Brian Cashman has had time to reflect on Curtis Granderson’s flameout during the Yankees’ ALCS loss to the Tigers, but the general manager’s opinion hasn’t changed.
“To get 43 home runs from a center fielder isn’t easy,” Cashman said yesterday. “And I don’t think one series erases that.”
Granderson’s future is on the list of things Cashman has to figure out with the Yankees staying home instead of going to the World Series. With a $15 million team option for 2013, Granderson figures to be a lock to be picked up for next season despite the poor showing against Detroit, when he went 0-for-11 with two walks in the four-game sweep.
And if Alex Rodriguez’s benching didn’t draw so much attention, the struggling center fielder’s issues would have been even more glaring.
Although he was replaced in center by Brett Gardner in Game 4, Rodriguez’s problems at third base — with five years and $114 million heading his way — made Granderson’s problems secondary.
But going forward, Granderson’s status remains something that needs to be dealt with. While the Yankees do have a $2 million buyout, they won’t let his postseason failure impact how they deal with him for next season.
Still, if they decide to keep him around, Granderson’s performance against the Tigers, as well as his decreased doubles, triples and even stolen bases, figure to be matters for discussion.
Perhaps more important is Granderson’s confidence.
While Cashman didn’t seem concerned with Granderson’s mindset, hitting coach Kevin Long hinted that could have led to some of his problems down the stretch.
“He started to struggle in situations where [his] swings and misses become more glaring than usual,” Long said after the season ended. “I think Curtis can take something out of this: ‘Where was my head at?’ And ‘Was I confident enough? ‘There might have been a little bit of self-doubt that I saw.”
If Long were right and the Yankees keep Granderson, they still may not find out until next October if that doubt has been straightened.