Beltran Gives The Yankees What Granderson Didn’t

Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran working out in Tampa. Mandatory Credit: Charlie Neibergall/AP

Carlos Beltran smiled at reporters at the Yankees complex and answered with the obvious.

“Of course we have to win.” ”I look at the team now, our situation and the players that we have and we have a pretty good chance.”

It’s easy to be optimistic in spring training, with the cool breeze and the warm temperatures.  But Beltran’s mission is headed for the Fall.

Dec 20, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees new outfielder Carlos Beltran tips his cap during a introductory press conference at Yankees Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

And although Beltran likely could be penciled in in right field, instead of center where Curtis Granderson spent much of his time in pinstripes, the real question in minds of Yankees fans is how much power is he going to supply? What will he give the Yankees that Granderson didn’t?

Let’s get right to it. Will Beltran be clutch in the postseason or not? Well, his post-season career averages are .333, with 16 home runs and 40 RBI. This is in a total of 51 post season games. While he is often remembered for the one time that he fell short, overall, he has saved his best for when it counted the most.

In the 2013 World Series aganst Boston, he het .294 with an on-base percentage of .400. So that bodes well for the Yankees as they set out to shove the Red Sox off of the top of the American League East.

As for Granderson, his post season career numbers are .229 with six home runs and 17 RBI. Although these came in 36 games, they still don’t compare well to Beltran. And he batted only .143 against Boston in 2013.

So Beltran gives the Yankees a lot more at the plate than Granderson in the post- season And keep in mind, Beltran’s chance at the right field porch in Yankee Stadium is just beginning.

“They went out and spent a lot of money on players to try to improve the ballclub,” Beltran said. “For me, as a player, when you see an organization like that, you want to be around an organization like that, where every year they’re trying to improve, they’re trying to get better.”

And with Beltran in the outfield instead of Granderson, they are already better.

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