N.Y. Yankees: Is Didi Gregorious New Meneer Oktober?

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Game One

New York Yankees

vs.

Houston Astros

FROM

( ( (( ! ! !! HOUSTON STRONG !! ! ! )) ) )

TEXAS

New York Yankees: Wild Card Hero; ALDS Hero; What's Next For Didi Gregorious?

Meneer Oktober/Dutch/Mr. October

All hail Shane Greene!

Remember him?

He was the relief pitcher Brian Cashman traded, as part of a three team trade, to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for shortstop Didi Gregorious from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

I felt then as I feel now, acquiring Didi may have been one of Cashman's best ever transactions since being appointed general manager of the Yankees twenty years ago.

Gregorious originally won me over during the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and soon thereafter as a 23-year old rookie for Arizona.  The Diamondbacks, however, didn't see things my way, and made Didi start the 2014 season at triple-A.  He was recalled by June, and went on to hit just .226 in 270 at-bats, with a .290 OBP.

There's little wondering, then, why Arizona (mistakenly) seemed willing to part ways.  After all, the Diamondbacks did well in acquiring starting pitcher Robbie Ray (and a minor league prospect), as part of the deal, from Detroit.

Didi's first season with the Yankees was his first full season in the majors.  He posted modest personal gains in most every offensive category, slashing a then career best .265/.318/.370 in 525 official at-bats, with 35 extra base hits, and 56 RBI.

He confirmed my suspicions about him the following season, slashing .276/.304/.447, with 32 doubles, 20 home runs, and 70 RBI.

I was once again astounded with his performance for Team Netherlands earlier this year during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.  Albeit, the WBC is an exhibition which still fails to draw the world's best players together in one competition.

However, his 2017 regular season effectively eliminated any lingering fret with respect to replacing a Yankee legend.

Rather, Didi is in the midst of writing his own chapter in Yankee lure.

While establishing new career highs in batting, slugging, homers, and RBI, his 25 regular season home runs set a new Yankees record by a shortstop.

Yankee Stadium was aglow with frenetic energy in anticipation of Luis Severino's opening pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the American League Wild Card game.  Four batters and two home runs later, however, the Twins were staked to an immediate 3-0 lead.

Enter Didi Gregorious.  With two on and one out in the bottom of the first, Didi worked a full count against Twins starter Ervin Santana, then yanked his payoff pitch into the outfield stands just left of the right field foul pole.  Game tied - Yankees go on to win by an 8-4 final.

Didi went just 1 for 13 against Cleveland pitchers through the first four games of the ALDS.  But he still managed to get on base, drawing six walks in 19 plate appearances.

Then in Game Five, Didi demonstrated he was merely saving his best for last.  He went 3 for 5 in the decisive game, with a pair of home runs, and three RBI, off Cleveland's ace.  His first inning home run off Corey Kluber gave the Yankees an instant 1-0 lead, and better yet, it silenced the Cleveland crowd.  Two innings later, Didi connected on his second home run off Kluber, giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead, and marking the beginning of the end of Cleveland's now former remarkable season.

Didi Gregorious will turn 28-years old in February, but will not be free agent eligible until 2020, which means he will be under Yankees control during (traditionally speaking) prime years of his career.

What a great trade...