All the Nook Logan-Curtis Granderson job battle articles have clearly raised my hackles. Missing from the stories are any quotes from the actual decision makers – until now. Crystal Evola has this from Dave Dombrowski:
“Curtis Granderson, I think, is ready to play in the big leagues after what he did last year at the minor-league level and coming up to the big leagues,” Dombrowski said. “Nook showed some fl ashes, and we all know what an exciting player he can be, what his speed brings to a lineup offensively and defensively, he brings a dimension that not many players in baseball bring.
“So, you have some different alternatives. It’s a situation where one of them can win the position outright, you also have the potential, because Nook’s a better hitter from the right-hand side than he is the left-hand side at this point, that he could actually platoon, and also because Curtis Granderson can play left field or right field that you could put them both in the lineup at one time and DH one of the other guys or give him a day off. A lot of that will be determined in spring training by their advancement and how they continue to progress.
Maybe I’ve got my happy glasses on, but here’s what I take from that quote:
- Recognition for what Logan can do, which is run and wreak havoc
- While the job isn’t necessarily Granderson’s, it sounds more like Logan will have to play his way in.
- There are other options than one or the other. There could be days when both play
- Recognition that Logan can’t hit as a lefty
I know one could argue that Logan shouldn’t be taking at-bats away from anybody. However if he gets the occasional start to rest somebody – even Curtis – that isn’t such a bad thing.
See today’s News. Rob Parker is an idiot. He is trashing the Weaver/Bonderman deal.
PS: I think DD and Leyland are primarily old school types and that they value speed more than Moneyballers do. Logan will play a lot, probably more than he should. It would be nice to have him on the bench to pinch run for Shelton or Pudge, etc late in a close game.