The Yankees will soar as high as the Bird can take them
The Yankees have been thwarted by the lack of a left-handed power bat all season. They have one now, and the difference in their lineup is already visible.
Yankees first baseman, Greg Bird, has been in the team’s lineup less than a week since his return from an ankle bone injury dating back to May 1. In that time, Bird has raised his batting average by fifty points and hit two home runs, including one that put the Red Sox away for good last night.
Once called the “best pure hitter on the Yankees” by Brian Cashman, Bird adds a new and much-needed dimension to a lineup sorely lacking in lefty power. Moreover, he’s a perfect in the number three hole where typically, Joe Girardi wants to insert his best hitter.
But even beyond that, Bird relieves some of the pressure on both Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez to supply the run production the Yankees rely on them to provide. This is especially true of Judge who, as we all know is mired in a gut-wrenching slump, with no immediate end in sight.
Judge has been through the wringer this season, and if you think back to March when he was announced as the Yankees right fielder on the last day of Spring Training over Aaron Hicks, to where he has been since then, a greater appreciation for what he has achieved is warranted.
No one, including his manager, will ever know how that shoulder of his is feeling. Judge comes ready to play every day, and he doesn’t care if he bats sixth as he did last night, as long as his name is in the lineup. He’s a gamer, and the Yankees are fortunate to have him for many years to come.
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So too is Bird. His rehab was long and painful, but he hung in there. At one point, his “manhood” was even challenged by some “click happy” writer. Bird never flinched. In fact on the very same day that story went national, he issued a statement vowing that he would return to the Yankees at some point this season.
Even the Yankees flinched at that point, and the feeling was more like I hope he does (return), but I think not. Well, here he is, and the difference is plain to see.
Speaking to New York Times, Bird shows he has learned to take everything in stride while maturing as both a person and athlete:
"“I don’t think you can expect anything,” he said. “You just kind of have to roll with what you’ve got. That’s something I feel like I’ve learned, especially the last year and a half, two years. You can just work and go out there and play. It’s great that I’ve been able to play again and be a part of this team.”"
Joe Girardi, who’s had his share of troubles filling the first base spot, at one point pleading with Brian Cashman to please, pretty please, get Chris Carter off my team, takes a more practical view:
"“I don’t care where it comes from, we just need it,” Girardi said of having a power bat in the middle of the lineup. “And it doesn’t have to be the same guy every day. We all know that Greg Bird has that ability — we’ve seen him do it before. It’s nice to see.”"
Next: Will Greg Bird be more like Moose Skowron or Nick Johnson
Regardless, the Yankees are a much different team offensively with Bird in the lineup. Feeling no pressure, Bird is just happy to be out there playing the game he missed so much for nearly two years. And Yankees fans couldn’t be more thrilled about that too. Carry on, Greg.
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