I sincerely believe that we'll hear the legendary John Sterling calling out those words when Curtis Granderson cracks his first Yankee home run. Based on last year's statistics for Granderson, the bandbox that is the new Yankee Stadium, we should hear that a lot. I must apologize for the lack of postings over the last week. Once the Grapefruit League season begins on Wednesday, we'll have lots to talk about each and every day. Thought I'd open up the week with some interesting notes/thoughts about Spring Training and the upcoming 2010 regular season.
1. Curtis Granderson is going to be a perfect fit for the Yankees. The one "negative" in his game was his inability to hit left-handed pitching. So what are Kevin Long and the Yankees doing? Working on that. Yogi said that 90 percent of the game is half-mental. Maybe Granderson just needs some confidence, which is why the Yankees had Granderson taking batting practice against a very hittable left-handed pitcher: KEI IGAWA! Glad to see he is earning his multi-million dollar minor league contract. God Bless America!
2. How could Major League Baseball possibly think it's fair to have the Yankees start and end the regular season at Fenway Park in Boston? Talk about a huge advantage for the BoSox. On a side note, do the Yankees always have to open up the season on the road? Last year, I understood why they had 9 games away from the Bronx to start the season: the new stadium! This year, I don't get it. The Yankees play 22 games this April, 7 of which will be played in New York. Like the luxury tax, another anti-Yankee policy.
3. No one, including Joe Girardi, has discussed the possibility of Joba Chamberlain AND Phil Hughes joining the Yankee bullpen this year. I understand the Yankees have a lot of weapons out there in Marte, Robertson, Aceves, and some guy named Rivera. But imagine having Hughes and Joba out there....each start only needs to go 6 innings, and it's in the bag. My vote right now for fifth starter goes to Chad Gaudin. He was solid last season, and I think the Yankees won all six of his starts in pinstripes. Sending Hughes to the bullpen was a turning point last year, and Joba even said in October that he likes being a reliever better than a starter because he "doesn't have to think as much." Enough said.
4. Now that the Olympics are over (Thank God), kudos to the YES Network and WWOR (My 9) for showing so many Yankees spring training games this season. I guess the YES Network figures that exhibition baseball games will bring in much better ratings than an NBA team that has 6 wins and 53 losses. Sure, the game is brutal by the 7th inning when you have no idea who's in the outfield, and you're watching someone bat with the jersey number 89 that you know isn't making the club, but baseball is baseball.
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