Dear, Curtis,

I saw you pulled your groin late last week trying to get to third base. That sucks. But that's you, though, always giving maximum effort.

What makes it even worse is I won't get to see you next week (or for the month you're supposed to be out) when the Tigers and Yankees hook up for four at Comerica Park. I was really looking forward to that, too. Hopefully, you can come back 100 percent and try and improve on that .225 batting average and .311 on-base percentage because I know you're better than that.

I'm just gonna get to the point. I hated it when you left. I was upset with everybody who had anything to do with you being traded. It was an amicable parting of ways, but I was still upset. I vowed to stick by you no matter what, even going so far as to tell anybody I could that I wouldn't go to any Tiger games outside of when you were in town. Everybody kept telling me about this new guy, rookie center fielder Austin Jackson, and how good he's gonna be and that I'd be over you in no time. Nope, didn't happen.

At least not that fast.

Look, you were great while you were here. I remember the night I developed my man-crush on you: June 24, 2006. You went 4-5 with 3 runs and an RBI in a 7-6 win over St. Louis. I ran out of the park and into the shop to buy a Granderson T-shirt. Two months later, I got a jersey and wore it every time I went downtown for a game.

But now, there's somebody else. I tried to fight it as long as I could. But I was just in denial. I know it's early, but Jackson has played very well. He's had hits in 23 of 27 games on his way to an American League-leading 43. Every time I turn on a game, he's on base, which explains his A.L. leading .377 batting average. His .427 OBP is good for third in the A.L., too, and ninth in all of MLB. He's also third in the league in runs scored.

This isn't about me finding someone "better" than you. It's more so about me finding someone who's better for me. And my team. I know you're thinking this is the whole "out of sight, out of mind" thing, too. But that's not the case. I check Yankees' box scores every day. I watch New York whenever its on TV, too, just to see how you're doing.

But it's over. I had a friend recently say to me, "Tell me you're over Curtis and in with Austin?" I had to think about it for a while, but now I am. I still care about you and want you to do well, but I'm for Austin now. What it comes down to is he's better for my team. I know you were thrust into a position you're not fit to play, and you did well, but Jackson does everything you did and then some. Sure, he strikes out a lot - Jackson's second in the majors with 34 Ks - but we're gonna chalk that up as growing pains.

If you want, I'll get rid of my "GRANDERSON 28" jersey and the rookie card I got a few years ago. I hope it doesn't come to that, though. I'd still like to see you the next time you're in town, too, which won't be until next year now.

I understand if you're hurt and don't care if I see you or not, but let's try and be adults about all this, OK?

Take care.

Jason