Curtis Granderson Out Until May

If Sunday is a preview to come it is going to be a loooong and painful year for the NY Yankees.

In his 1st at bat, even before his 1st inning in his new left field position Yankee left fielder Curtis Granderson was hit in the left forearm by a J.A. Happ pitch and will be lost until May.

The injury has been diagnosed as a fractured right forearm. Both Happ and Granderson say there was no purpose to the pitch. Granderson came to bat in the 1st inning with runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 out.

The Yanks announced just before the pre-season games were to start that Granderson would be moving to left field and that Brett Gardner will take over in centerfield. The loss is bigger from a defensive standpoint as "Grandy" was to use the meaningless games to get used to his new position.

Also losing Granderson means the Bronx Bombers lose some bomb. Granderson has hit more home runs then any player in the majors over the last 3 years. The Yanks have lost much power from last season's team. Nick Swisher is now in Cleveland. Alex Rodriguez will miss most of the year and also faces possible suspension for his alleged involvement with a South Florida " aging" doctor. Eric Chavez is now in Arizona. Russell Martin is now in Pittsburgh. Andruw Jones is playing in Japan and Raul Ibanez takes his talents back to Seattle. All toll these players combined for almost 140 home runs last season.

Despite both Happ and Granderson believing the pitch was an accident the Yanks fired back in the 2nd inning. Adam Warren trying to earn a spot on a crowded staff hit Brett Lawrie leading off the 2nd inning for the Blue Jays. Warren claimed the pitch " got away."

The Yanks hope to have Granderson back the 1st or 2nd week of May