Yankees Editorials: Can Didi Gregorius and Stephen Drew duo be a strength?

Opening Day is less than two weeks away, and Stephen Drew has unofficially been named the starting second baseman. Drew and starting shortstop Didi Gregorius both are excellent defenders, but subpar at the plate.

While the combination of the two light hitting, yet slick fielding infielders will never approach the level of play up the middle that New York Yankees fans got used to from Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano, they can make the middle infield a strength once again, after a 2014 which saw the worst Yankees middle infield in over two decades.

While I believe that Jose Pirela should start instead of Drew, the latter is an excellent fielder, and although he will not provide much, if anything, at the plate, his presence on the infield should save plenty runs.

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Drew will not have a lot of people at Yankee Stadium cheering for him if he repeats last years performance, no matter how good he is defensively, and could be replaced by Pirela come May. Until then, manager Joe Girardi has to hope his bat improves and that a solid defense behind his rotation helps save plenty runs.

Remember, last year the Yankees Opening Day infield consisted of Jeter, Kelly Johnson, Brian Roberts, and Mark Teixeira. Teixeira is the only one who’s returned, as Jeter and Roberts have both retired, and Johnson is fighting for a spot on the Atlanta Braves roster. Teixeira was also the only one who was a solid fielder, and he plays the position which least requires versality, and defensive talent.

Can the combination of Drew, Gregorius, Teixeira, and third baseman Chase Headley make a difference for this pitching staff?  Surely, and although the rotation was a strength a year ago, it is filled with question marks.  Having a solid defense makes a pitcher’s job easier.

Gregorius also has potential at the plate, yet needs to figure out hitting southpaws, while Girardi and Brian Cashman hope that Drew can rebound to the level of play he was at prior to 2014.  No matter how good these two may field the ball, they won’t be considered a strength unless they can hit the ball as well, as having two hitters in the lineup who opposing pitchers see as next-to a sure out hurts the lineup.

Assuming Drew and Gregorius bat in the eighth and ninth spots, if their inability to hit continue, then opposing pitchers will have the luxury of pitching around Headley, Alex Rodriguez, or whoever else is hitting sixth and seventh.  There’s a reason that Brendan Ryan has never been anything more than a utility infielder.

No matter how great a fielder, baseball games are still won by scoring the most runs, and the Yankees will need Drew and Gregorius to contribute before their middle infield is considered a strength.

Next: Yankees Didi Gregorius Already Showing Defensive Acumen

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