Friday, January 16, 2015

Yankees' Girardi content with Stephen Drew's return

The Yankees' re-signing of Stephen Drew last week might have been a surprise to some, but team Manager Joe Girardi thinks it will help out the youngsters.

"It's nice having a veteran shortstop presence with him and Brendan [Ryan] for a young kid like Didi [Gregorius]," Girardi recently told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. "Guys that have played the position. You look at Stephen Drew, he has played on a world championship team. He understands what it's like to play in the American League East, and so does Brendan Ryan. I think it's going to be really helpful to Didi."

The Yankees finalized a one-year/$5-million deal with Drew Friday, likely clinching a spot for him on their 2015 roster. In response to the move, the Yankees designated OF Eury Perez for assignment, seeing as they already have four capable outfielders available.

The Yankees' starting infield is expected to consist of Drew at second base and Gregorius at shortstop this season, with the defensively-talented Ryan platooning with both. Chances are prospects Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela will also get their shot at a major-league job come spring training, though the odds of either one of them being in the Opening Day lineup don't seem to be high now that Drew's back.

Still, Girardi made it clear the duo will be considered.

"They're still going to have an opportunity to show me a lot, because our roster could change between now and Opening Day," he said. "Sometimes there's injuries to deal with, as we've seen in the past. They're going to have a chance to make the team."

Pirela impressed during his seven-game stint with the Yankees last September, collecting eight hits in 24 at-bats while driving in three runs. As for Refsnyder, he is yet to appear above Triple-A, but did bat .300 in 77 contests there last year.

The pair is bound for success at some point, according to Girardi.

"Obviously, when you put someone like Stephen Drew in front of them," the skipper said," I understand that's probably extremely frustrating. But [they need to] just continue to work extremely hard and their opportunity is going to come."

9 comments:

  1. jackson niemuth......Always enjoy your words....( no capitals tonight )

    Earlier I put up a line, that Greedy Pinstripes had lost you. And, to show me wrong.

    Love to be shown wrong. Please...no questions.
    Can you live with ' Jackson ' as your new surname name ? This is theater, after all.

    I went from patrick...to ' Little p, the porn star.'...yours is an easier transition.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Find by me. Jackson will take a little longer to type out, though.

      No, I haven't left this site yet. In fact, I'm back full-time again. My experience with Pinstripe Alley wasn't pleasurable for either party.

      Why'd you think I was lost? btw

      Delete
    2. Jackson Niemuth.....you sound like a novelist.

      Why I thought we lost you ?....I had posted a ' please don't ask.'
      But, in truth, it was the word on the blogosphere. That's how I stumbled onto it. You're a celebrity.
      Glad your here. Stay well.

      Delete
    3. as am I little p. I love Jack and his writing and I've never been shy about telling him so. He does great work and he is getting better all the time. Jackson is an asset to this site and I very much appreciate him (and everyone else of course)

      Delete
    4. Jack is ok with me also! I, as well as most around here, have read his stuff...it's good! The only thing I have against him...and the same goes for you too, Daniel...I am very envious of your writing skills! That is one I have not mastered at all!
      Stick around and give us some articles to debate with you on! Good luck, good Yankee fans with a sense of humor are very hard to find sometimes.

      Delete
  2. To hell with this platooning stuff at SS. Play the guy and, that will let one know if he can cut it or not. All good hitters have trouble facing a lefty or righty, one or the other. Unless he is helpless facing some pitchers, give him a chance...remember O'Niell, they said he couldn't hit leftys...wrong! He had trouble with them but, he could and did hit them well enough...don't you think.
    Same with 2nd base, we have two guys that would hit better than Drew maybe not as good with the glove but hell, we put up with Jeter for the last 7 years.

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    1. That's the game these days. Roster maximization at minimal cost. You bring in two guys at $5 million or less each and they can do the job, or better, or one player that makes $12 million or more.

      While one is playing the roster expands with the other playing in another position. That's the new school.

      Delete
  3. AROD SAYS...." the third base job is his, and Headley has to take it away."

    OK, I can understand that. After all, he knows more about Cameron Diaz than any of us.

    I'm serious, when I ask you guys this.....
    Can Alex play, and be a second baseman ?
    If, and stranger things have happened in my life....if Alex wins third base, can Headley play second ?

    Jackson Niemuth...what a great name.

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    1. Last time I checked, he isn't Jeter, nor is he the manager! We shall see what we see, come spring training.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)