Saturday, April 25, 2015

Giving Didi Gregorius a Chance


This is going to sound really rich coming from a guy that co-owns a blog called The Greedy Pinstripes but here I am once again trying to squeeze some forgiveness and patience out of my fellow Yankees fans. Let’s be frank here and not waste too much time beating around the bush, Didi Gregorius has sucked in his first three weeks or so as a member of the Yankees. He hasn’t hit the ball, he hasn’t run the bases well, he hasn’t done well with simple fundamentals and Baseball 101 and he especially hasn’t played defense very well. That much we know but what a lot of us don’t know apparently is how to be patient with a guy who is struggling out of the gate.

You’re all reading this because you’re a fan of my work and the work of my TGP family (and we truly do appreciate each and every one of you just as an FYI) but I wonder how many of you starting reading on Day One and are still here. This blog sucked in its first three or four weeks (months) of existence but you know, we grew from it and we made it better. Now we touch thousands of people a day not only on the blog but on Twitter as well. Who here reading this jumped into a car when they were 16 and could drive like Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon in their first three weeks? You may have matched them on the speed but I’m sure the precision and such wasn’t there. You may be thinking how that’s a bad example, that Didi has been playing minor league baseball and splitting time with Chris Owings in Arizona in the major leagues but what many forget is that this was the first time Gregorius was ever on an Opening Day roster. I could keep going on and on forever on things you weren’t especially good at and you could counter with a million and one arguments, arguments I’m not looking for here. Playing in the major leagues every single day in New York is totally different them playing once a week in Arizona or playing every day in some minor league stadium that you took a bus to get to.


I’m not defending the guy, he’s sucked bottom line, and I’m not asking you to respect or even like the guy. All I’m asking is to show the guy a little bit of patience. He’s a sensitive person (yes baseball players are people too) that wears his heart on his sleeve and when he’s playing well would be the poster child for the New York Yankees and their image. What is not helping is the “Der-ek Je-ter” chants and the constant tagging of him of Twitter to tell him how bad he sucks. You’ll catch more flies with honey then you will with shit and (excuse my language) many out there are just throwing the latter and none of the former. Give the guy a chance, if he’s still struggling in June or July then have at it if it makes you feel better but this constant attack is only compounding, not helping, the problem. 

9 comments:

  1. The most important point here is that you remind us all that he is a person first and foremost who as a player (like many of us) - wears his emotions on his sleeves - I think it would be a whole different story if he wasn't truly playing his heart out (despite current performance) every game. It reminds me of the idea that when we do our best or try our best today it doesn't mean that this is the best we can or can't do tomorrow....

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    1. You could tell if the guy was mailing in it, he isn't He is a try hard, and nobody likes a try hard, but he is trying. He seems to desperately want to impress the Yankees fans and get them behind him. That explains a lot of the aggression I think.

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  2. Didi sucks and he won't get better playing for in new York he can't catch or hit Comm on this is fundamental. I've been a Yankees fan all my life I'm from the Bronx. And this is the worst shortstop I've ever seen the Yankees pick up. I'm also tired of the people putting didi on a pedestal the guy is a problem and if you want to win games you have to chuck the guy off into the minors or another team...sign up a player that can play like Carlos Correa or Brad on Crawford those are just a few let's go yankees get your act togetherand play ball...

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    1. I've been a Yankees fan all my life and I was also born in the Bronx, Bronx Lebanon Hospital to be exact. That's the extent of us agreeing on this topic unfortunately but welcome to the site anyway!

      Didi should have won a Gold Glove last season. Advanced metrics said it and the eye test said it as well. To say he can't catch or that he's the worst shortstop ever is a little overblown in my opinion.

      And he can't hit? Leave out the first two months of 2015 and he is a .300 hitter in a Yankees uniform. He's not Jeter, I get it, but no need to hate and no need to compare him to Brandon Crawford or Carlos Correa. Those guys are special. About 25 other teams want shortstops like them, not just the Yankees.

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    2. Why is it that some fans think it's so easy to get a certain player? I mean, Carlos Correa!?!? He's perhaps the best shortstop in MLB, and he's not set to be a free agent until 2022. If you were running the Astros, would you even think of trading this guy away? And even if you were, I'm going to bet you'd ask for a package of players that no team... especially the Yankees... could or would give up.

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    3. It is the nature of the beast Bryan, they always think it is a must to have all-stars at every position.

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    4. I was born in "Hell Kitchen" over 78 years ago and been a Yankee Fan my entire life.
      If Didi can hit somewhere between .265 and .285 playing defense as he did last year he can become the best all around SS we have had in many many years. IF not, then he will be a holder for one of the farm players (Mateo or "Willy" Garcia) each of whom can play very good defense and well.

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    5. Reed I'll make a little side bet with you. Didi won't hit .265 or better this year and if he does I will send you a case of beer. If I'm right all I want you to admit is that Cashman sucks as a GM in writing on this board and admit you were wrong about him. Seems like a fair bet since you aren't going to be out any money and if I lose It will cost me money to honor my bet? Put up or ....

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    6. I know hans..."Put up or shut-up"!
      I only bet on myself, Hans, and I don't drink! I think you may not have read what I wrote, "IF Dide can hit somewhere between .265 and .285 playing defense as he did last year he can become the best all around SS......" I never said he would, but then again, I do think he will be in that range and his defense will get back up to snuff again. If that happens I will be very happy with him, as we haven't had a real good glove at SS in many a year

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