{"id":45609,"date":"2017-10-03T10:08:02","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T10:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=45609"},"modified":"2017-10-03T10:08:02","modified_gmt":"2017-10-03T10:08:02","slug":"column-dodgers-hoping-curtis-granderson-october-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/column-dodgers-hoping-curtis-granderson-october-guy.html","title":{"rendered":"Column Dodgers are hoping Curtis Granderson is more of an October guy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Column Dodgers are hoping Curtis Granderson is more of an October guy<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Column Dodgers are hoping Curtis Granderson is more of an October guy:-As bad as the early part of September was for Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson \u2014 he was batting .127 for the month until he got six hits in his last 16 at-bats \u2014 it wasn\u2019t the worst stretch of his career.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI remember in the minor leagues I had seven straight at-bats, seven straight strikeouts. It was to the point where teammates had put Band-Aids on my bats and put glasses in my locker,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was funny, and the only thing you could do was laugh at it because I was getting fastballs right down the middle of the plate and was not touching them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

No one has put eyeglasses in his Dodger Stadium locker. \u201cNot yet,\u201d he said, adding the warm smile that has been a constant throughout his career.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Dodgers acquired Granderson from the New York Mets on Aug. 18 for depth, versatility, his left-handed bat and his value as one of those players considered a good guy in the clubhouse. That can mean anything from being the resident DJ \u2014 as he was with the Mets while devising daily themed playlists \u2014 to offering tips to young players and lifting the mood by exuding optimism during dark times.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 14-year veteran said recently he was still settling in, learning what it takes to make certain players laugh, still trying to figure out who the clubhouse DJ is, though he has no complaints about the music. He\u2019s also still seeking greater success at the plate, but he didn\u2019t think he had to change anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t looked at it as being down,\u201d said Granderson, who batted .183 in September and .212 this season with the Mets and Dodgers. \u201cEverybody looks at it as, \u2018We want you to do this,\u2019 but what would that definition be? If I was hitting this, would that be considered a success? If I had done this, would that be considered a success?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSuccess is going out there and putting your team in an opportunity to win as many ballgames as possible, no matter how that happens to be. You can do a lot of great things out there and never touch the ball, never put the ball in play but end up putting your team in a situation to win, just by how you communicate with somebody, how you position somebody. Maybe you happen to be in a position to do something to help somebody else be successful, all things that don\u2019t get put in the paper.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He has made an impact in those intangible areas, and his manager and teammates have faith he will have a big impact at the plate, too, when it matters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reliever Kenley Jansen had always heard Granderson was a good guy, and Jansen was glad to confirm that first-hand. Jansen also remembers that Granderson was a devastating force in the Mets\u2019 elimination of the Dodgers in a 2015 National League division series, especially Granderson\u2019s three-run double in Game 3. In that series Granderson batted .389 Dodgers with two doubles and five runs batted in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always believed he\u2019s an October guy. It doesn\u2019t matter what he might have this year. If you see in 2015 how he owned us, you just want him to bring that to us and we know he can do that,\u201d Jansen said. \u201cHe\u2019s hitting the ball pretty good even though stuff doesn\u2019t go his way. I think it all might come back together for him when he gets back to the postseason. It\u2019s going to come back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Prized Dodgers rookie Alex Verdugo, Granderson\u2019s next-locker neighbor in September, sees Granderson as kind calm, and reassuringly upbeat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first got called up we talked a lot, mainly about defense and our communication out there,\u201d Verdugo said. \u201cHere and there he\u2019ll share some pointers and tell me about what pitchers are doing, and things like that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s really positive. Even when there\u2019s not a lot of things going right, if you\u2019re struggling he always finds a positive out of everything and just makes sure he takes care of all the guys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Manager Dave Roberts, recently asked to define what a good teammate is, said Granderson meets every benchmark.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe success that he has doesn\u2019t factor into how he treats his teammates and how he prepares each day. So I think that\u2019s what has led to his career,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cHe\u2019s very streaky but his attitude has never wavered, and for me, those are guys that you bet on. You really do. And this game is so unpredictable, but a guy that prepares and is trying, is so focused to win baseball games, those are the guys that you want to go into a series with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, and that seven-strikeout streak Granderson had in the minors? He ended it by nearly hitting for the cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s how quick it changed,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have to realize that stuff like that happens and all it takes is one swing of the bat to get you back right on track \u2014 and also take you the other way as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The track he takes will soon become evident. When the Dodgers face a right-handed starter during the playoffs that begin Friday, Granderson will be a starting outfielder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no reason not to be positive,\u201d he said. \u201cFirst and foremost, if you\u2019re not going to have faith and believe in yourself, who else will?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/la-sp-dodgers-granderson-elliott-20171002-story.html<\/span><\/p>\n

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