Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Blog Archive » Yanks OF With Granderson Just Average

Yanks OF With Granderson Just Average


By Paul Catalano ~ December 8th, 2009. Filed under: Digest Contributors.

What is sweet Jehoshaphat just happened?

Did someone secretly replace Brian Cashman’s brain with delicious Folgers’s crystals?

So Cashman in all seriousness, thought a trade for an in-decline centerfielder, who batted .249 last season, was worth our best ready-to-play prospect, Austin Jackson (who we didn’t want to part with to get Johan Santana), Phil Coke and Ian Kennedy.

At least we held on to Jesus Montero.

So our starting outfielder’s last year batting average batted .276, .249 and .249. Put together, that’s  .256. Swell!!

Not sure I can see any advantage to this. Some suggest it’s a way to save money to go and get Halladay. But you just gave up some great pieces of the puzzle to go and get him. Now, for sure, you’d have to trade Jesus Montero, voted no. 2 by Project Prospect of all minor league prospects. Supersweet!!

In any event, I hope there is a plan. Because trading Damon and Matsui for Granderson—a lifetime .272 hitter with two straight years of steady decline—makes this outfield into a galactically average outfield

Paul Catalano is an aspiring sportswriter who’s day job is as Production Manager for Field & Stream, Outdoor Life & Shot Business magazines. He has written often for his own blog at And a Player to be Named Later since 2007. His articles have been picked up by Dugout Central, Foxsports.com, Lindys.com among others. Before that, Paul got married to the lovely Elizabeth Ryan, got his Master’s in Writing from Emerson College, attended his first Yankee game at 9 years old, got his first base hit at 5 years old and was born.
Paul Catalano
View all posts by Paul Catalano
Pauls website

Post to Twitter Post to Yahoo Buzz Post to Delicious Post to Digg Post to Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , ,

«
»

12 Responses to Yanks OF With Granderson Just Average

  1. Greg F.
    December 8th, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    Good point, because you can really tell a lot about a player from just seeing his batting average. On base % and slugging barely even matter!

  2. anthony
    December 8th, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    and the outfield before this trade was even close to average?

    we traded an interchangable reliever, a 5th starter at best pitching prospect, and an outfield prospect with no power for curtis granderson, a player who the yankees would be thrilled with if austin jackson ever came close to this guy’s production. and he comes at only $25mil for 3 years

    this is a great trade

  3. Bill@TDS
    December 8th, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    This is one of the sillier things I’ve seen lately.

    He’ll be 29. He hit 30 homers last year. There’s almost zero chance he hits as low as .249 again in 2010 (but even if he does, he does enough other things well to be very useful).

    The idea that the 29 year old Granderson is “in decline” and is not an upgrade over 36 year old, rangeless and armless Damon and 36 year old statue Matsui is just insane. At any rate, I think they probably re-sign Damon, and Granderson replaces Melky/Gardner. If you don’t think THAT’s an upgrade, I question why you’re pretending to follow baseball at all.

    And as for Austin Jackson being “ready to play” — his AAA numbers last year translate to about what Melky Cabrera did in his awful 2008. Jackson’s absolute *ceiling* is to become the player that Curtis Granderson is right now, and he’s at least a few years away from that (if he ever reaches it, which isn’t very likely).

    Look, I despise the Yankees. I *wish* this was nearly as bad a move as you suggest. But it’s not. It’s CLEARLY not. I have to assume you’re just trying to draw attention to yourself or something, because nobody who knows baseball could seriously believe this stuff.

  4. Media Crimes
    December 8th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    Swisher was a .249 hitter before he came to the Yankees. How’d he turn out?

  5. Media Crimes
    December 8th, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    correction .219 hitter.

  6. Viper
    December 8th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    Wow.

    One of the worst posts I’ve read in a long time. Congrats.

    And Jackson was not part of the Santana talks.

  7. dale
    December 8th, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    how is he in in decline player?

    hes just entering hs prime. i trust cashman over some of the writers here who have never seen jackson play

  8. Admor
    December 8th, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    Swisher never walks, Granderson’s BABIP was at its normal levels and he can’t play defense.

    Seriously dude, batting average in a bubble doesn’t tell you a whole lot

  9. pungoman
    December 8th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    Granderson was a fan favorite in Detroit. That’s because he can PLAY centerfield and hit the ball. Last year was an off year for him and I believe his best years are still ahead. He’a a 20/20/20 player and only the best have done that. Be happy New York.

  10. Christopher
    December 8th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    Admor, sorry, Swisher never walks??? He walked 97 times last year, which was good for 2nd in the AL (just 4 BB behind Chone Figgins).

    As for Granderson, I think this will turn out to be a good trade for the Yanks. The kid is entering his prime. He’s tremendously athletic, so I don’t expect to see his last season turn into a downward spiral. I think he’ll bounce back, especially considering the move he’s making from pitcher-haven Detroit to the lefty-friendly Yankee Stadium. Granderson is an exciting player with tons of tools. Put him in that NY lineup and he’s going to get even better. Overall, I think this is a good trade.

  11. K.V.C
    December 8th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    Austin Jackson is a complete unknown. Yes he could turn out well, but how many highly touted Yankees prospects turn out to be what we were told they would be?

    Coke steadily declined last year, and they worry about his weight. Plus he is just a bullpen piece, not a closer or set up man, easily replaced. Kennedy, we hear has an ego problem and has started 12 games over 3 seasons with a 1-4 record.

    Three guys who were LITTLE to NOTHING to the Yanks this last season.

  12. Circutz
    December 8th, 2009 at 11:50 pm

    Granderson got a good deal, being on a team that could win a bunch of World Series. Detroit needs a new favorite player, Curtis will be missed.

Leave a Reply