Postgame notes: “It’s just one of those freak things”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Aug 29, 2011 
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Curtis Granderson still doesn’t think he’s a home run hitter. Not even with the most homers in the Majors. Not even after two home runs tonight. Not even after the crowd at Camden Yards chanted MVP as he disappeared into the dugout.
“It’s one of those freak things,” Granderson said. “I was thinking, the home run guys do it, and they hit mammoth shots. Mine, as long as they just get over the fence, that’s great. Doesn’t matter how far they happen to go. I’m still not in that Alex category or Big Papi or Adrian Gonzalez category. (Those players) just do it at will. At least, I think they can. I look at those guys and it’s one of the things I always think about when they come to the plate, like this is one of the guys that could hit a home run on this pitch. I don’t feel that way about myself.”
Granderson made this argument: He hit a home run in his second at-bat, then looked bad on a strikeout, then hit another home run. His argument was that a real home run hitter wouldn’t have those sort of ups and downs. Someone countered with the argument that he’d just described exactly what home run hitters do.
“But I don’t how to do that,” he said. “It just happens. Some guys know how to do it. I remember guys talking like, this is what I did in order to do that. My thing is, I got beat, I’ve got to change something up here.”
Here’s his other I’m-not-a-home-run-hitter argument:
“When I go up to bat, guys are still playing me to bunt,” he said. “And I’m still looking at, can I bunt in certain situations? And they’re not giving it to me. It’s not like the infield is completely like, this guy is going to come up and swing the bat. It’s not like the guys in the outfield are pushing back, unless it’s a no-doubles situation. I see that with other guys.”
Fine. He’s not strictly a home run hitter. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a dangerous home run hitter. In fact, it might mean he’s the most valuable player in the American League.
Here’s Granderson.
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• Now that the Orioles have announced a 1:05 first-pitch, the Yankees have decided to stop fighting the decision to play a makeup game on September 8. “Given all the opportunities, it’s the best-case scenario for both teams,” Granderson said. “And we’ve got to play it.”
• Girardi on Alex Rodriguez’s left thumb: “It’s been bothering him since (last week), but today it got pretty sore on him. A lot more sore than it’s necessarily been the last few days. It’s just something we gotta get right.”
• Girardi on Derek Jeter’s right knee: “He came in after the game and he iced, then he got really, really sore to the point where they X-rayed it and the X-rays came back negative. He’s gimping around pretty good. After the game, once the adrenaline was gone, it got really sore. I don’t know if we’ll have him tomorrow, but he’s day to day.”
• Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher and Andruw Jones hit three straight home runs in the sixth inning. The last time the Yankees hit homers in three straight at-bats was May 20, 2009. That was also against Baltimore, and it also involved Swisher and Cano. Melky Cabrera hit the third homer that day.
• The Yankees matched a season-high with five home runs in the game.
• Granderson leads the Majors with 15 home runs off left-handed pitchers. Tonight he passed Cano for the most RBI against lefties with 38. And, yes, both Granderson and Cano are left-handed hitters. So much for platoon splits.
• Ivan Nova is now 10-0 with a 3.52 ERA in his past 11 starts. His 14 wins are the most among all Major League rookies, and he’s now tied Johnny Allen for the third-longest winning streak of all time by a Yankees rookie. Allen did it in 1932.
• According to Elias, Nova became the first Yankees rookie to win seven straight starts since Vic Raschi won seven straight spanning the 1946 and 1947 seasons, both as a rookie. Nova also became the first Yankees rookie to win at least 10 straight decisions in a single season since Atley Donald won 12 straight in 1939.
• Nova on leading Major League rookies in wins: “It’s good, but I don’t pay too much attention to the individual goals. I’m a part of this team and we need to win games. That’s all that matters.”
• It was clear that Nova got better as the game went on. Nova said his arm didn’t feel quite right in the early innings. “He just started making better pitches today,” Girardi said. “He got ahead of some guys and just wasn’t able to put them away early on. All of a sudden his slider got better, his location got better and he started putting people away.”
• I don’t even know what to right about Dave Robertson at this point. He said after the game that he’s able to get out of those bases-loaded situations because, “I can’t stand to lose.” He said it’s really that simple. “When the bases are loaded, I’m digging in deep, trying to give everything I can,” he said.
• Granderson said he notices the MVP chants when he’s on the field. “I hear them,” he said. “But I don’t really pay much attention to them. It’s just one of the things a lot of people talk about. Then right behind it, you’ve got the ‘you suck’ chants.”
Associated Press photos
I love the fact that Granderson is so humble. The mark of a true Yankee – he’s humble and he crushes it.
he notices the MVP chants when he’s on the field. “I hear them,” he said.
Then right behind it, you’ve got the ‘you suck’ chants.”
LMAO. Tht means that he’s made it. He’s got the attention of the enemy fans.
A standard wiffle ball bat can hold exactly one beer.
Let’s get the win tomorrow.
Out in LA…
Ethier’s comments blindside Mattingly.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles.....scuss-knee
Where is the list ?
” I don’t even know what to right about Dave Robertson at this point.”
How about some spelling lessons?
Watching the flooding this morning, I am concerned for those like Trish, Kate, Maine, Randy and others. Your in my thoughts and prayers.
Tar-
Good morning. I heard Vermont got hit really bad.
I send out the same good wishes. Hope all of them fared well and are safe.
Hopefully none of their property has been damaged by the angry waters.
Granderson = MVP
Nova = ROY
Robertson = FOY
Granderson is going to talk himself out of the MVP, lol. It shouldn’t be that way, but because people don’t view him as a HR hitter, his year is going to be looked at as a fluke. Gonzalez has put of monster years before and that will be his advantage. Granderson did have a huge year that one year in Detroit, but not with these kinds of numbers……
If you consider Granderson’s homers a fluke then you also have to consider the same for Gonzalez’s BA.
Gonzalez has only hit .300 one time prior to this year (.304 in 2006). His BA this year is over 50 points above his career avg and his OPS is nearly 80 points higher than his.career average.
Rays Fan for Curtis….
DickieVDick Vitale
Tired of talk about Verlander 4 MVP as HE IS MR CY YOUNG! That is the award 4 pitchers. MVP = @cgrand14 an EVERYDAY PLAYER!
Where the heck is everyone today ?
All sleepin’ in on the same day.
Too funny.
It’s going to be an interesting MVP race with Granderson, Ellsbury, Gonzalez and Cabrera.
Justin Verlander will get support too, but ever since Guidry didn’t win it in 1978 I have never considered a starting pitcher deserving of the award. How “valuable” can you be if you sit and watch 75-80 % of the time?
Blake, he’s a bigger name…..I hate to be this cynical, but there has been VERY little buzz about Granderson at all – forget in NY(which is ridiculous), but nationally. Where has Tom Verducci and SI been? Too busy propping up Pedroia and the Sox. Where have the articles been on-line?
MTU — they may be snorkeling to work.
I’m still annoyed at Clemens (who I became a huge fan of) beating Mattingly in 1986. IMO, unless a pitcher has a huge year and no every day player is good enough, the award should always go to the latter.
Pedrioa isn’t a factor… he’s the third best candidate on his own team.
86-
What were the worst hit areas ?
Betsy,
Im not sure…..he’s always mentioned when they discuss MVP. My worry is that some of the voters are going to be affected by the advanced metrics regarding his defense…..who’d would be most unfortunate seeing as how those are far from an exact science and in some ways I believe are just totally inaccurate.
The bottom line is that Granderson has a higher OPS than any candidate not named Jose Bautista…..as a CFer. He’s got a shot at 45/30 and 150 runs.
Hope everyone is well this.morning and that Irene didn’t tear up too much up there. Lot of folks without power it seems.
Blake-
Curtis just needs to let his bat do the talkin’.
Blake, D never comes into play in these types of awards, but should it make a difference this year, that would be a shame. I have to ask what exactly is WRONG with Granderson’s defense? Nothing. I hate sabremetrics and have nothing but disdain for these types of stats.
Hope everyone survived Irene.
I almost feel guilty, because we had beautiful weather throughout the midwest.
My parents’ friends, who live about 5 minutes away from us, have no power – they came over last night to watch tv and the wife is here taking a shower. My sister, who lives about 15 minutes away, has no power – she’s going to be coming here for the day. My office is about 10 min. away and unfortunately it appears we have power as our website gives no indication that the office is closed, lol
It looks like Jersey will get the worst of the flooding. Upstate NY has some too…. not sure how bad it is on Long Island.
Pretty strange living in Florida and calling my father in The Bronx about a Hurricane hitting him.
I think Miguel Cabrera has the highest OPS of the MVP candidates
Thanks 86.
I think Vermont got hit really hard too.
Kate lives in upstate NY.
I hope she checks in after a while to let us know she’s OK.
Likewise with Randy, MY, and others who are up North.
Gotta run for a while…. best to all who were in the pathy and hope you have minimal issues to contend with going forward.
MTU,
Hopefully the voters will reward his modesty…..you don’t here about him as much but everyone that covers baseball knows the guys character and what he does for the game.
Good morning all
We were far enough out of the path to not have much effect from Irene. Yesterday we had heavy rain and wind, thunder and lightning, and branches down, but nothing major. The rivers are low this time of year, so no flooding. No loss of power either.
Today is sunny and cool.
86,
Actually Bautista does…..but yea you’re right Cabrera is slightly ahead of Granderson in OPS…..about 10 points. But he also plays 1B and has 14 less homers. He’s habit a great season though.
Kate-
Thanks for checking in.
Glad you’re OK.
Betsy,
Thy have already mentioned Granderson’s UZR on baseball tonight a couple of times…..those numbers don’t lass the eyeball test though so.hopefully it won’t matter.
Unlike Burnett, Nova is able to make adjustments if his early game results are less than he wants. His pitches were up in the strike zone and until he found what was wrong, his good breaking pitches got him going. He’s clearly the No. 2 starter after C.C. His maturity level is amazing considering he’s 10 years younger than Burnett.
Noesi looks good enough to start Thursday’s game and bring in a callup like Warren when the pitch count of Noesi reaches a certain level.
Blake-
I don’t know what metrics and other factors are used to decide the MVP.
Is it pure #’s or is it a little like the AS voting. Part #’s and part popularity contest ?
How are individual achievements weighted ?
A case could be made for a number of guys.
If Grandy just continues to pile up the #’s I hope he won’t be denied.
I’m hoping he separates himself from the pack in a sufficient way.
Makes the choice obvious.
Nova has good composure on the mound. So does D-rob. AJ lets the game unravel quickly.
I have an off-the-wall suggestion regarding Adrian Gonzalez.
I have been thinking that Gonzalez has benefitted at least as much if not more from his trade to the Red Sox than the Red Sox have. Gonzalez has always been an excellent player, but never before has he had a stadium and a team that supported his talent the way playing in Fenway with guys like Ortiz, Pedroia, Youkilis (and this year Ellsbury) has. It has been mutually beneficial.
It’s not like the Red Sox got AGon and all of a sudden the other players in the lineup got better. It’s not like the Red Sox got AGon and all of a sudden their lineup became exponentially more potent.
But Gonzalez clearly went to the right place for the type of player (hitter) he is.
I’m not saying he shouldn’t get the MVP, if indeed that is how the writers vote. Just food for thought.
We had a few large branches come down and lost cable last night but no major incident on our block. Bronx River Parkway and the tracks of our Metro North Station are still closed because of flooding.
Around here I think they are going to have to revise their definition of a 100 year flood because we’ve had 2 such incidents in the last 6 years.
pat-to me, losing cable qualifies as a major incident.
New one ==>
Good morning everyone. I’m late to the party this morning.
The MVP award should go to an everyday player whose helps his team get into the playoffs. At this point in the season IMO that comes down to Granderson and Gonzalez with a 3rd place vote to Cabrera.
Hopefully the Yankees will win today, pick up the pace and distance themselves from the Rays, Angels/Rangers for a playoff spot.
New Post- Nova: “I just found a way to help myself”
# 86w183 August 29th, 2011 at 8:24 am
Justin Verlander will get support too, but ever since Guidry didn’t win it in 1978 I have never considered a starting pitcher deserving of the award. How “valuable” can you be if you sit and watch 75-80 % of the time?
==============
Well, actually, I could argue that “Pitchers are at least as deserving as field players because they affect more plays per year than field players do.”
Using raw estimates–
Batters have 600-700 PA/yr (plate appearances) (NOTE- I ignore fielding’s impact on MVP voting because it takes a collection of extraordinary plays or a very poor fielding pct to really have an impact.)
Starting pitchers are involved in 3740 chances/yr (based on 110 pitches/gm * 34 games)
OR, looking at batters faced..
Starting pitchers handle 952 chances/yr (4 batters/inning * 7 innings/gm) * 34 games/yr.
(remember these are raw estimates)
MVP…MVP…MVP…
don’t give me any of that gonzo crap.