If it is the objective of the leadoff batter to get on base and nothing else, Curtis Granderson is doing his job in spades. His OBP is .348, while his AVG and SLG are both .063. Hideous? Yes. Effective? Yes. While this trend certainly cannot continue, it is being driven by a more patience approach, something everyone from Kevin Long and up in the Mets organization has probably preached to Granderson for the past several months. And it’s working, at least for now.
Granderson is swinging at pitches at a 35.6% rate, which is a good deal off from his career average of 42.1%. Most notable are his swing rates in and out of the strike zone. He is swinging at balls in the zone 58.3% of the time. That is off from his career average of 62.7%, but when you’re not swinging at much overall, your rates are going to go down within the zone too. The real difference so far is when Granderson swings at balls out of the strike zone. He’s only doing that 15.1% of the time, by far the lowest rate he’s had since his first nine games over a decade ago. Again, this will not last, but it could be an indication that Granderson is rediscovering some patience at the plate, something Mets fans only saw in fits and spurts last year.
Many have said that Granderson is a waste at leadoff, this author included. Anyone who has the potential to hit 20+ home runs, and who normally strikes out 20% of the time isn’t ideal to start a game. The power is better used when people are getting on in front of him, and while Granderson did draw a lot of walks last year, his .326 OBP wasn’t setting the world on fire. Perhaps Terry Collins and company weren’t quite sure if Juan Lagares could handle the job just yet, or maybe they were simply trying to get as many early runs on the board as possible, like the days of old when Jose Reyes was on the team. Whatever the reason, Granderson has rewarded the decision by drawing three walks for every K, and scoring a team-leading four runs.
Four runs? Big whoop, you’re saying. It’s the first week, and a .063 average is hardly indicative of a success story. While these are valid points, it’s nevertheless evidence that there is some kind of progress going on in Granderson’s game, and it just might carry it’s way through the long season. Credit batting coach Long, a front office meddling in affairs, or Wheaties for all we care. If Granderson can show more patience in the leadoff spot, sooner or later those balls left over the plate are going to be sent into the gaps and over the walls. His average might never rise above .240 for the season, but if Granderson provides walks and power, he will be doing his job.
As soon as that power does show up you can bet that he will be moved out of that spot in the lineup, because nobody wants a guy who can hit five home runs in a week hitting leadoff. Instead, when Lagares starts to get hot, he’ll probably take over the role, pushing Granderson down to the two-hole. Hopefully there, both Granderson’s power and patience can be a virtue. How long that will take to come to fruition is literally anyone’s guess, even Collins’.
Right now, Granderson is doing what is being asked of him. It’s quixotic to think that Granderson will continue his good eye routine, and show flourishing power numbers. It’s probably going to be a bit of a give and take with both, and in the end he’ll probably have a season close to what he did last year. A good bet would be that this is just a temporary experiment, and that we will see the swing-happy outfielder return a bit throughout the year. But if these lessons can be reinforced as long as possible, then just maybe Granderson can mount a resurgence campaign in 2015. If he can continue to curtail some of his strikeout for better looks at the pitcher’s arsenal, not only will he be helping himself, but everyone else after him in the lineup. As runs are hard to come by early in 2015 for the Mets, Granderson is doing his small part to get something going. Just don’t be fooled if it looks like he’s standing still.
I think you are making conclusions based on a ridiculously small sample size. I don’t remember his as “swing happy” last season. Not at all.
At this pace, Curtis will surpass Babe Ruth’s AL record of 170 bases on balls, but Barry Bonds’ single-season record of 232 appears safe . . . for now.
To me, the question is when selectivity becomes passivity and begins to hinder productivity. I know the theory is to “hunt strikes” and “take and rake,” but the reality for many is that too much taking — too much shopping around — leads to too many pitcher’s counts and an inability to hit a pitcher’s pitch.
For now, sure, 9 walks. A .370 OBP. I’m more encouraged by yesterday’s hard out to LF.
There is no doubt he’ll hit more as the season progresses. Problem is, to do so he’ll have to revert back to what he’s always done and be more of a free swinger. I just can’t see this working long term. For what he’s making Grandy is just not the player the Mets need him to be.
In 1969, Tommie Agee hit 22 of his team-leading 26 HR from the leadoff spot.
Patrick the Mets are paying Granderson 15 million dollars a year to draw 2 walks in a game? The bottom third of the line up with Lagares, Flores and the pitchers spot needs to be addressed. I thought and still believe that Lagares can grow into the lead off spot. Same line up only everyone drops down a slot. With Lagares on first base the right side hole is a natural pull for Granderson, I appreciate that Grandy does what the team is asking from him.
Couldn’t agree more with you Pete. I thought the Granderson signing was to provide the Mets lineup with power, and another RBI guy. I still don’t understand why they moved Lagares from the leadoff spot, after he performed nicely in Spring Training. Hopefully we see Lagares in that spot sooner or later, and Granderson hits in a run-producing spot in the order.
Granderson batting lead-off is a huge mistake and has not been a success by any stretch of the imagination for the following reasons:
1. Major league P’s will not continue to walk a guy batting .050, and who has batted .230 for the past 3 seasons. Why P’s would walk him once is a mystery.
2. Granderson batted .210 in the lead-off spot last year.
3. It has displaced Lagares from the lead-off spot, where he batted .317 with 7 SB’s last Sept, and .400 in ST.
4. It has displaced Murphy from the 2 spot where he batted a .305 last year.
5. It has displaced Granderson from the 5 or 6 spot where he batted .350 last year.
6. It has caused the coaches/FO to bat Murphy 6th with the supposed reason that he can drive in more runs there. Well the Mets already have a guy they are paying $16 MM to drive in runs in the middle of the order —— but that guy is now the most expensive table-setter in MLB.
7. It had to have a deflating effect on Lagares, after just signing a contract extension to be bumped from lead-off, and then to hear Collins state on WOR after yesterday’s game that “we don’t trust him in the lead-off spot right now.” For what reason exactly? See Item 3) above.
8. When pitchers refuse to walk Granderson and the K’s and outs mount, he will be moved back to 6th or lower, and will need to change his approach to be more aggressive if he is to be successful.
9. If the Mets wanted a .230-batting table-setting lead-off hitter they could have re-signed Eric Young for $1 million like the Braves are paying him this year.
10. Would you blame Daniel Murphy for wondering why the Mets are happy to pay Granderson $16 MM for EY’s production, but they won’t pay $10 MM per year to the reigning All-Star 2B-man?
I am not a fan of Granderson batting leadoff because a non homerun hitter, high OBP hitter should lead off. The problem is that the Mets don’t have anyone fitting that description.
Granderson was signed to a 4/60M contract for the purpose of hitting home runs and driving in runs. He was a huge disappointment last year with his 1.3 bWAR. If he is to be utilized as a lead off man, wouldn’t the Mets have been better served to have signed Nori Aoki for $4M this past winter with his .356 career OBP and trade Granderson and his remaining $45M commitment. I don’t think Alderson spent that money for a lead off batter and this is totally Collins idea.
I like the concept of the new lineup format but Granderson batting 5th with TdA sixth would maintain the balance. Lagares vs LHP and Murphy vs RHP flip flopping between #1 and #7 would also work nicely.
Metsense —– trading Granderson is a nice thought, but nobody will take his remaining contract unless a lot of cash goes with it.