Granderson ready to take the ‘ lead’ for Mets

WASHINGTON — What’s in a name? For Curtis Granderson, 10 letters. And that helps him know where he’s hitting in the Mets starting lineup.

Unless Kirk Nieuwenhuis happens to be in the lineup aswell. Granderson figured he’d be in the Opening Day lineup Monday against the Nationals, but he wasn’t sure where. So he looked for lots of letters.

“When I got here, the lineup wasn’t up. I kept peeking and then I saw I was up top,” said Granderson, who explained the lots of letters point. “The good thing is there’s only one other guy with a long last name and that’s Newy so I just look for a long name and then I know where I’m at.”

Or you can wait for the manager to say something.

“He came in and I said, ‘ I’m going to lead you off and he said, ‘ OK,’ and hewalked away,” said manager Terry Collins, who used an unconventional opening game alignment that had David Wright hitting second. “I’ve got a clubhouse full of guys that will do anything for the team.”

Granderson worked diligently in spring training with hitting coach Kevin Long, as they resurrected their Yankees days routine. Granderson wanted to regain his flash and power and bury memories of the .227 average of last season that had its strong point in 20 homers. In the spring, he batted .442 and showed good plate discipline that carried over to Monday’s 31 victory. Granderson began the day with an eightpitch walk against Max Scherzer, his first of two walks off the former AL Cy Young winner.

“That’s exactly why we put him there,” Collins said. “Grandy, even the last time up put a good swing on the ball.”

Granderson has hit in every spot in the order in his career— even ninth in Detroit. So leading off for the Mets was no big deal. Granderson said it’s all about doing the job needed at the time.

“The gameis going to dictate itself. I might get an atbat later with a runner on so I’ve got to drive those guys in,” Granderson said. “If nobody’s on, I’ve got to find away to get myself on.”

He did that with his second walk Monday, a twoout, none on walk that led to a 21Mets lead, aided by a Nationals’ error on a popup by David Wright. It’s good to hit in front of an All-Star, although it doesn’t mean a change in approach.

“Over the course of the spring, I thought, ‘ Hey, this is one of the best hitters in the game behind me,’ ” Granderson said. “If he moves and I have [ Lucas] Duda or [ Michael] Cuddyer behind me, there are some pretty good guys swinging the bat behind me. I don’t changemy approach too much. I just try to get on and be ready to move when they get up.”