Comments on: Yankees set to acquire Curtis Granderson, pending physicals http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/ A New York Yankees Blog Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:48:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: It’s official, Granderson’s a Yankee | River Avenue Blues http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-711181 It’s official, Granderson’s a Yankee | River Avenue Blues Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:47:20 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-711181 [...] Sherman tweets that the three-team deal that will bring Curtis Granderson to New York is now official. All the medicals checked out, and [...] [...] Sherman tweets that the three-team deal that will bring Curtis Granderson to New York is now official. All the medicals checked out, and [...]

]]> By: Yanks still exploring the Halladay possibility | River Avenue Blues http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-710893 Yanks still exploring the Halladay possibility | River Avenue Blues Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:14:43 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-710893 [...] clear on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings, and with the reported signing of Andy Pettitte and trade for Curtis Granderson, we can see he’s serious. There are multiple instances of “pitching” in that [...] [...] clear on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings, and with the reported signing of Andy Pettitte and trade for Curtis Granderson, we can see he’s serious. There are multiple instances of “pitching” in that [...]

]]> By: Winter Meetings chat reminder | River Avenue Blues http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-710777 Winter Meetings chat reminder | River Avenue Blues Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:01:45 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-710777 [...] got interrupted by a minor move yesterday, so let’s give this thing another go today. Same time (1pm ET), same place (here). [...] [...] got interrupted by a minor move yesterday, so let’s give this thing another go today. Same time (1pm ET), same place (here). [...]

]]> By: Joe D. http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-710358 Joe D. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:09:34 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-710358 <i>BABIP is used to evaluate pitchers, not hitters.</i> I disagree, sort of. I'm not evaluating him based on his BABIP, but rather pointing out his numbers were boosted by something that looks to be luck more than skill. I simply don't think he'll pull off a .370+ BABIP (his career minor league BABIP) in the majors, and I haven't seen (and haven't seen scouts note) that Jackson has some Ichiro-like ability to pull that off. That's been a huge part of his game, particularly last season. Looking at a hitter's BABIP to help forecast what one can expect going forward indeed *is* important. Recognizing a BABIP fluke was crucial in stealing Swisher from the White Sox. And I expect Cashman was well aware of Granderson's dumb luck in that department and made that part of his C-Grand forecast going forward. BABIP can indeed be used correctly to say something about hitters. BABIP is used to evaluate pitchers, not hitters.

I disagree, sort of. I’m not evaluating him based on his BABIP, but rather pointing out his numbers were boosted by something that looks to be luck more than skill. I simply don’t think he’ll pull off a .370+ BABIP (his career minor league BABIP) in the majors, and I haven’t seen (and haven’t seen scouts note) that Jackson has some Ichiro-like ability to pull that off.

That’s been a huge part of his game, particularly last season.

Looking at a hitter’s BABIP to help forecast what one can expect going forward indeed *is* important. Recognizing a BABIP fluke was crucial in stealing Swisher from the White Sox. And I expect Cashman was well aware of Granderson’s dumb luck in that department and made that part of his C-Grand forecast going forward. BABIP can indeed be used correctly to say something about hitters.

]]> By: sciorsci http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-710335 sciorsci Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:17:30 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-710335 But .390? Are you suggesting that he's 8% better than Derek Jeter at hitting 'em where they ain't? Sorry, I'm not buying it. Yes, BABIP is <i> more </i> significant in evaluating pitchers, but it can still be used to spot someone who is producing at an unsustainable rate offensively as well. But .390? Are you suggesting that he’s 8% better than Derek Jeter at hitting ‘em where they ain’t? Sorry, I’m not buying it. Yes, BABIP is more significant in evaluating pitchers, but it can still be used to spot someone who is producing at an unsustainable rate offensively as well.

]]> By: sciorsci http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-710332 sciorsci Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:10:50 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-710332 What's missing is the fact that you're not considering that the current economic situation in Detroit is similar to a third-world nation. They tried to be a pillar of the community in 2009, but Ilitch can't just bankroll red numbers forever. They need to bear down and prepare for a few years of down attendance and down revenue. What’s missing is the fact that you’re not considering that the current economic situation in Detroit is similar to a third-world nation. They tried to be a pillar of the community in 2009, but Ilitch can’t just bankroll red numbers forever. They need to bear down and prepare for a few years of down attendance and down revenue.

]]> By: sciorsci http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-710326 sciorsci Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:03:23 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-710326 I'm not sure that it was ever a given they would sign two bats. There has been a lot of talk about using the DH spot as a place to rotate their aging players through to keep them in the lineup offensively but give them a break in the field. I think they'd like to keep Damon or Matsui (and I think they still would like to keep one of the two), which makes Granderson more of an upgrade over Melky than a replacement of Damon. I’m not sure that it was ever a given they would sign two bats. There has been a lot of talk about using the DH spot as a place to rotate their aging players through to keep them in the lineup offensively but give them a break in the field. I think they’d like to keep Damon or Matsui (and I think they still would like to keep one of the two), which makes Granderson more of an upgrade over Melky than a replacement of Damon.

]]> By: sciorsci http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-710323 sciorsci Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:59:59 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-710323 Heavy contract? $8.3M per year for 3 years including a buyout/option for year 4? That's downright reasonable for just about any team (just not Detroit in this economy) if not outright cheap in relation to the Yankees budget. Heavy contract? $8.3M per year for 3 years including a buyout/option for year 4? That’s downright reasonable for just about any team (just not Detroit in this economy) if not outright cheap in relation to the Yankees budget.

]]> By: sciorsci http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-710320 sciorsci Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:55:49 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-710320 I'd prefer Damon to Matsui just because I'd feel more comfortable with Damon's OBP skills in the #2 spot and let Granderson hit lower in the lineup. I know he spent a lot of time as the leadoff man in Detroit, but in my eyes, he could be a solid #6 guy with power to support good RBI opportunities as well as the speed to reset the table for the bottom of the order. I think trying to keep Damon <i> and </i> Matsui is overdoing it, but that was the case even before acquiring Granderson. I think we all suspected that it was going to likely be one or the other. I'd like to see this lineup in 2010: Jeter SS Damon LF/DH Teixeira 1B Rodriguez 3B Posada C/DH Granderson CF Cano 2B Swisher RF Cabrera(/Cervelli) LF(/C) Damon would play left when Posada (or anyone else besides Damon) is DHing, with Cervelli occupying the "scrappy #9 hitter" role when Posada isn't behind the dish. I’d prefer Damon to Matsui just because I’d feel more comfortable with Damon’s OBP skills in the #2 spot and let Granderson hit lower in the lineup. I know he spent a lot of time as the leadoff man in Detroit, but in my eyes, he could be a solid #6 guy with power to support good RBI opportunities as well as the speed to reset the table for the bottom of the order.

I think trying to keep Damon and Matsui is overdoing it, but that was the case even before acquiring Granderson. I think we all suspected that it was going to likely be one or the other. I’d like to see this lineup in 2010:

Jeter SS
Damon LF/DH
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C/DH
Granderson CF
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera(/Cervelli) LF(/C)

Damon would play left when Posada (or anyone else besides Damon) is DHing, with Cervelli occupying the “scrappy #9 hitter” role when Posada isn’t behind the dish.

]]> By: sciorsci http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee-20962/#comment-709907 sciorsci Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:18:32 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=20962#comment-709907 #1. Damon gets some LF ABs too to open up DH ABs for Posada, A-Rod, etc. #1. Damon gets some LF ABs too to open up DH ABs for Posada, A-Rod, etc.

]]>