The “Der-ek Jet-er” chants weren’t booming, but Didi Gregorius heard them. In fact, the new Yankees shortstop heard them a few times this week.
He’s responded the same way each time.
“I just laugh, there’s nothing I can do,” he said. “Just got to play the game. That’s all I can do.”
The 25-year-old middle infielder has gotten off to a slow start, on the field, at the plate, and on the bases.
He’s hitting just .158, has been thrown out on the bases twice because he was overly aggressive and has struggled at shortstop, though he has yet to be charged with an error. He was involved in two miscues in Sunday night’s 14-4 rout of the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
In the fourth, second baseman Stephen Drew was charged with an error for a wide throw Gregorius was unable to corral. And in the eighth, he double-clutched on a grounder into the hole and was late with his throw to Drew at second. That’s when the Jeter chants could briefly be heard throughout the stadium.
Despite hearing the chants of the player he has been asked to replace, Gregorius said is happy to call The Bronx his new home, describing his first week as “amazing.”
And he doesn’t expect the chants to stop when he messes up. He’s more concerned with how he performs.
“I want to do better, like him,” Gregorius said.