Things couldn’t be more different from Curtis Granderson‘s first Spring Training with the Mets to his performance this year. Over 51 at-bats last spring Granderson hit .157/.241/.353, while this spring he’s put up a ridiculous .452/.547/.762 with 12 RBI over his first 42 ABs. Some may preach the gospel of Kevin Long, while others will rightly chastise the infidel of small sample size. Just as those early numbers last year didn’t portend a horrific season, neither will his lofty spring numbers predict some otherworldly campaign from our 34-year-old outfielder. But it’s always nicer to see a player get off to a hot start. The question is whether or not this hot start can last.
Granderson has started quite a bit this spring hitting in the leadoff spot. Mets manager Terry Collins will undoubtedly try Granderson there early and often, dragging out the process of learning if Juan Lagares can be an effective top of the order guy. Once that experiment runs its course, it’s more likely that Granderson will hit somewhere deeper in the lineup then stay a regular leadoff candidate, but stranger things have happened. If Granderson can put up some quality power numbers in April and into May, Collins will certainly hear a chorus of calls to move Granderson into a position where those home runs can actually drive others in. Ultimately, he will probably be the second, fifth or sixth hitter.
If Granderson can carry over even just some of his glorious spring numbers into meaningful games, it will go a long way to helping the Mets start the season on a good foot. Most of the Mets question marks going into 2015 will be in the bullpen, and whether the Floridian offense can make it’s way up to New York. Home runs have been jumping off bats, especially of late, but they have come in the warm weather and off of pitchers still finding their strides. Granderson’s ability to keep a stable power bat in the Mets lineup makes everything else go smoother, as it was the reason he was signed in the first place. While most do not believe Granderson can hit 40 home runs again, if he can make small improvements over last year’s numbers, it could be a huge boost for the overall lineup.
Mets fans are getting a taste of what this offense is capable of doing when things click. This spring the team is first in OBP and SLG and third in home runs and batting average. While many would not predict the Mets to finish in those rankings, it’s a very encouraging sign. Just finishing in the top 10 in any of those categories would go a long way to helping the Mets make the postseason. Lucas Duda is just starting to get hot, Travis d’Arnaud is still warming up, and Daniel Murphy has only played in eight games, meaning there is realistically room for run production to improve. Granted, it will also have to come down first from inflated small sample sizes. For the first time in a while though, the offense does not seem to be the principle worry going into Opening Day.
Granderson, in one form or another, will be in the middle of that. If he’s not hitting for power, his average-to-good success getting on base should still be an incredible asset for a team where six of the nine hitters in the everyday lineup stand a chance of knocking out 20 homers. As long as he’s not jockeyed around too much in the lineup, or between left and right field, Granderson has a legitimate chance of both scoring and driving in a ton of runs.
Playoff teams aren’t dangerous because they have one or two great bats. The teams that usually last deeper into October are the ones who threaten to put up runs from the top of the lineup to the bottom. To do that, each cog in the machine must perform. Seeing Granderson put up grandiose numbers this spring means we have reason to hope that his awful streakiness from last season will not carry over into this one. A seemingly very healthy David Wright and Michael Cuddyer make Granderson’s burden even lighter, as does being one year removed from joining a new team and a new league.
While he probably won’t return to All-Star caliber production, Granderson is still a vital part of this team moving forward. It is too presumptuous to say that where he goes so goes the Mets. But based on what we’ve seen so far in this very early season, that would be a very good place to start.
Welcome Kevin Long. We needed you.
I think Granderson is going to have a solid year. Wish he was playing left field, but we might need a new manager for that
Curtis Granderson was a move that was simply made out of desperation for credibility by the Mets front office. That being said, he showed flashes of his old self last season.
I truly believe that he can a .250-AVG 25-homerun 75-RBI type of player and help propel this team to the playoffs.
This is the third day of articles that ask if one of the aging, well paid offensive players can maintain their spring statistics into summer. I would hope that the three just earn their salary. Granderson with a 1.3 WAR last year was a huge disappointment. He is paid 4/60 so he should at least earn his salary by posting a 3.0 WAR. Prior to 2013 he had met or beat that mark for seven consecutive years. Cuddyer is getting 2/22 so the least he should do is a 2.1 WAR. The last time he eclipsed that mark was six years ago in 2009. Wright signed for 8/138 so it is not unreasonable for him to put up a 3.5 WAR. In an injury inhibiting season he achieved a 2.8 WAR. It has been a good spring for all three with positive indications but all three need to earn their salary to solidify the Met playoff chances . I think Wright is the only one capable of doing that.