Kevin Baker's book is here!

Kevin Baker's book is here!
"... an exemplary sports book..." Kirkus Reviews

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Didi's inexplicable collapse could be Aaron Boone's first true test

About a month ago, undetected by the YES-MO super-cameras, some disreputable juju gods secretly replaced the good-hearted Didi Gregorius with his evil twin, Doodoo. 

Frankly, that's the only explanation that makes sense for what has happened to the Yankees most popular player since Jeet morphed into Donald Trump Jr.  

Last night, the evil Doodoo went 0-4 with a hapless strikeout, dropping his average to .248 - now below Giancarlo Stanton's .261. For weeks, Didi has turned into Wayne Tolleson, a steadily shrinking bat that was spackled-over by the Yankee winning streak. But as Didi's Jumbotron stats have plummeted from the .360s to the .240s, it's impossible to ignore.

Tonight, and tomorrow, the Yankees face lefty starters, and it would seem a logical move - if not a mercy killing - to "rest" Didi against at least one. I say "rest," because the team hadn't played in three days before showing up flatfooted last night. In his rare starts, Ronald Torreyes always seems to get a big hit, and right now, Didi is a pop fly machine.

A second move could be to drop Didi a few slots in the lineup. After a dreadful start, Aaron Boone bumped Stanton down to fourth. It's only May, hard to see the Yankee lineup as a carved stone tablet handed down to Moses. 

But look: I'm not here to manage the Yankees from my Syracuse "Golden Snowball-winning" Lazy-Boy. That's Boonie's job, and it's why the brain trust chose him over the likes of Beltran and Bam Bam. I suspect Joe Girardi would be choosing to stand pat. In his Game of Thrones sense of honor and loyalty, Joe would march into the abyss with a player who has earned his trust. (But Joe seldom forgave those on the wrong side of the binders.) I'm not saying Joe was wrong. But Boone is someone else. And it's time to show how he'll help a beloved player get through a personal crisis. 

Listen: If I had the Infinity Stones, I'd get laid a few times, get the car fixed, and then focus on winning Yankee games. But right now, I haven't a clue on what to do. Somehow, Boonie needs to let Didi relax. We hoped three nights off would snap him out of the funk. It sure didn't work last night. 

Thing is, the Yankees don't need Didi to hit .365 with 40 HRs. All they need is the Didi from last year - that spidery defense and joyful clubhouse spirit. They don't need the Didi who bats third, and I'm wondering if such a role - traditionally awarded to a marquee star - is part of his problem. 

Last night, Greg Bird homered for Trenton. He is 5 for 33 in his rehab, probably a week away. If it's a lefty bat that Boone craves, Bird could fill the three hole. Regardless of whether it's Didi or his twin, the Yankee lineup will soon change. So let's see what Boone does tonight. Eventually, Didi will get back on track. But he won't be the only key player to hit a death slump this season. We're about to see how Boone manages this team. It can't always be 14-game winning streaks.

10 comments:

Austria's Only Baseball Fan said...

Forecast for this afternoon/evening in Kansas City: "Occasional thunderstorms - possibly severe during the afternoon hours. Storms could contain large hail. High 86F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%." So, double-header tomorrow? Guess we'll have to wait and see on a number of topics...

13bit said...

Didi is going to be okay eventually, whether he "rests" or not. We must genuflect towards the Bronx.

KD said...

I am ready, sir, with my JUJU should you make the call. It may be time.

Ken of Brooklyn said...

I agree KD, maybe a good to to fire up the JuJu torpedoes and set the phasers to stun!? I await the word,,,,,

Anonymous said...

I SAY MOVE DIDI DOWN IN THE ORDER....

KEEP IT SIMPLE....

....BUT I CAN'T SEE BIRD COMING BACK UP AND BATTING 3RD UNLESS HE GETS HOT, AND I MEAN LEGITIMATELY HOT.

HOME RUN ASIDE, HE'S NOT HITTING AT ALL, AND STRIKING OUT TOO MUCH....AND HE'S NOT EVEN IN SCRANTON YET.

I WANT TO SEE MORE CONTACT, AND A RISING AVERAGE BEFORE THE CALL UP.

LETS GET HIM BACK RIGHT.

TheWinWarblist said...

I hate to say this, but could DiDi be hurt? And hiding it?

Anonymous said...

Hey Killer Doc--no one has ever heard of Castle Connolly except all the elite hospitals in the country, which actively cite its best doctor ratings in their doctor bios and in their hospital advertising and promotions (see extensive citation of the Castle Connolly listings below from three of the top hospitals in the world). No one has ever heard of Castle Connolly except the likes of New York magazine, one of the most important publications in the country, which uses its best-doctor listings as the basis for its annual "Best Doctors" issue.

Until I brought it to your attention, you had not heard of it because you're fourth-rate piece of shit incompetent who is lucky not to have had your license suspended by now.

Clear enough, asshole? And it's obvious from the erratic pattern of your posts, their odd obsessive quality and the strange hours of posting, that you have a serious drinking problem. Get help.

New York Presbyterian:
https://www.nyp.org/about-us/awards

New York magazine:
http://nymag.com/health/bestdoctors/2012/who-decides-best-doctors/

NYU Langone:

https://nyulangone.org/press-releases/castle-connolly-names-nyu-langone-medical-center-physicians-to-annual-top-doctors-listings


Mount Sinai of New York:
http://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2015/more-than-270-mount-sinai-physicians-named-to-new-york-magazines-2015-best-doctors-issue

Anonymous said...

Derp

Anonymous said...

Derp twerp

Isiyku Abdulahi said...


I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
God bless you
I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.