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Feel free to caption this photo, because spring training photos are just so good.
Around the Empire
New York Daily News | Mike Mazzeo: Remember how well Michael Pineda pitched before yesterday’s game? He struck out eight. Eight! Yeah, that didn’t happen yesterday. Inconsistency has been the only thing consistent about Pineda during his pinstriped tenure. Combine his inconsistency with Severino’s and the real shortcomings of these team are coming to fruition. Of course, the offense also scored nine runs yesterday. Keep doing that, please.
Newsday | Erik Boland: Didi Gregorius had to cut his WBC short and head back to Tampa due to shoulder injuries. As Andrew Mearns mentioned yesterday, tests have revealed a hematoma of the subcapsular muscle, which is essentially just a bad bruise. More tests will need to be done before the Yankees are able to determine how long Didi will need on the Di-El.
New York Daily News | Mike Mazzeo: If Didi does indeed need a stint on the Di-El, the Yankees have a few options to hold down the SS fort until his return. Ronald Torreyes was the Yankees’ primarily utility guy last year, so he could slide into the SS role for a time. Tyler Wade has had a pretty great spring and has the potential to make the team in a bench role as it is. The Yankees signed Ruben Tejda in the offseason. He is a SS, right? Right! There’s also Gleyber. It probably won’t be Gleyber.
New York Post | Kevin Kernan: Should it be Gleyber though? Probably not. But maybe? No. But c’mon, he’s very very good. NO! Just stop. Look, it’s not going to be Gleyber. However, it’s hard to discount his incredible spring training, in addition to his time at the Arizona Fall League. There is little doubt he is good. He’s also only twenty years old and hasn’t played above Single-A ball yet. He also seems very mature for his age and his baseball knowledge seems on point. Maybe? Shut up, Greg.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: As mentioned above, Tyler Wade is having a pretty good spring. Soon, he will morph into Ben Zobrist. At least, that is the hope of the Yankees and Joe Girardi. Wade is currently being groomed into a super utility player like Zobrist. If said grooming goes well, he could be on the major league roster sooner rather than later.