SIR WITH GLOVE
Yanks’ Didi is royalty in homeland
NO MATTER how Didi Gregorius fares as Derek Jeter’s likely replacement with the Yankees, some folks will always call Gregorius “Sir.”
That’s because Gregorius, who was raised mostly in Curacao, was knighted there in 2011 after a national team he played for won a big tournament against Cuba.
“Instead of money, they knighted us, all the guys who had a clean record,” said th the Amsterdam-born Gregorius. “Some people actually call me ‘Sir Didi.’
“I don’t really mind if they just call me Didi.” The Yankees are hoping they can call h him a starter at shortstop. Judging from a conference call with reporters on Friday, Gregorius seems to have the temperament to take over for th the Yankee icon, stressing multiple times that he knows he’s stil still learning and improving and
that he welcomes the high expectations usually associated with the win-at-all-costs Yanks. And he’s always wanted to play i n New York.
Point s for k now i ng t he right things to say, Sir Didi.
“Jeter is still Jeter,” he said. “Everything everybody is going to talk about is Jeter. I’m learning. Just try to focus on the game and win every game, not worrying about what’s going on.”
Gregorius, who will be 25 in February, has a reputation for range and athleticism at short, as well as a strong arm. Asked if he’s proud of his defense, he said, “I’m proud of everything I’m doing . . . just trying to keep improving.
“I have to improve on everything. I don’t want to think I know everything. I love working hard. People say ‘Your defense is really good,’ but I don’t want to think that. I’m still working on everything because every day’s a new day to learn something. For me, you have to keep learning to get better.”
Gregorius, who hit his first major-league homer at the Stadium on April 18, 2013 off Phil Hughes, said he did not know what to expect from Yankee fans who worshipped Jeter at short for so many years. “Wait till I get there and I’ll find out,” he said. “I’ve had some good comments on Twitter: ‘Just be you.’ They’re supportive, even though they don’t know how I play the game.”
Gregorius has st r ug g led against lef t-handed pitching during his career, so much so that the Yankees may ease him into their lineup by playing Brendan Ryan against tough lefties, at least at first.
Sounds like Gregorius would prefer to be challenged. While discussing his problems with lefties — he has a .184 career average in 180 plate appearances — he said, “I haven’t been having (many) at-bats against lefties to get me going. I’m just trying to pick up the ball and make good contact, hit it hard somewhere.”
Gregorius said he’s never spoken to Jeter. He has, however, drawn him, showcasing on Twitter a picture of Jeter he drew last season. “He was ‘The Captain,’ ” Gregorius said. “Out of respect for the game, I just decided to do a picture. It’s fun, relaxing. I decided to draw him.” Asked about Jeter’s game, the lefthanded-hitting Gregorius mentioned The Captain’s ability to hit in the clutch, “going oppo (opposite field) almost every time. The jump throw, that’s really awesome.”
We’ll certainly learn much more about Gregorius’ game in the coming months. Sir Didi does, at least, seem to have something in common with The Captain in terms of offseason preparation — Gregorius already has been working out in Curacao.
“I’m in really good shape to start playing a game right now,” Gregorius said.