so it doesn’t happen.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he plans on swapping Sánchez and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka behind the plate during the postseason, calling it a “day to day” decision. Boone added on Saturday that the Yankees may carry Erik Kratz as a third backstop.

“I don't focus on just who is behind the plate,” Sánchez said. “We’re a team, and that's what is important for people to understand. We have a team here, and bottom line is winning. I’m a soldier on this team, and if my name is in the lineup, I'm going to be ready for that. If I'm not starting, I'm going to be ready on the bench.”

Starting call
Clarke Schmidt will get the ball for Sunday’s regular-season finale at Yankee Stadium, marking the first Major League start for the Yankees’ top pitching prospect. The 24-year-old right-hander appeared twice in relief earlier this month.

“I think it's a great opportunity, not only for me, but there's a lot of implications,” Schmidt said. “It could lead to some seeding and playoff implications, so it's a big game for the team as well. I try to pitch with some competitiveness and some fire, and hopefully I can bring some spark out there.”

Schmidt said that since his most recent appearance on Sept. 7 against the Blue Jays, he has been focused on increasing his stamina, performing that work at the Yanks’ alternate training site in Moosic, Pa. Schmidt said that he has been taking the ball every five days, throwing about 75 pitches in his most recent outing.

“I was facing Major League-level hitters, Triple-A hitters,” Schmidt said. “There was a lot of good talent down there. That’s a good thing about having guys like [Miguel] Andújar and Thairo [Estrada]. I think that it puts you in a good position as far as, like, head space and knowing that you're able to get these guys out.”

Boone said that Schmidt could be part of the Yankees’ postseason player pool. Boone and his coaching staff are expected to discuss their plans for the 28-man American League Wild Card Series roster after Saturday’s game.

In anticipation of Schmidt coming up, the Yankees optioned reliever Miguel Yajure to their alternate training site following Saturday's win. Yajure pitched two scoreless innings in the effort, striking out four, walking two and allowing just one hit.

This date in Yankees history
Sept. 26, 2013: Mariano Rivera made the final appearance of his Major League career in a 4-0 loss to the Rays at Yankee Stadium. The all-time saves leader was removed from the game by longtime teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, who came out of the dugout to execute the pitching change.