Champions on Display MLB

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Hey Grandy! I Got Your 'True New Yorker' Right Here!

I was going to opine about Joe Torre's election to the Hall of Fame, but then a certain former New York Yankee outfielder had to open his mouth and talk some smack.

Torre certainly is a worthy selection for the Hall, and the decision by the Veterans' Committee to elect Torre along with Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa was a stroke of genius. The induction of the that trio of the greatest managers in the history of the game is going to make for a special day in Cooperstown next summer.

But then Curtis Granderson decided to a shot across the bow of Yankee Universe during his introductory news conference with the crosstown New York Mets.

Associated Press
Addressing the media at baseball's Winter Meetings on Tuesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Granderson said:

"A lot of people I've met in New York have always said that true New Yorkers are Mets fans. So I'm excited to get a chance to see them all out there."

Oh, really? True New Yorkers are Mets fans? And, what? Yankees fans are imported from Hop Bottom, Pa.? C'mon!

Granderson received a four-year, $60 million contract from the Mets, and I could not be happiers for him. He has a reputation for being one of the better guys in the game -- a true profession, outgoing, accessible and productive.

Truth be told, I'd rather the Yankees had re-signed him over signing Jacoby Ellsbury.

However, when it comes to figuring out who a True New Yorker is, I'm not sure I'd be consulting Granderson. Afterall, he's been in New York for all of a New York minute.

The fact of the matter is that long before breaking in with the Detroit Tigers in 2004, Granderson grew up just outside of Chicago, and I can't help but wonder whether Cubs fans or White Sox fans are True Chicagoans.

Even so, I'm not sure I'd trust someone from Chicago to make these kinds of matters. Heck, as Jon Stewart explained, they don't even realize that their Chicago deep dish pizza isn't even pizza.



OK, so that was a little over the top. Chicago pizza is good, but not quite as good as New York. Still, you get the point.

Granderson will get one wish, however. He will get to see all of those "True New Yorkers" who call themselves Mets fans. And he'll be able to to count their numbers as he plays in front of thousands of empty seats at Citi Field.

Because in the battle of New York, Fugeddaboutit! It's all about the Pinstripes.

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