"The numbers don't lie. Or do they?

By all standard statistical measurement, Curtis Granderson is having a sensational year, perhaps even an MVP year. The 30-year-old Yankees center fielder entered last night's game with the Red Sox first among American Leaguers in runs (98), tied for first in extra-base hits (55), first in triples (9), second in slugging percentage (.570), second in runs batted in (85), third in homers (28), and tied for second in total bases (232).

That would lead someone to ask if he's ever swung the bat better.

"Actually, I've probably never swung it worse,'' he claims. "I have not been as consistent as I'd like.''

He went on to talk about his strikeouts, and let the record show that he began the night fourth in that category with 118. But neither he, nor Mark Reynolds (121), nor Austin Jackson (120), who replaced him as the Tiger center fielder, has any reason to fear leading in that category, not as long as Adam Dunn (139) is around.

The AL MVP award is shaping up as a Boston-New York battle, with Adrian Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury, and, if his August and September rival his July, Dustin Pedroia all legit candidates, and Granderson very much in the hunt."