Yankees News: Joe Girardi says Yankees can’t overreact

The New York Yankees are off to a slow start to the 2015 season, but manager Joe Girardi feels that the Yankees should not overreact:

"Do we need to tighten some things up? Yeah, we do, but I think we’re much better than (how) we’ve played. I don’t worry a whole lot about the veteran players. I worry a little bit about the younger players, because I think the veteran players have been through a lot in their careers and understand that it’s a long season, but sometimes the younger players can get a little edgy and they can get a little bit worried, and they don’t understand that, over time, numbers are going to balance out."

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It sounds as if Girardi was speaking directly about Didi Gregorius, the only regular under 30. Gregorius is off to a slow start, hitting .152 (5-33) through the first ten games. He also has no extra-base hits and seven strikeouts, compared to only one walk. Girardi feels that Gregorius feels pressure replacing Derek Jeter:

"I’m sure he feels it some. I think he’d have to have his head in the sand not to feel it. I can remember Tino (Martinez) went through it with Don Mattingly, and then Tino got going and it all kind of disappeared. Once you get going, there’s not so much talk about it, but everything in the beginning of the season is extremely glaring… You go through a 3-for-20 in the beginning of the season, it looks bad. If you go through it in the middle of the season and you were hitting .270, people don’t say a whole lot. It’s just the way it is."

Alex Rodriguez has been a lone bright spot for the offense, putting up a slash-line of .344/.432/.781 with four home runs and 11 RBI’s. All of these numbers, along with his 1.214 OPS, rank among the league leaders. While Rodriguez’s fast start has been great, he will need some help if this team is going to compete for a playoff spot.

Besides Rodriguez, the team is hitting .209, simply an unacceptable average from a team with World Series expectations yearly. Only one team in the league hits at a lower mark than that .209. The inconsistencies of the pitching staff have also been troubling, as they have the eighth highest batting average against at .259, and the thirteenth highest ERA.

Unless things change fast, the Yankees could be destined for a third straight season without October baseball.

Next: Derek Jeter doesn't miss baseball, at all

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