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5 things we’ve learned about the Yankees in Week 1

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  • No one expected Didi Gregorius to be the second coming of Derek Jeter. But did he have to be the second coming of Fred Merkle (nickname:
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
  • Yankee fans have been down on Stephen Drew and his weak bat since last summer, and with good reason. But the bigger concern is No. 3 hitter Carlos Beltran, who has never seemed comfortable at the plate as a Yankee. Of the two, Beltran is more likely to rebound and be his best self. But it's also possible the soon-to-be 38-year-old has reached the end of the line in year two of a three-year contract. That's a problem.
    Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac
  • Part of general manager Brian Cashman's offseason plan was to improve the team's defense, especially in the infield. But the Yankees have made nine errors. There also have been a few misplays that were not scored errors that cost the team, such as CC Sabathia deflecting a sure double-play ball away from Didi Gregorius, leading to a four-run inning. In a world where offense is down, defense becomes that much more important. John Ryan Murphy in particular has looked awful behind the plate, and that comes after a spring training in which the once-hot prospect barely held off Austin Romine for the backup job.
    Photo Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
  • In the offseason, GM Brian Cashman made separate trades that netted the Yankees Didi Gregorius, Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Jones. He gave up Martin Prado, Shane Greene and David Phelps. He then signed Stephen Drew to play second base. Would the Yankees have been better off if Cashman made neither deal and just signed Drew to play short? Greene doesn't light up the radar gun like Eovaldi, but Greene was effective in a short stint in 2014 and gave up one unearned run in eight innings in his Detroit debut. Eovaldi, whose results have yet to match his ballyhooed stuff, lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits and three runs in his first start as a Yankee. Plus, hanging onto Prado to play second base would have helped balance the Yankees' left-leaning lineup and kept a strong veteran clubhouse presence. Jones has no role so far other than potential 20th-inning pitcher.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
  • Alex Rodriguez, of course. Four RBIs on Sunday night. He hits like an All-Star, plays first base like a Little Leaguer and churns out charming postgame quotes like he's Jimmy Fallon. Savor it, because it seems unlikely A-Rod will be able to stay healthy all season. But at this point it would be foolish to attempt to anticipate any of the twists and turns that are sure to come in the A-Rod Saga, especially as he gets closer to his contract's $6 million home run bonus the Yankees apparently don't want to pay him.
    Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac

The Yankees have played six games and are 2-4. Here are five things we’ve noticed about the Yankees so far.

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