Yankees Happenings for Week of 02/12/17

This time Tuesday, pitchers and catchers will have officially reported to Yankees Spring Training camp. Man, that feels good to say!

It’s been a long winter for Yankees fans. It was made that much more bitter watching former pinstripers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller square off in the World Series. Alas, the memory of that epic seven game series has begun to fade as the shooters and backstops invited to camp, set to take to the perfectly manicured surfaces at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.

With goosebumps aplenty, let’s take a look at some of the smaller Yankees’ stories from the week that was.

Didi Gregorius Believes In This Yankees Team

Before heading off to play with Team Netherlands in next month’s World Baseball Classic, Gregorius was getting in some early reps down in Tampa. Building off of last season’s career offensive year, especially against left-handed pitching (.324 BA), the 26-year-old Gregorius says he and his mates are fine with not being the preseason favorite to win the AL East. Gregorius also made it known that he has yet to hit his professional peak.

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Gregorius told Erik Boland of Newsday:

“It’s good to fly under the radar. I believe in this team, I’ll tell you that. … Last year they said we had no chance to be there, then we gave everybody a scare at the end.

When asked to reflect on his stellar 2016 season:

“I could always do better. I’m never satisfied with what I do, always trying to take that next step. The game is not easy — still have to work, so I still have to do the right things and try to stay consistent. I think that’s the hardest part of the game.”

As part of the Yankees’ initial approach towards approaching the youth movement, Gregorius sounded like a kid in a candy store.

“It’s always great to be a part of it. It’s going to be a really fun team. Everybody saw what we did last year the second half with all the young guys that we had.”

Masahiro Tanaka Not Worried About Looming Opt-Out

It would have only been surprising if Tanaka had come out and said, ‘I can’t stop thinking about my contract. It’s consuming me day and night. I don’t know how I’ll get through this season.’ Having previously taken his name out of consideration for pitching in the WBC for Team Japan, Tanaka sounded primed for another big campaign, though he didn’t shy away from giving the opt-out serious consideration once the 2017 season has come to an end.

Through a translator, Tanaka told ESPN.com

“It’s something that I put aside going into the season. Can’t be really thinking about that while you go through the season — really focus on this season and when the time comes after the season, then I’ll probably have a chance to think about that more.

Considering Tanaka still has that partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, questions about his health will always follow close behind.

“Felt better than I thought I would be. I went out there and I think I was able to throw with some force. Felt good about where I’m at now. I feel that I’m a little bit ahead of schedule compared to last year.”

Next: Three Lineup Ideas for Girardi to Use This Season

As for the main reason he ultimately decided not to pitch for two-time WBC Champion Japan:

“I had to take into consideration a lot of things,” he said. “It was more of I was able to go through a whole season finally last year, and I understand what the team is looking for from me.”