Why I Like Curtis Granderson

by John Sickels on Apr 9, 2006 3:49 PM EDT in News

I like Curtis Granderson for much the same reason I like Brandon Wood: he boosts my ego.

Granderson was an outfielder at the University of Illinois-Chicago. I saw him play college ball and was impressed. He had a smooth swing, good command of the strike zone, and to me at least he looked like he had good tools, decent speed that helped him on the outfield and on the bases. The only tool that didn't look at least average to me was his throwing arm.

Granderson hit .483 with nine homers and 17 steals for Illinois-Chicago in '02, ranking second to Rickie Weeks in the NCAA Division I batting hunt. So we had a guy with an excellent performance track record and good physical tools. I picked him in the second round of my Twins Shadow Draft. In real life, he went to the Tigers in the third round.
He lasted until the third round because scouts didn't like his tools. The word was that his speed and athleticism were mediocre, and that he wouldn't hit for much power with wood. But that's not what I saw in him. I saw a player with solid tools, a good measure of refinement, and a fine track record. He also had a good work ethic and was intelligent.

Now, I've been watching baseball games for 30 years, but I've never had formal scout training. So I wasn't sure that I was right about Granderson. I've been wrong about personal "toolsy" calls in the past, so I like Granderson because (so far at least) he's confirmed my original judgment of him. The funny thing is, as Granderson has played well up the ladder, more and more scouts talk about how he has pretty decent tools after all.

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Granderson projections

John,
Any possibility of doing a crystal ball on Curtis Granderson, like you did with Matt Murton and others?

I'll be honest, as a fantasy ball player and Granderson owner, I'd be curious what you see him doing.

Personally I prefer him to Murton, but I might be wrong, and that's part of the reason for my asking.

by nutworld on Apr 9, 2006 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

question for John

Who did the Twins actually pick in the 2nd round that you chose Granderson over?

by sabernar on Apr 9, 2006 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

crain

Jesse Crain

by John Sickels on Apr 9, 2006 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

Feel obligated to like him

Since we're both UIC guys. Fun player in any case.

by mrkupe on Apr 9, 2006 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

Granderson

He is one of my favorite young Tiger players. I think he would be one of my favorites no matter where he played.

He has been doubted his entire career. People doubted he would hit. Then when he did they doubted he would be a good enough CF and be forced to a corner spot where he would be less valuable. Then he proved that he could play good enough D.

He is just a solid player all around that was a bit of a slow starter in the minors... but if his current rate holds up it looks like that was just him struggling to adjust to leagues at the beginning.

by VtTigers on Apr 9, 2006 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

Granderson

I love how Rotoworld says "advises" us not to expect him to be a better than average lead off hitter. Maybe that's because he'll be batting third soon.

Curtis Granderson is a stud today, he was a stud in college, and he'll be a stud in the future.

And John.....thanks for your advice too because I have both Wood and Granderson....thanks to you!

I think you and Ken Warren are the two absolute best in the business.

by grandslam on Apr 9, 2006 9:56 PM EDT reply actions

Rotoworld

Interesting note from Rotoworld... I agree though I mean they must not have looked at his stats/scouting reports/anything else.

You are absolutely right on about the 3 hole. I think he projects best as a 2 or 3 hole hitter. They have him in the leadoff spot right now and I think that is fine because he will probably get on base quite a bit. Long term I think they will find he has enough power to hit lower in the lineup... Although they might still keep him there just due to his speed...

His future will be fun to watch and as a Tiger fan I will love every minute of it.

by VtTigers on Apr 9, 2006 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

great weekend

I've had both Granderson and Wood in my keeper since last fall's draft... got Granderson as a late round majors steal.

The thing that intrigues me is Granderson's plate discipline regression last season. His BB/K ratios went down last year in AAA and the majors and I remember reading that he was "swinging for the fences" and thus striking out more. It seems like he has regained his plate discipline since being named the starting CF in spring training. If he has the discipline to go along with the power and speed, he is a top 5 CF in the AL.

Rays in '08....

by youALREADYknow on Apr 10, 2006 12:59 AM EDT reply actions

The Tigers...

are just going with the flow in the AL central, which is equipped with young talented center fielders.

by Stealfirstbase on Apr 10, 2006 2:27 AM EDT reply actions

re:

"The funny thing is, as Granderson has played well up the ladder, more and more scouts talk about how he has pretty decent tools after all."

I've noticed this as well(not directly from scouts, but from scouting publications). A couple of years ago he was seen as a solid guy who could get on base a little but didn't have the pop for a corner spot or the ability to cover center defensively. Now, after a few strong minor league campaigns and a quick start to his major league career, everyone talks about how athletic and fast he is.

by Ian Miller on Apr 10, 2006 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

Is it an accident...

...that BP projects him to be the league's best CFer, at +8 FRAA? I gotta say, with all the offseason talk of playing Nook Logan in Center, and shifting Curtis to a corner, this calculation surprised me.

by Azteca on Apr 10, 2006 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

I know you should not base an evaluation solely on

....one game but......I saw Granderson hit a 3 run inside the park HR vs the Angels. He also made a great catch in CF. I was smitten. He seemed fast to me !

http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2005_09_15_detmlb_anamlb_1&c_id=det

by RodgerL on Apr 10, 2006 7:55 PM EDT reply actions