IT’S ALL DIDI, ALL THE TIME
Yanks rave about Gregorius’ ‘D’, even after he cracks HR in victory over Texas
Didi Gregorius made it work like only he could. On a sharp groundball in the hole, the Yankees shortstop made a diving backhand grab. In the dugout his manager was thinking “No, no, no,” watching the Rangers’ speedy center fielder Delino DeShields racing toward first base. But the smooth and calm Gregorius pivoted on his knees and fired a bullet to first base.
Yankee Stadium erupted. Boone laughed. Around him his teammates laughed and Gregorius smiled. Of course he made that play and in the bottom of the inning, with people still shaking their heads about his dazzling defense, Gregorius hit the two-run homer that put the cherry on top of the Bombers’ 7-2 win over the Rangers.
“Oh man, he did it all,” Boone said “When he went to the ground on DeShields, I was saying ‘No, no (you) can’t go to the ground on DeShields.’ And he pulls it off. …. He made some unbelievable plays all day. He’s just, he’s a really good player.”
CC Sabathia, who picked up the win after six shut- out innings, pointed out that Gregorius has been just as important in the club- house.
“I think it’s been since he got here, and taking over for who he took over,’’ Sabathia said, referring to Derek Jeter. “What he’s done to turn around this team and the rebuilding, he’s been the No. 1 key.
“Because if he wouldn’t have come in and did what he did the last three or four years, we’d still be talking about Jete and how we need leadership and all that stuff,’’ Sabathia continued. “But he’s erased that. So, you’ve got to give him credit for that.’’
And Gregorius should have two very attentive rookie students out there next to him these days. With Gleyber Torres struggling on offense and Miguel Andujar still experiencing issues with his defense, Gregorius has been a tremendous example for them both.
Torres has been unable to regain his timing after missing 15 games with a hip injury. After going 0-for-4 Sunday, Torres is 10-for-61 with three home runs and 10 RBI in the 17 games since he returned from the DL.
“I don’t think it’s physical. I think he’s good,” Boone said. “I think for whatever reason, he hasn’t crushed it yet since coming back. I think that’s just one of those ebb and flows, tricky parts to hitting that he hasn’t just locked down that good timing we have seen for much of the year out of him.”
Andujar has been spectacular on offense. Saturday, he showed that he has the intangible knack for getting big hits with his second go-ahead home run in the seventh inning or later. He has four go-ahead hits that late in the game already.
But Sunday, he showed that he is still learning at third base, committing two errors (one fielding and one throwing.
“Growing on the fly in the big leagues, there are going to be growing pains and there are going to be tough stretches you have,” Boone said. “That’s part of it, part of being a young player too. He’s made so many strides.
“I think lately maybe just laying back on some balls that is getting the best of him a little bit. That is one of the real challenges of third base, right away reading how to attack the ball. If there is a little bit, a little indecisive, those kind of plays can happen,” Boone continued. “I think that’s what’s happened a little bit lately. In this stretch we’ve also seen him make some really great plays. I am confident in the work he continues to do and he will continue to grow and get better out there.”
Gregorius has a special ability to make the dramatic plays like Sunday’s highlight, but Boone pointed out that what makes him special is the everyday commitment and confidence. While Torres and Andujar have shown their spectacular talent, they are both having issues as they grind through what will be the longest season they have yet played in professional baseball.
“There is just kind of a blue collar, lunch pail attitude. He’s tough, he is able to play through things,” Boone said. “He’s durable. He’s just really steady. …..There’s a calm(ness) about him, there is a ‘I want the ball hit to him’ feeling about him. …. He is certainly one of our leaders.”
Gregorius is a leader who Torres and Andujar would be wise to follow carefully.