Curtis Granderson
You could argue that Curtis Granderson has put up two consecutive great seasons. He definitely deserves to be mentioned with the best in the game.
He's a young player, but his numbers continue to improve each season. He's a solid defensive center fielder and good lead off hitter. However, he must move to third in the order and the Tigers must find a new lead off hitter. It's not Granderson.
The only stat that Grandy regressed in in 2008 was stolen bases. He stole only 12 bases, but the Tigers as a team are not aggressive on the base paths. He struck out 10% less in 2008 than in 2006. He's improving.
Maybe the Tigers have a young corner outfielder who could become their lead off hitter in 2009. I don't really think Placido Polanco is lead off material — and certainly no one on their current roster really is, either.
The irony is that in the spring of 2006, he battled with Nook Logan for the center field position in Comerica Park.
What if Manager Jim Leyland would have given Carlos Pena the same opportunity he gave to Granderson? Sure, maybe Chris Shelton would not have been a hero so often in April, but look at how those two players' careers have gone ... up, down, and out.
March 26, 2006, the day one player was allowed/granted and another was jettisoned. It's crazy to think that Pena then signed with the Yankees, was released, joined the Red Sox, was released, and finally found his stroke in St. Petersburg, Florida!
He's a young player, but his numbers continue to improve each season. He's a solid defensive center fielder and good lead off hitter. However, he must move to third in the order and the Tigers must find a new lead off hitter. It's not Granderson.
The only stat that Grandy regressed in in 2008 was stolen bases. He stole only 12 bases, but the Tigers as a team are not aggressive on the base paths. He struck out 10% less in 2008 than in 2006. He's improving.
Maybe the Tigers have a young corner outfielder who could become their lead off hitter in 2009. I don't really think Placido Polanco is lead off material — and certainly no one on their current roster really is, either.
The irony is that in the spring of 2006, he battled with Nook Logan for the center field position in Comerica Park.
What if Manager Jim Leyland would have given Carlos Pena the same opportunity he gave to Granderson? Sure, maybe Chris Shelton would not have been a hero so often in April, but look at how those two players' careers have gone ... up, down, and out.
March 26, 2006, the day one player was allowed/granted and another was jettisoned. It's crazy to think that Pena then signed with the Yankees, was released, joined the Red Sox, was released, and finally found his stroke in St. Petersburg, Florida!
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