Once the Yankees acquired Curtis Granderson from the Tigers, and, after it was clear that Brett Gardner would likely be a starting outfielder for the team in 2010, there was much debate over whether or not Granderson would slide over to left field, allowing Gardner to man center. By most accounts – qualitative and quantitative – Gardner seemed to be the better defensive player, and his bat would fit well in center, making the move an understandable one if it were to occur. However, according to the NY Post‘s Joel Sherman, it will be Curtis Granderson in center field for the Yankees this year, not Brett Gardner. “[A]s camp has progressed,” writes Sherman, “Granderson has played center better and better, well enough that the Yankees have not seen a significant gap between him and Gardner defensively.” Sherman adds that the Yankees would have only moved Granderson if Gardner proved that he was “far superior” at center. He has not, and Granderson has looked good – he has not come off as “weaker” – so, the more established player will remain in his regular role.
This makes a lot of sense, as Joe Girardi has come out and said that he would not be moving Granderson back and forth, from left to center, throughout the year. In view of those comments, this announcement was to be expected, really. The move also sets the Yankees up for 2011. With Carl Crawford available for left field this winter, keeping Granderson in center might be a wise decision for the future.
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4 Responses to Granderson to play CF this season
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TIQ IQ
I kinda believe this answers the previous post; who should the Yankees sign, Werth or Crawford? I think that if they moved Granderson to left this year, then moved him again next year, it would be bad for his defense. I think this now solidifies the Granderson/Crawford CF/LF setup.
* I posted this before I read the end of the post, lol.
And just for the record, instead of signing Crawford, I have been saying since they dealt for Vasquez that the Yankees should deal one of Joba or Hughes for an outfielder and then sign Cliff Lee. I don’t know who that outfielder is (my dream would be Joba or Hughes plus Montero for Sizemore and then move Gardner to left) but I think it beats spending 100 million on an outfielder, especially one that is so dependent on his speed. Crawford, with the years he has been on that turf, without his speed is nothing special. I fricken’ love the guy, and if all things were equal and the team was clearing 60 million off the books, I would be all for both. However, I think you can only get one or the other.
The problem is that once you put Joba or Hughes in the pen for a year, or one struggles this year (again), the luster will have worn off. This is why I think it’s dumb having one in the pen; the cost controlled period is ending. They will be arbitration eligible next year, and if ones development is stunted again in the pen, by next year you will have to stretch him out again and next year will be cut short. Therefore it will take until the following year, his last arbitration year I believe, of “cheap labor.” So there is my ramble for today…
Hi Jay…you would give up hughes and montero for grady sizemore? since hafner and him stopped the juice they have been hurt and terrible.i would not trade gardner for him..
I take this question of defense seriously. Handicapped by TV-only access, it’s hard to know, but what I have seen this spring is Gardner in center played shallow enough to take away some singles. When he played left on a day the wind was blowing out, he was the only fielder who caught one off the wall. The other fielders, Granderson included, were always chasing after a ball that rattled around after hitting the wall. I think it’s a matter of getting a good jump, as well as speed.
I happened on a very nice article by Seth Smith,
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_article/center-field-defense-a-closer-look/
in which he contrasts the % of line drives caught, showing Torii Hunter’s huge advantage over his injury replacement, Gary Matthews, Jr. The article was published the same day Omar traded for or bought Matthews, and they released him in the last few days.
Calling all stat mavens! Get to work!