Kevin Kernan of the New York Post says that the main reason the Mets brought in new hitting coach Kevin Long is because they are betting he can get Curtis Granderson to be the explosive hitter he once was with the Yankees during the 2011 and 2012 seasons when he crushed 84 home runs, drove in 225 runs and scored 238 runs. They are pulling all the plugs to keep Granderson from becoming the next Jason Bay.
From what he’s seen so far, Kernan believes it looks to be working.
“Granderson turns 34 in 11 days, the clock is ticking on his career, but he is running around the Mets spring training complex like a rookie, thrilled to be reunited with Long, the former Yankees hitting coach.”
“Grandy just looks more dangerous,” J.P. Ricciardi, special assistant to general manager Sandy Alderson, said on Wednesday.
“I’m excited with the way he is swinging the bat,’’ Long said. “He didn’t swing and miss in [Tuesday’s intrasquad] game. He feels good and I feel good where he is at.”
What is the biggest adjustment Long is making?
“We’re trying to preset his hands,’’ Long said. “Get him in the perfect hitting position so the hands are ready to fire and he can go as efficiently as possible from point A to point B. We have a blueprint to go off of this time, before we were kind of piecing it together.
“The thing I feel best is the position he is in now when the ball is on the way to the plate. He’s in a very strong, dangerous position. It looks comfortable. It looks like I remember it.’’
The Mets need Granderson to be the power hitter they thought they were getting when they signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract. His .227 batting average and 20 home runs fell far short of anyone’s expectations and he’s being paid a king’s ransom to be a fixture in the outfield until the end of the 2017 season.
The fences have been shortened for his particular stroke, his old hitting coach is here, Cuddyer was brought in to ease the pressure, and now everyone is keeping their fingers crossed hoping that Granderson delivers and keeps the reminder of Jason Bay… at bay.
