COLUMN: Talk of the Trade
Samantha Elliott
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Sports
Granderson. It's a name that sends all Detroit Tigers fans into arguments lately. Curtis Granderson was drafted by the Tigers in 2002 and has been their centerfield starter since the 2006 season. He's been nothing but exceptional for the team through the years. Any true Tiger's fan knows that when you've made a "Granderson catch," you've made one heck of a catch.
As a senior in high school he batted a .427. For the 2009 season, he ended with a .249 including 30 homeruns and 71 RBIs. He was only the sixth player to become a member of the 20-20-20 club. In 2007 he was not put on the All Star ballot, beaten out by Gary Sheffield, yet he still received 376,033 write-in votes. In 2009, he went to his first All Star game where he would score the winning run. In February of 2008, the Tigers signed him for a five-year contract for 30.25 million.
With all these great stats backing him up, why is there all this talk of a trade for the 2010 baseball season? Another name pops into ones head with an answer, Ordonez. Magglio Ordonez has been the Detroit Tigers right fielder since the 2005 season after playing for the Chicago White Sox from 1997-2004. In 2007, he won the American League batting title for batting a .363. He has been to the All Star game six times in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2007. On Oct. 14, 2006, it was his home run that sent the Detroit Tigers to the World Series for the first time since 1984. That game was only the eighth time in Major League Baseball history that the game had been decided with a home run. So what does Ordonez have to do with Granderson?
The Tigers have been told to "cut payroll" by owner Mike Illitch. Ordonez's contract isn't up for another year, Granderson's not for a few after that. So how did they make the choice of who to talk trades with? For the 2009 season, Ordonez brought in only nine homeruns out of his 277 career, and 50 RBIs. His batting average came in at .310. Still higher than Granderson's, and just a bit lower than his all time best; but when you're hitting is what you're famous for the numbers make all the difference in the world.
As a senior in high school he batted a .427. For the 2009 season, he ended with a .249 including 30 homeruns and 71 RBIs. He was only the sixth player to become a member of the 20-20-20 club. In 2007 he was not put on the All Star ballot, beaten out by Gary Sheffield, yet he still received 376,033 write-in votes. In 2009, he went to his first All Star game where he would score the winning run. In February of 2008, the Tigers signed him for a five-year contract for 30.25 million.
With all these great stats backing him up, why is there all this talk of a trade for the 2010 baseball season? Another name pops into ones head with an answer, Ordonez. Magglio Ordonez has been the Detroit Tigers right fielder since the 2005 season after playing for the Chicago White Sox from 1997-2004. In 2007, he won the American League batting title for batting a .363. He has been to the All Star game six times in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2007. On Oct. 14, 2006, it was his home run that sent the Detroit Tigers to the World Series for the first time since 1984. That game was only the eighth time in Major League Baseball history that the game had been decided with a home run. So what does Ordonez have to do with Granderson?
The Tigers have been told to "cut payroll" by owner Mike Illitch. Ordonez's contract isn't up for another year, Granderson's not for a few after that. So how did they make the choice of who to talk trades with? For the 2009 season, Ordonez brought in only nine homeruns out of his 277 career, and 50 RBIs. His batting average came in at .310. Still higher than Granderson's, and just a bit lower than his all time best; but when you're hitting is what you're famous for the numbers make all the difference in the world.
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