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Big League Stew

Mon May 11, 2009 5:25 pm EDT

The Grandstand: Behind the scenes of the catch in Cleveland

By Curtis Granderson

We played the Cleveland Indians over the weekend, and after our 1-0 win on Friday, I received so many text messages about the ninth-inning catch  — the one over the wall to help save Justin Verlander's(notes) complete-game shutout and rob Grady Sizemore(notes) of a game-winning homer (VIDEO).  Pretty much everyone was telling me how great the catch was in those texts.

Afterward, people started asking questions about whether it was the best catch I have ever made. It's up there for sure. The reason it might be the best is because of the situation of the game. If Sizemore hits that ball a foot further or I miss it, the game is over and Cleveland wins. Being able to bring back that home run a few pitches before Verlander closes the game out for a win makes that catch one of my best.

A lot of people have asked more about the play and how I was in the right spot at the right time. They've also asked me if I've ever practiced that before.

As far as the play, it was the ninth inning and there was a runner on first base. From a defensive perspective, with Sizemore coming up to bat, I had to back up and respect his power. I also had to play deeper to keep him — the winning run — from getting to second in case he did get a hit. Before the play even started, I was already much deeper than I would normally play. Still, if Grady hits the ball to the left, right or a foot further or a foot shorter, this play never happens.

You really can't practice this type of play. We joke around in batting practice and try to rob home runs for fun, but we are standing on the warning track when those balls are hit and we usually never catch them. The pitchers actually catch more than me and the other outfielders out there, mostly because they're standing right by the fence to be able to do so.

A lot of people have asked why I didn't seem excited right after the play happened. Well, it was only the second out of the ninth inning and Cleveland still had a chance to win the game. Only after Verlander was able to end the game with a 99-mph fastball for a swinging strike was I able to THEN get excited. We all shook hands after the win — just like we do normally — but when I made it to Verlander, we ended up hugging on the field instead of the usual handshake.

Verlander said he was going to buy me dinner that night, but his pitching performance was good enough for me. He threw great and to finish the game with a 99-mph fastball showed how dominant he was that game.

(But, of course, everyone knows I can never turn down a free dinner.)

* * *

Curtis Granderson plays center field for the Detroit Tigers and his blog will appear regularly on Yahoo! Sports' Big League Stew during the 2009 season. Make sure to check out and support his Grand Kids Foundation. 

Previous Posts: Impressive ballpark amenities (April 29) Handling A 10-Game Road Trip (April 22) Cautious About Identity Theft (April 14) Season's High Hopes (April 6)

Related: Curtis Granderson on BLS

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112 Comments

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  1. T.J.
    1. Posted by T.J. Mon May 11, 2009 5:45 pm EDT

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    Thanks G, that play essentially ended the Indians season!
  2. eyebleaf
    2. Posted by eyebleaf Mon May 11, 2009 5:49 pm EDT

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    Nice catch, indeed. Verlander owes you a steak dinner from Mendy's.
  3. Travis
    3. Posted by Travis Mon May 11, 2009 6:01 pm EDT

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    Great grab, G. And keep up the good work with the blog.
  4. Ronald H
    4. Posted by Ronald H Mon May 11, 2009 6:04 pm EDT

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    i was at the game 2 two years ago against the red sox when you robbed willy mo pena in left center. that was an amazing catch, but i agree, this one meant a lot more!
  5. Dave
    5. Posted by Dave Mon May 11, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

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    Granderson, you are one of my favorite CF's, you and Grady are actually haha! What a play!
  6. Ashlyn's Mom
    6. Posted by Ashlyn's Mom Mon May 11, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

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    Awesome play! But, really I shouldn't be surprised. :)
  7. Jason D
    7. Posted by Jason D Mon May 11, 2009 6:09 pm EDT

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    C-Grand, Thanks for the incite from your perspective. After reading your descriptions of the situation I felt like I was on the field.
  8. bob hope
    8. Posted by bob hope Mon May 11, 2009 6:09 pm EDT

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    good job at sweeping those nasty Indians away. Next Up: Those silly Twins and their fake grass.
  9. schwany25
    9. Posted by schwany25 Mon May 11, 2009 6:11 pm EDT

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    that catch was one of the most clutchest performances i have ever witnessed...coming down with a catch like that to save the game....unreal stuff
  10. bob hope
    10. Posted by bob hope Mon May 11, 2009 6:12 pm EDT

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    Plus the fact that it was sizemore made it even better. The two best young centerfielders vying for the to be the absolute best. There's a blog for ya Duk. I hope to see lots of plays like this for a long time.
  11. o j
    11. Posted by o j Mon May 11, 2009 6:18 pm EDT

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    I live in the Greater Cleveland area, I think Detroit and Cleveland are similar cities and face similar challanges. It was a very good catch, but, it was the "Perfect Storm". One foot to either side or if it were not hit as high Mr. G. would have had to make a much tougher catch (which he is quite capeable of). I thank you and the Tigers for the sweep (I am a season ticket holder and sat through two of those games) we are now a little closer to getting a "real" manager here who won't bring his teams best prospect up, only to let him sit on the bench. I have had it with this "dog and pony show" since Wedge got here. If anyone has an "attitude" he unloads them. (Omar, Brandon Phillips, Milton Bradley (more) and even the bullpen coach (Luis Issac-he had been with the Tribe about 35 years) some how Wedge thinks he knows all, when it's quite evident he knows little, again Curtis thanks for the sweep, we will try to give you a better series next time.
  12. mfs95
    12. Posted by mfs95 Mon May 11, 2009 6:22 pm EDT

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    Granderson 2012
    and to practice your voting skills, I suggest going to mlb.com and stuffing the e-ballots with Curt in CF for the American League in the All-Star Game...Cabby and Inge deserve a spot on that roster, as well.
    Go Tigers.
  13. Wendy
    13. Posted by Wendy Mon May 11, 2009 6:29 pm EDT

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    If that's all it takes, I'll make/buy you dinner every night! haha
    Great catch!
  14. Shark Mow
    14. Posted by Shark Mow Mon May 11, 2009 6:35 pm EDT

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    LOL @ #7 spelling 'insight' as 'incite.' Time to step away from the computer and pick up a book. Like maybe a dictionary for example. Does your mommy know you're on the Interwebz?
  15. Lon315
    15. Posted by Lon315 Mon May 11, 2009 6:40 pm EDT

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    You ROCK!!!
  16. Joe
    16. Posted by Joe Mon May 11, 2009 6:42 pm EDT

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    Curtis you are an amazing baseball player, you are definately my favorite Tiger. That was a great catch and keep it up the rest of the season. Go Tigers!!
  17. Tico Brohey
    17. Posted by Tico Brohey Mon May 11, 2009 6:46 pm EDT

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    A manager could put Grady and Curtis in the same ourfield and add another infielder without missing a beat...
  18. Freddy Fox
    18. Posted by Freddy Fox Mon May 11, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    Torii Hunter's was better on Sunday.
  19. Jason
    19. Posted by Jason Mon May 11, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    Amazing play Granderson.
  20. millardc33
    20. Posted by millardc33 Mon May 11, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    Keep it up Grandy!!! There is no way you don't win a gold glove this year!!! Go Tigers!
  21. LISA d
    21. Posted by LISA d Mon May 11, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    curtis thank you so much. that play was amazing as well as the one yesterday too. you have great focus and it's always so sweet of you to take time and communicate with fans about the fun in baseball. i love your writing and just by reading what you write, gets me pumped up even more watching baseball and understanding it better from a player's point of view.
    thank you again and congratulations on your " the catch" ;)
  22. PeterN
    22. Posted by PeterN Mon May 11, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    Thanks for starting up your blog, Curtis. Nice title: "The Grandstand"!
    Congratulations on a beauty catch! The most interesting part, though, was your description of sorta practicing such catches during BP. Do you ever practice running =up= the wall, with a foot on the wall to push you over the yellow line? Or is it possible to practice grabbing the top of the wall with the bare hand and slinging yourself higher?
    Also--like in view of Rick Ankiel's recent mishap, stumbling into the wall after making the catch and even transfering the ball to the bare hand--I'm always curious how consciously outfielders compute the warning track and the wall, while not wanting to take your eyes off the ball. If you're starting deep and have time to camp under a towering fly, I guess you almost "instinctually" (subsciously, by habit) sense how far back you're drifting on the track and can put a hand back to feel for the wall.
  23. William M
    23. Posted by William M Mon May 11, 2009 7:32 pm EDT

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    oj seems to forget the fact that Cleveland has had very little pitching since Wedgie has been there. Much less a real closer. And Kerry Wood is not the answer in that regard.
  24. Adam
    24. Posted by Adam Mon May 11, 2009 7:50 pm EDT

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    Look at how high he jumps in the picture! You can't even see the ground!
    Curtis is better than Grady. This year his stats will show it.
  25. Adam
    25. Posted by Adam Mon May 11, 2009 7:52 pm EDT

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    Oh, and to answer post #24, I'm not sure what you're talking about. 2 years ago Carmona won 20 games and Sabathia was fantastic and won the Cy Young. Last year Lee won the Cy Young and Sabathia was fantastic (other than his first 4 starts) until he was traded.
    And 2 years ago their bullpen was one of the best in baseball. And don't you remember a few years earlier when Kevin Millwood won the ERA title with Cleveland? They've had pitching...

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