BALTIMORE — Curtis Granderson has adapted pretty well to the corner outfield positions after being shifted from center.
Comfort at the plate, however, has been more elusive.
“The swing is getting there,” Granderson said before going hitless in four at-bats Tuesday night in the Yankees’ 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards. “No matter what, you’re going to run through tough at-bats.”
Granderson still is looking for his first extra-base hit and RBI after 24 plate appearances, the kind of start he was hoping to avoid after missing all of spring training with a fractured right forearm suffered during his first at-bat of the spring.
“No matter what you do in extended spring training or in the minors, there’s nothing that can replicate what you find here,” Granderson said. “Physically, I’m ready.”
Manager Joe Girardi said he was encouraged by what he saw last night, including a long fly ball and a liner to second.
“He’s starting to drive some balls,” Girardi said. “I think he’s getting closer and about ready to take off.”
Perhaps, but Granderson still is not where he needs to be after spending the early part of the season in Tampa and Scranton.
“We’re still trying to figure out his swing and where it should be,” hitting coach Kevin Long said. “We weren’t together the whole time, so it’s a process for both of us and you have to make adjustments to feel and mechanics on the fly a little more than you normally would.”
It won’t be the only time this season that Long has to work with a key player who has rehabbed remotely, since Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter each missed much of spring training.
“You just have to see where they’re at when they get here,” Long said. “We talk quite a bit, whether it’s through them sending me video or them talking to me about what their routine should be and how many swings and drills they should do.”
Despite that almost daily contact, there’s no substitute for a hands-on approach.
“Just today, I showed Curtis something on video that he was getting close to fixing and if we iron that out, I think we’ll be right where we need to be,” Long said. “I’m not going to pick that up talking to him.”
Granderson said his new role in the outfield has not been a factor in his slow start offensively.
“Not at all,” Granderson said. “I’ve played all these positions before, which everyone seems to forget, so it’s not like I’m going up to the plate worrying about what I’m doing in the field.”