Yankees 3B Miguel Andujar’s spring might lead to the fall of Didi Gregorius

The New York Yankees have visions of Miguel Andujar being their next big third base bat. But if that does come in to focus, it might mean seeing the premature end of SS Didi Gregorius.

The New York Yankees and other teams that go through long periods of playoff success also go through substantial changes. RHP Tim Lincecum, for instance, was the San Francisco Giants postseason workhorse in 2010, appearing in six games and throwing 36.2 innings.

In the Giants 2014 postseason, he was called on to pitch just 1.2 innings.

The Yankees started what they hope will be another long run of playoff appearances just last year. Whether they can do as well as the boys by the bay remains to be seen, especially as we are only a few days into the 2018 Spring Training; it’s still more speculation than observation right now.

But soon the starter’s outings will get longer. Or someone will struggle, while another shines, and all unexpectedly. Any of these will put the focus squarely on the now and the 2018 Yankees who will break camp.

Or better yet, the season will start. Then we can all lose ourselves in the trees of baseball’s 162-acre forest.

Time Yet for a Caesura

Right now, though, is still a time for star gazing and prophesying, of thinking about the Fall and beyond. And so while 3B Miguel Andujar might not start the season in the Bronx, he is already causing some starry-eyed gazing of his own.

This is what manager Aaron Boone and others are saying, as relayed by Newsday and the great Eric Boland:

"“I’ll tell you what, he plays with a lot of confidence, especially when he gets in the box, and there’s good reason,” Boone said. “He’s got a lot of equipment to do some things.” “Strong athlete, fast bat,” one opposing team scout said. “The bat is real.”"

Andujar, however, can only live up to the high expectations he came in to camp with. That’s what happens when you split your time between Double- and Triple-A, and hit .315/.352/.498 by season’s end.

And those weren’t all singles. Miguel collected 16 home runs and an impressive 36 doubles during his campaign.

So far this spring he has not disappointed.