Around the Empire: Yankees news - 4/4/18

Cut4 | Matt Monagan: Didi Gregorius had himself a day yesterday. He had eight RBI which was the most by a shortstop in franchise history after going 4-for-4 with two home runs. This photo (also the lead photo of today’s news) sums up his day and the Rays’ misery in a simple picture. Didi Gregorius makes Yankee fans euphorius indeed!

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees’ extreme outfield depth is wearing thin. Jacoby Ellsbury, Aaron Hicks, and Clint Frazier are all sidelined with injuries. For a while it seemed like Ellsbury was on track to return soon, but while recovering from a right oblique injury, he suffered a left hip injury. Because he’s Jacoby Ellsbury. On the bright side, Hicks has started hitting off a tee and could play in the series against the Red Sox next week.

ESPN | Coley Harvey: The Golden State Warriors are famous for their Splash Brothers. Now the Yankees have acquired a Splash Brother. Or more accurately, a Splash Brother’s brother. After he was designated for assignment by the Dodgers last week, the Yankees claimed outfielder Trayce Thompson to help with their weakened outfield depth. To make room for Thompson on the 40-man, Ben Heller was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

New York Times | Wallace Matthews: Yesterday’s home opener not only signified Giancarlo Stanton’s (have we mentioned that he’s a Yankee?) Yankee Stadium debut, but also the debut of the new extended netting. For the most part the reviews of the netting were fine and positive, people said the netting didn’t bother them that much, but they did have one complaint. While the netting was colored and designed to be unobtrusive, the black steel poles that supported the netting got in the way.

ESPN | Coley Harvey: Speaking of Stanton’s stadium debut, it did not go well. At all. Stanton went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts against Rays’ pitching. By the time he earned his golden sombrero, he was hearing boos. Because...ridiculousness (the nicest word I can use to describe it). Stanton said that his performance should get booed and was grateful for Didi Gregorius’ historic day that helped “clean up the garbage.” Aaron Boone wasn’t concerned about Stanton’s day and referred to him as “the big boy” and I love every part of that.

New York Daily News | John Healy: The Yankees’ vaunted bullpen has been more like a booopen (h/t Tanya Bondurant) so far this season. The bullpen is supposed to be one of the team’s strengths, but hasn’t been so far. The latest blunder came courtesy of Jonathan Holder and one bad Tommy Kahnle pitch. Fortunately, Didi was there to save the day. It’s still early in the year, though, and this bullpen should be able to right the ship fairly quickly.

Didi Victory Tweet

I love that he refers to the “offense” as fire when it was The Didi Show. So humble. And the babies are growing up!