"Curtis Granderson never understood all the chatter about his power potential. He looked at himself in the mirror, saw a 6-1 sprinter's frame, and wondered how anybody could see the makings of a slugger.

Sure, he hit 30 home runs in 2009, despite playing half of his games in the notoriously spacious Comerica Park. But he never bought into the theories that sprouted up after his trade to the Yankees, the ones that predicted gaudy home run numbers thanks to Yankee Stadium's friendly right-field porch. Could he hit 40 one season?

"It's hard for me to see that because of how small I am," Granderson said this week.

Of course, Granderson is answering those questions again now that he's already hit six home runs in the first three weeks of the season. He's tied for the team lead with a more traditional power bat, first baseman Mark Teixeira.

With Brett Gardner struggling as the leadoff man, Granderson has moved up to the second spot behind Derek Jeter against right-handers. He has also become a fixture in the lineup even against the same left-handed pitchers that once gave him so much trouble.

"He's been swinging the bat with authority," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's a pull hitter who fits real well in the two spot."

To Granderson, the results have only been a natural continuation of the swing changes he made with hitting coach Kevin Long late last season. In hopes of remedying his struggles against left-handers, Granderson cut out what he considered unnecessary movements in his swing."