Around the Empire: Yankees news - 3/11/19

New York Post | Dan Martin: Gary Sanchez has had a slow start at the plate this spring. Though he’s looking leaner and making great defensive plays, his bat has yet to rebound from a tough offensive 2018. Manager Aaron Boone approached the situation with his signature optimism, saying of Sanchez: “His work behind the scenes has been strong. Now, it’s about getting regular at-bats. … He’s trying to find his timing offensively.” We could all use a hype man like Boone. Now, whether fretting about Sanchez’s batting line in the second week of March amounts to a bit of hysteria is up to you to decide.

ESPN: Speaking of offensive woes, new Yankee Troy Tulowitzki is batting .176 over seven games this spring. The oft-injured veteran could play a key role for New York this season, replacing Didi Gregorius who will be out until mid-summer as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Just like he did with Sanchez, Boone came in to calm the storm with positivity: “I’m seeing enough encouraging things out of him. He needs reps now is all.”

And more kind words from Bright Side Boone:

New York Times | Richard Goldstein: Julia Ruth Stevens, Babe Ruth’s adopted daughter, died on Saturday at the age of 102. Still a fixture in the baseball scene, Ruth Stevens became a Red Sox fan in her later years, but always held a special place in her heart for the Yankees. She helped close the stadium that her father “built” by throwing out the first pitch in the last game the Yankees played at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008.