HOUSTON — Remember the spring training first base battle between Greg Bird and Luke Voit in which both performed well enough not only to make the team, but to start Opening Day?
Remember how enthusiastic the Yankees were that Troy Tulowitzki came through the exhibition games fit and played him side-by-side with AL Rookie of the Year runner-up Miguel Andujar on March 28?
Brett Gardner played center that day, a temporary hold until Aaron Hicks came back. Masahiro Tanaka got the ball against the Orioles, but Luis Severino would return as ace soon enough.
And Giancarlo Stanton hit third, played left field and was in a better state of body and mind for Year 2 with the Yankees.