BREAKING SLUMPS

Photo: Getty Images

As we wrote in AUSTIN'S POWER this morning, slumps happen.  But you can't treat a slump by sitting on the bench.  Leave it to BYB reader and Tyler Austin's mom who tweeted this today:

I have always said that the only way to break out of a slow streak or a slump is to play through it. No one has ever broken out of their slump by riding the pine.

— Kim Austin/ Kimberly N. Dean (@austinmom03) May 21, 2018

Gotta love it and there is a ton of truth to it.  How do I know? Didi Gregorius, one of the Yankees hottest hitters earlier this season is in a deep slump right now.  But is Didi 'riding the pine' as Kim Austin says? Nope.  He's in the lineup:

Photo: Getty Images

"Didi Gregorius returned to the Yankees lineup Monday night after Aaron Boone gave the slumping shortstop a two-day break that was intended to be more mental than physical. But the manager said Gregorius immediately breaking out of the 1-for-45 skid he brought into the night wasn’t something he was obsessing over.

'I’m excited that Didi’s back in our lineup and seeing him out at shortstop,' Boone said before the game. 'I won’t get caught up one way or the other if he goes out and the results happen tonight or not. I know over time the results will be there and I’m confident of that. Excited he’s back because he makes us better when he’s in there.'

Photo: Getty Images

Gregorius hit cleanup, preceded by Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. 'I just felt like tonight against that team it’s better to space out the lefties a little bit,' Boone said."

With opportunity could come success.  Who knows if Didi will have a big night or not, but that being said, I'm glad he's there.  He will break out soon... just like Tyler Austin.

I have no doubt.