Another theory on Granderson's sub -par 2009 season
by Ed Valentine on Dec 16, 2009 5:00 PM EST
in Analysis
21 comments
In 'jscape's' post earlier today on Curtis Granderson, the new center fielder for our New York Yankees, he reached out to Bless You Boys. Their theory on his career-worst 2009 season was that "Jim Leyland (the Detroit manager) messed with his head."
I hate to keep beating the Granderson story to death, but here is another theory. A source close to the Tigers tells me that there are those around the organization who think the problem wasn't Leyland. Or Granderson. Rather, it was hitting coach Lloyd McClendon.
Two Detroit stars, Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez, reportedly refused to work with McClendon -- a .244 career hitter in the big leagues. Also, I was told, Placido Palanco stopped working with McClendon after getting off to a rocky 2009 start.
My source referred to McClendon as Leyland's "buddy," and said "Granderson should have followed the lead of Cabrera and the others and ditched him."
He added this about what to expect from Granderson as a Yankee.
"I'd say the Yankees stole Curtis. And those idiots calling WFAN wondering about his low BA last year, and his high K's ... I imagine he'll rebound somewhat this season, and then big the following year."
Here are some links to stories about McClendon and his issues with Tiger hitters.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/
http://blog.mlive.com/
http://detnews.com/article/
All I can say is I hope Kevin Long is able to fix whatever ails Granderson.
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i posted
a thread on this right after the trade for granderson entitled, “kevin Ling has a new project”
my view was that the yankees traded for granderson because they felt _that they could _ fix his swing. Your post backs this up and im feeling better and better about this trade every day
Agreed
The guy is a terrific player. He had a down year. He’s not old by any means. Lot of mileage left on those tires.
by Ed Valentine on Dec 16, 2009 5:53 PM EST up reply actions
Being a natural pull-hitter, he’s going to hit a fair share of line-drive homers esp. at YS. Ideally, I’d like to see him hit more groundballs instead of trying to lift everything like he did last year.
by Scooby Snacks on Dec 16, 2009 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
The Grand Wizards number are gonna light up...atleast 37 homers....
But I wondered the same thing with Their hitting coach….
I think we’ll fix that swing up and he goes bonkers……I just can’t wait to see that centerfield defense shut people up…..
-Announcemen Forwarded To The Following: Boston Blowsox, New York Pets, Philadelphia Phonies, And Any Other Team Who Ain't The With The Empire.................
Getcha' Fuccin Rings Up........
by NYYWinsRings27 on Dec 16, 2009 6:28 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I'd rather see his HR go DOWN....
Not too far of course, say…25?
Or at least see him driving the ball to the gaps and all a that instead of pulling everything.
I liked when he was hitting all those triples and all a that.
Of course…if he hits 40HR and has 20 triples?…boom.
"It ain't over till its over"---
3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.
With his speed...if he doesnt see third base with triples...
He’ll see em stealing third…I know gerardi is gonna turn him loose….
I was able to watch a few tigers games…If he gets contact on the ball…he’s in scoring position already…..
-Announcemen Forwarded To The Following: Boston Blowsox, New York Pets, Philadelphia Phonies, And Any Other Team Who Ain't The With The Empire.................
Getcha' Fuccin Rings Up........
by NYYWinsRings27 on Dec 16, 2009 6:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He has hit over .400 on balls he pulls over his career, I would like to see him pull everything, lol. He’s not really a slap-it-the-other-way kind of hitter.
well...
opposite field, I know..
But I’m saying not to do the Giambi thing and swing for the upper deck every time.
When he was at his best (20/20/20/20/20/20/20…year) he was spraying to the gaps and using his speed.
I like triples.
"It ain't over till its over"---
3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 16, 2009 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
FIRE GIRARDI!
Then let Jeter be a player/manager.
Problem solved.
by Gelatin on Dec 16, 2009 6:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions
You guys have nothing to worry about.
Grandy struggled because he felt he had to be the spark. When no one else could hit or get on base, the pressure was on Curtis. With your bats in the lineup, I see Grandy hitting HRs and triples and stealing lots of bases.
Good trade for you, bad for the Tigers.
Tammy
So...
if you are concerned about a guy’s low batting average and high strikeout rate, that makes you an “idiot” according to this source.
Let’s say I was concerned about his .494 OPS against lefties last year, what would that make me? A moron? retard?
His bat will, I suppose, be expected to replace Matsui’s…by the way Matsui’s OPS against lefties was .976. For comparison, A-rod’s OPS against lefties .939, teixeira .911, posada .836.
We replaced a quality hitter with a shaky hitter. But when other teams are offering 1 year, $6 million dollar contracts, how are the Yankees shallow pockets supposed to compete with that?
Because in this case the stats might not tell the whole story.
by Gelatin on Dec 17, 2009 11:06 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree...
we probably dropped the ball with Mats. The only question with him, and its a big question….can he stay healthy again? He was pretty remarkably healthy this year wasn’t he?
I don;t think Granderson was to replace Matsui…he was to replace Damon….as in a guy who can actually play the field.
We’ll get a DH..hell, it may be Damon. But the OF defense got better with Grandy out there.
Granderson is not a shaky hitter either…I don’t understand why everyone’s so caught up with lefties all of a sudden.
Aside from Jon Lester…is there a lefty to worry about in the division?
"It ain't over till its over"---
3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 17, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
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