Back in December, when the Yanks executed a three-way trade to bring Curtis Granderson to The Bronx, concerned centered on the All-Star center fielder's woeful batting average against left-handed pitching.
Granderson's career average against southpaws was a near-Mendoza-line .210, and he was coming off a season well below that sunken standard. In 2009, Grandy hit just .183 and a measly two roundtrippers in 199 plate appearances versus lefties.
Yet Granderson paid immediate dividends in pinstripes.
In the opening series against the Red Sox, Curtis hit a home run is his first Yankee at-bat -- off Josh Becket no less. Then, in the rubber-match of the series, took Jonathan Papelbon deep for the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth inning.
One series, two homers off two of Boston's top hurlers -- albeit both righties.
In his first 11 games of the season, the affable Granderson collected six multi-hit games and a batting average of .326.
Granderson slumped through the rest of April eventually winding up on the DL in early May and missing the next 24 games. His average down to .225 and still just those two homers.
But since his return on May 28 against the Indians, Granderson has been swinging a clutch bat, even against his personal nemesis: The lefty. Granderson is 5 for 16 since coming back, including four hits against southpaws.
In his first game back, Granderson doubled off lefthander Tony Sipp in the eight inning. Two batters later, after Mark Teixeira walked, Robinson Cano's grand slam extended the Yanks' lead to 8-2 -- the eventual final score.
Two days later, with the Yanks down to the Tribe, 3-2, Grandy once again doubled of Sipp. Tex followed that with a three-run go-ahead homer to cap a five-run seventh.
Having seen enough of Sipp, the next day Indians skipper Manny Acta brought on another lefty, this time it was Rafael Perez, to face Granderson. With the game still in doubt, the Yanks were up 2-1, Curtis singled to move Ramiro Pena (pinch-running for Derek Jeter) to second.
After a wild-pitch moved both runners into scoring position and an intentional walk to Teixiera, A-Rod ended all suspense with grand-slam to deep center. The Yanks went on to blowout the Indians, 11-2.
Having dispensed of everyone the Indians could throw at him, Granderson continued his assault on lefties last night against the Orioles.
Lefty Brian Matusz started for Baltimore and had one of the finest performances of his young career going 6.2 innings and giving up just one earned run -- a tie-breaking homer by Granderson. The Yankees eventually won the game after Miguel Tejada allowed two unearned runs to score on a throwing error providing the margin in a 3-1 victory.
The pieces given up for Granderson have performed well this season. Phil Coke has been solid and Austin Jackson leads all rookies in batting average (minimum 50 ABs) for the Tigers and Ian Kennedy leads all Diamondback starters in ERA.
If the past week is an indication of how Granderson will perform in The Bronx, the Yanks absolutely made the right move.
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I fail to see how it was a good move. If you could be receiving the same output from Austin Jackson, than the trade is a bad move. You gave up 3 players to get one, and that one was on the DL for a month while the players you traded are all having good seasons.
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