BIRD TAKES FLIGHT
First baseman finally launches first spring homer
TAMPA — As the games that don’t count moved toward the ones that do, the buzz from the scouts that follow the Yankees was interesting.
“It doesn’t look like he is confident,’’ one said.
“He is not being very aggressive,’’ said another.
Since the subject was Greg Bird, a lefty-swinging first baseman who started camp as the favorite to hit third between right-handed sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in Aaron Boone’s batting order, the opinions made the rounds.
Sunday against Marlins lefty and former Yankee Caleb Smith, there was no sign of Bird lacking confidence or not being aggressive at the plate when he crushed a twostrike slider over the right-f ield wall for a two-run homer in an 8-5 Yankees victory at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“My timing has been off. When my timing is right, I get the ball in the air more and my contact point is better,’’ said Bird, who also lofted a fly to deep center. “I feel it can click at any time when you have a couple of good at-bats.’’
Having seen multiple lefties this spring, Bird didn’t put any extra stock in hitting a homer off one.
“When I am right I feel comfortable off lefties,’’ said Bird, who hit .286 (8-for-28) with three homers, eight RBIs and a .987 OPS in 20 games versus lefties a year ago.
Bird entered Sunday’s action hitting .158 (6-for-38) without a homer in 14 exhibition games. It was a stark contrast to last spring when Bird hit .451 (23-for-51) with eight homers and 15 RBIs in 23 games after missing the entire 2016 season due to right shoulder surgery.
A foul ball off his right foot late in camp led to Bird struggling at the start of last season and eventually led to surgery July 18 that kept him sidelined until Aug. 26. In 29 post-surgery games (24 starts), Bird batted .253 (22for-87) with eight homers and 25 RBIs. He batted .244 (10-for-41) with three hom- ers, six RBIs, a .426 on-base percentage and a .938 OPS in 13 postseason games.
“The homer today, but he hit a ball to center field and a couple of balls well [Saturday],’’ Boone said of Bird. “Him and [hitting coach] Marcus [Thames] identified something in his swing that they are really honing in on, a minor adjustment that will allow him to take off. It was good to see him impact the ball today. That ball was covered.’’
There has been plenty of speculation about where Bird will hit in the lineup, but it isn’t a concern to him.
“Wherever, it doesn’t matter to me,’’ Bird said. “Being part of the team and going out there every day is all that matters.’’
Until the Blue Jays announce who their Opening Day starter is, Boone won’t reveal what his lineup will look like March 29 at Rogers Centre.
“Once we know who their starter is, who their f inal roster is as far as bullpen and stuff,’’ Boone said when asked about a lineup. “We are starting to look into it and think about it. It’s possible I will know based on their starter by the weekend, maybe.’’
There has been talk the Jays will start lefty J.A. Happ or righty Marcus Stroman.
Introducing Stanton to left field was done with the idea that he could play the new position when Boone rests Brett Gardner against a lefty. However, would Boone sit the catalyst and longest-tenured team member on Opening Day? And taking Gardner’s speed and experience out of Rogers Centre’s vast outfield might not be the smartest move.
If it’s Happ, Boone could drop Bird behind the muscular righthanded trio of Judge, Stanton and Gary Sanchez.
Whatever way it goes , Bi rd hopes to go with the flow that started moving in the right direction over the weekend when the timing was right and the ball was in the air.