To the hardcore Detroit Tiger baseball fan, Curtis Granderson is a solid outfielder with great range and a pretty good arm who displays some power at the dish, and has a tough time against left-handed pitchers.
In other words, he’s Bobby Higginson.
*beat*
Obviously, I’m kidding, although their numbers through the age of 28 aren’t that dissimilar.
But to the casual Detroit Tiger baseball fan (read: the other 99 percent of the fans) he is the face of Detroit Tigers baseball.
He’s the player they bring their kids to see. He’s the name those kids scream when he takes his place on that worn patch of grass in centerfield. He’s the name on the back of the majority of most female fans’ jerseys.
He is everyone’s Tiger.
In Detroit, we pride ourselves on getting behind players who value a work ethic. And for the past few seasons, Granderson has been that player. By all accounts, he is a fine, upstanding young man who handles himself properly off the field, and gives his all when he’s on it.
From a baseball perspective, I understand why Dombrowski thinks now is the best time to listen to offers for Granderson since he will probably never have a higher asking price. And if we want to stay competitive in the future, Dombrowski thinks we have to give to get. I totally agree.
But little kids and grandparents don’t care so much for the future. They don’t care if we’re getting the Chicago Cubs number one prospect if that means they have to watch Granderson roaming Wrigley Field in Cubbie Blue.
That might be enough to make them spend their summer nights elsewhere.
With attendance expected to dwindle next season and enormous contracts on the books for one more season, the Tigers are going to need to do all they can to get fans to come down to Comerica Park next season.
That said, can they afford the negative backlash that would accompany trading away their most popular player?
The Spirit of Detroit 