Soothsaying for Sixteen: Curtis Granderson

[Edgy MD]

I'm a middle-of-the-lineup slugger that has reinvented himself as a leadoff hitter. I'm a center fielder that has reinvented himself as a right fielder. I'm a Chicagoan that has reinvented himself as a New Yorker. I'm a Yankee who has reinvented himself as a Met.

That's what I do. I reinvent. And I assert myself as a man who the SUCK label just won't stick to. What's in store for 2016? Surely something new.

[fimg=525:2v73ns3v]http://dailystache.net/wp-content/uploads/628x471.jpg[/fimg:2v73ns3v] [fimg=250:2v73ns3v]https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/10/19/sports/19jpMETS5/19jpMETS5-blog427.jpg[/fimg:2v73ns3v]
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[Benjamin Grimm]

He also questions the moon landing!

[Edgy MD]

I'm a rational, engaged, educated citizen who has reinvented himself as a purveyor of insupportable conspiracy theories.

[TransMonk]

Curtis became one of my favorite current Mets last season.

Still, I see a bit of a dip due to age across the board due to age: .240/.335/.415/.750, 20 HR, 65 RBI. I'm not sure they will be able to stay committed to him leading off all year unless he duplicates last year's BB and OBP rates. That said, I'm not sure who would take his place at the top.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Hard to imagine Curtis pulling off another season like last. He's due
for injury, and my crystal ball has him missing some significant playing
time in 2016.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I convinced myself this morning the Mets would trade him if Zimmo forces his way up from AAA and Conforto could slide over to right but that's a lot to count on happening.

I would guess his counting numbers decline but his rates not as significantly if they truly follow through with the No-On-Lefties plan for him.

21 HR, 80 runs, 61 RBI 250/340/440

[Edgy MD]

TransMonk wrote: Curtis became one of my favorite current Mets last season. Still, I see a bit of a dip due to age across the board due to age: .240/.335/.415/.750, 20 HR, 65 RBI. I'm not sure they will be able to stay committed to him leading off all year unless he duplicates last year's BB and OBP rates. That said, I'm not sure who would take his place at the top.

A Nimmo/Lagares two-headed love beast.

[Vic Sage]

More injuries, more platooning against LHPs, regression to the mean -- .240ba / .340ob / .440slg / 18 hr / 55rbi / 75r

[ashie62]

Coming off big year but no spring chicken. Lets hope for the best.

[MFS62]

The re-emergence of Legares this spring, Terry moving Cespedes to a corner spot and (I'm predicting) Conforto proving he can play every day make me think Granderson will have fewer games started.
The .250 / .345/ .455 slashes will look decent (and might even improve with more rest). And, since the lineup is now deeper, he may actually get more RBI opportunities from the leadoff spot in the order.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Vic Sage wrote: More injuries ...

More is almost certain, because he's been stubbornly healthy since joining the Mets. Even when he injured his thumb in the NLCS, it didn't stop him from being probably the Mets best performer in the World Series.

[Ceetar]

150 games, 25 HR, .266/.360/.440 128 wRC+ for 4.5 fWAR.

3 walk off hits, one of which is a home run and one of which is a walk.

24 wefollowlucasduda posts.

[TransMonk]

You can vote for Curtis's walkup music on Opening Day:

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/curtis-granderson-walk-up-song-vote/

[batmagadanleadoff]

Here's Curtis Granderson's write-up in last year's 2015 Baseball Prospectus annual, entering the 2015 season:

In 2008, Granderson published a children's book entitled All You Can Be: Dream It, Draw It, Become It. Which is a nice thought, albeit better suited to a self-help seminar or a corporate retreat Powerpoint than a children's book; in much the same way, Granderson was a nice idea but an odd fit for the Mets, given the unlikelihood of both player and team being competitive at the same time. Granderson is regrettably but unmistakably on the decline. He is almost purely a mistake hitter now, unable to turn on the inside fastball or drive to left center with convincing power. His swings against curves and sliders are not something you talk about in polite company. He is hanging on to starter status - and he was a fringe-average starter last year [in 2014], essentially - but it's difficult to see that extending past 2015.