Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Not only did Gleyber Torres deliver the Yankees best offensive performance of this young season, but his 4-for-4, two-home run day helped silence the budding malaise in Yankee Universe. Thursday at Camden Yards, the 22 year old second year infielder smacked a solo shot in the 3rd. But that was only the appetizer. Torres came to bat in the 6th inning with two men on add the Yanks trailing by two. One swing later, they were on top en route to a victory. Add in a 5th inning double and 8th inning single, it adds up to a four-hit day. OK, absorb that data. It was a near-historic performance. As mlb.com 's Bryan Hoch noted, Torres became the youngest Yankee with three extra-base hits in a four-hit game since Joe DiMaggio did as a rookie in 1936 (21 years, 216 days). In just under a year in the majors, Torres -- who finished third in the runner for last season's AL Rookie of the Year -- is emerging as a terrific all around hitter. I had to share the bottom image (from an exhi...

  He may have trimmed back the long hair since 2017, but otherwise it was business as usual for the man who wears #48. Jacob de Grom  put a large boldfaced explanation point next to his status as baseball's best pitcher. Wednesday night, the best pitcher in the game toyed with the Marlins, striking out a career-high 14 while holding Miami to three hits and a walk in seven dominating innings. And in the league without a DH, he contributed with a bat in his hand -- crushing a Trevor Richards pitch for a 3rd inning home run as the Mets built a 6-0 lead. While Mickey Callaway's middle relief turned a laugher into a nail-biter before closer Edwin Diaz was rushed in to get the final out in the 9th, the Mets posted the W. That brought a successful conclusion to a season-opening road trip with five wins in six games.

Emotions peaked before national TV cameras Tuesday night, as Bryce Harper played his first game in Washington since signing his massive free agent deal. Greeted by a thundering chorus of boos -- as well as a loyal contingent of Phillies fans in the outfield seats who took trains or buses for the 100 mile ride down the coast -- Harper struck out his first two times up against ex-teammate Max Scherzer. The tables turned in the 5th inning, when Harper doubled; an inning later, he delivered an RBI single off reliever Matt Grace. Then Harper delivered the icing on the cake. Up 6-2, Harper crushed a Jeremy Hellickson pitch beyond the right-center fence. Two more runs to lock in a victory for the last undefeated team of this young season. Stayed tuned -- there'll be 18 more of these rivalry dramas this season. (My image of Harper is from a June 2017 Nats/Mets game in New York.)

Injuries are a part of baseball; no team gets through six months and 162 games with just 25 players. But the flurry of injuries that hit the Yankees during the Grapefruit League has turned into an avalanche. Monday, two of the team's biggest bats wound up on the I-L. Miguel Andujar 's season hangs in the balance after being diagnosed with a slightly torn labrum. While the team hopes that rest followed by careful rehab puts their 3rd baseman on track to return in May, this plan does not come with a guarantee. The runner-up for the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year award worked hard over the winter and in camp to upgrade his erratic throwing and uncertain first step on defense. Then Sunday, he jammed his right shoulder sliding back into 3rd base to avoid being picked off. Now his season could be over after just three games. While the Yanks avoided getting involved in the Manny Machado derby, Brian Cashman's biggest outside free agent signing now comes into the spotlight -- DJ Le...

Sunday, Elvis entered the building in an historic way. Blue Jays pitcher Elvis Luciano , whom I saw in a March 23rd spring training game, became the first player born in the 21st century to appear in a major league game. The 19 year old rookie entered Toronto's game against the Tigers at Rogers Centre with two on in the top of the 7th -- and retired Nicholas Castellanos. Luciano came back for the 8th, giving up a double and intentional walk, but completed his stint without surrendering a run. But more importantly, he kicked in the door for major league millennials. He's their Columbus, their pioneer. Let's hope the still-just-19 year old goes onto have a productive career, extending his notoriety beyond his birth date. But he's already claimed a place that will be his alone forever.

Paul Goldschmidt 's second game with the Cardinals was a night for the history books. St. Louis' major off-season acquisition grabbed the headlines by homering his first three times up against the Brewers; Milwaukee manager Craig Counsel apparently had a white flag moment by walking "Goldy" in his final at-bat. In the 150 years of MLB history, this was the first time ever a player hit three home runs within his first two games for a team. Talk about charting new territory -- Babe Ruth didn't do that when he arrived with the Yankees, nor did Frank Robinson after being sent to Baltimore. While one or two games are hardly the measure of long-term value, you won't hear too many gripes this morning about Goldschmidt's recently signed five-year $130 million extension. Come to think of it, Goldy was in a home-run trot when I captured the above image of him in the March 22nd Grapefruit League game against the Mets. And below, a good look at the Goldschmidt sw...

Robinson Cano made his first Mets at-bat one worth remembering, turning a Max Scherzer pitch into the first home run of 2019. He added an 8th inning RBI single in the Mets 2-0 win over Washington. It's no secret the standout 2nd baseman never really wanted to leave New York for Seattle five years ago; it's clear he's delighted to again wear (the other) N-Y on his cap. Not much was new for Jacob deGrom -- and that was fine for the Flushing faithful. Six shutout innings and 10 strikeouts as he extended his record streak to 30 consecutive starts allowing three runs or less.