Paul Blackburn showing why Yankees re-signed him: ‘really crisp’
NY Post
TAMPA — Paul Blackburn could be a bargain.
Blackburn, who was re-signed to a one-year, $2 million contract after joining the Yankees in August, looked the part of a former All-Star while starting and throwing four shutout innings in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Blackburn, 32, hasn’t allowed a run in six innings of spring work.
“We feel like he’s in a really good place,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We were hoping to get two or three innings out of him probably and he was so efficient he ends up going four … [He] was excellent, really from the jump. Really crisp. Command was excellent. I was really pleased. I thought his stuff looked real sharp.
“He’s been an All-Star. This guy’s been a good starting pitcher. And he’s not old. You see him go out there and watch that, he’s carving out there. He’s in complete control of things, commanding the ball well. We brought him back for a reason.”
Blackburn provided reasons for optimism last season, but also provided plenty of evidence that a reunion could be a mistake.
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