Bird just out to prove self
TAMPA — Greg Bird doesn’t feel like he’s fighting with Chris Carter for the starting job at first base.
“I’m fighting to prove that I’m healthy and can play,” Bird said Monday. “I’m just trying to play at a high level again, get better every day and become the best possible player that I can be.”
The 24-year-old missed all of last season due to a shoulder injury after showing a lot of promise late in 2015, when he belted 11 home runs and posted an .871 OPS for the Yankees in 46 games.
“It’s exciting,” Bird said of the addition of Carter. “We got a good bat. Someone I can learn from. I think for me coming into camp, I have to prove that I’m healthy and get used to playing again, so I’ve got enough on my plate. It’s exciting. It’s good for us.”
Bird comes in as the favorite to get the bulk of the starts, and the Yankees need the lefty to produce. With the losses of Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and Mark Teixeira, the team lacks proven power and run production from the left side.
“We saw it for a two-month period,” Joe Girardi said of Bird’s ability to produce runs. “And I know there will be some adjustments and he’s coming off of injury, but I’m not going to get so caught up in the power numbers. If he’s who we think he is, he’s gonna be plenty good.”
Bird posted a .915 OPS against righties and a .752 OPS against lefties in 2015. But he was unable to build on it.
“Disappointing, I’ll be honest,” Bird said of missing 2016. “Not TAMPA — Jon Niese will compete for a spot in the bullpen, Joe Girardi said.
With five guys already vying for the final two spots in the rotation, the Yankees are not considering him to start at this time. They view the left-hander as a reliever who can go short or long depending on the situation.
Niese, 30, who signed a minorleague deal with an invite to major-league camp, was “kind of” surprised that he couldn’t get a major-league deal. Niese felt the opportunity what I expected. I wanted to get there and stay there and come back the next year and be a part of the team. It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing. But it was the hand I was dealt and I had to get better. It’s a good lesson for me, a tough experience, but I’m enjoying being back and being part of spring this time and being able to play.”
Bird played DH in the Arizona Fall League, where he was still rehabbing and knocking off the rust. He’ll have to make the throws at first now, something he feels he’ll be able to do.
“I think it’s something that I’m monitoring, and I think that’s normal,” Bird said of his shoulder. “When you have a surgery, you are always monitoring it. The Fall League, it helped with that, you get over it. Today I felt like I went out there, just got in the box and thought about what I needed to think about and I think that’s huge. Being confident in the shoulder every day, coming to the ballpark confident in the shoulder, being able to focus on what I need to focus on.”
The Yankees have a tremendous tradition at first base, filled with accomplished stars.
Can Bird be the next one? Or will he struggle to re-acclimate himself after missing so much time?
“I don’t necessarily look at it like that,” Bird said. “I want to play and maximize my potential, become the best player that I can be every day and in the future. And help this team win games. That’s my focus.
“Now it’s go-time.” provided him the best chance to make an MLB roster.
“I thought it was a really good fit,” Niese said.
Niese figured teams were worried about his knee coming off surgery. He had a disappointing, injury-plagued 2016 season in which he pitched to a 5.50 ERA and surrendered 25 homers in 121 innings between the Pirates and Mets. He has a 5.89 ERA in 14 career relief appearances and a 4.04 ERA in 197 career starts. — Mazzeo