Memories of Now
Yankees fans remember times last season when Clint played with his hair on fire, sometimes going beyond a supreme effort to a silly mistake.
And he picked up right where he left off with his first game on February 24th. He not only gave a great effort on an outfield catch, which has now led to a concussion but also got picked off of first base in the top of the fourth.
It would be wrong to put too much emphasis on a game so early in Spring Training. But there is history here, and disappointment that this was not a tool Frazier has paid enough attention to.
So if this a harbinger of things to come, of lousy base running and lacks in calm focus as he has shown in the past, then Frazier has already disqualified himself from the competition.
If he cannot control himself now, in a Spring Training game, how long will it be before he can be calm in a close game at Fenway, or in the late innings of a playoff game? The learning curve needs to be a lot flatter on a team with October on its mind.
The Big Easy
Compare that to observations on Florial, returning to Mr. Boland’s article:
"“There’s just life to everything that he does,” Boone said. “A calm grace to the way he plays the game. There’s no panic, really.”"
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Clint Frazier might still turn into an excellent player. Florial, meanwhile, might never roam center field for the Yankees.
But they have already separated themselves in at least one crucial regard: Temperament. This sixth tool was shared by Dimaggio and Jeter. Luis Severino only found success once he fully developed it. Likewise, Judge, Bird, and Sanchez suggest they share this trait.
Estevan Florial might or might not be able to bring that quality with him to the show. It is too early to tell. But what is clear is that Frazier does not possess it, at least not yet.
And that will lead to his separation not just from Florial, but from the Yankees.