MLB

Granderson struggles through first half with Yankees

OAKLAND, Calif. — In a perfect Yankees universe Curtis Granderson would be hitting .300 with 15 homers and 50 runs scored and the Yankees’ AL East lead would be larger than the 1 ½-length advantage they held over the Red Sox going into tonight’s action.

The Yankee fans who see the champagne flute half full of pinstriped bubbles believed on the frigid December day the Yankees acquired Granderson from Detroit that by the halfway mark of the season the center fielder would be in the middle of a wonderful year.

They saw the 30 homers he hit last year and thought about left-handed hitter taking aim at Yankee Stadium’s right-field seats; how it would help him at least match that and reduce the sting of the left-handed pop that vanished with Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon.

They looked at the .249 average from a career .272 hitter and understood that hitting guru Kevin Long would raise the numbers; especially against left-handers, who Granderson batted .183 (33-for-180) against in 2009.

They figured hitting seventh in the stud-loaded Yankee lineup would help him get good pitches to hit.

Yet as the Yankees entered the halfway mark tonight against the A’s at the Coliseum, Granderson was batting .226 (45-for-199) with seven homers and 22 RBIs. Of course, he missed 26 days with a strained right groin.

According to GM Brian Cashman, who sent Austin Jackson and Phil Coke to the Tigers for the lefty-hitting center fielder, Granderson hasn’t underachieved.

“He has been what we traded for,’’ Cashman said. “He has done well against right-handers and struggled mightily against left-handers. His numbers would be better if not for the month he missed. He has given us above-average defense and done well against right-handers.’’

Since Granderson whiffed 141 times in 631 at-bats a year ago, nobody should be surprised he has fanned 48 times in 199 at-bats.

When the Yankees got Granderson, Long immediately went to work on the 29-year-old. The hitting coach wanted Granderson to incorporate the same mechanics he used against right-handers versus lefties. The plan was for Granderson to become a little more pull conscious.

And when Granderson homered off Red Sox ace Josh Beckett in his initial Yankee at-bat, the beginning of Granderson’s Yankees career couldn’t have been better.

But numbers don’t lie and Cashman believes what you are seeing is what you are going to get.

Going into tonight’s game against A’s right-hander Ben Sheets (0-for-4), Granderson was batting .248 (30-for-121) with six homers and 18 RBIs against right-handers with an OPS of .822. Versus lefties he was .192 (15-for-78) with a homer, four RBIs and OPS of .514.

Sunday Granderson went 0-for-5 and fanned four times but the always positive Joe Girardi saw some good in Granderson’s hacks even if he was batting .115 (3-for-26) in the previous seven games.

“His at-bats have been really pretty good. He struggled a little bit (Sunday) with his at-bats. Sometimes there’s just tough match ups on you,’’ Girardi said. “He faced two pretty good left-handers (Friday and Saturday) and I thought his at-bats were pretty good the last couple of days. It’s what you go through as a hitter.’’

Granderson said fatigue isn’t a factor and that Sunday wasn’t rock bottom.

“Still battling, grinding it out,’’ Granderson said when asked how he felt at the plate. “That’s part of it (a rough Sunday). I’ve had worse days.’’

As for the toll of playing every day, Granderson wasn’t offering an excuse.

“Not tired at all. Legs feel good, body feels good. No fatigue at all,’’ Granderson said. “It’s just one of those baseball things. You just keep battling and grinding it out.’’