Ryan Howard, Austin Jackson and HOPE week

The Yankees included Austin Jackson in a package for Curtis Granderson last December because they loved Granderson, and because they weren’t quite sure what Jackson would turn out to be.

We all know not to throw a party over one month of major-league work. Yet Jackson, 23, used April to display his potential, and it’s pretty darn impressive. Entering yesterday’s action, the centerfielder led the American League with 36 hits, compiling a .422 on-base percentage and .495 slugging percentage, while stealing five bases in six attempts and playing good defense, as well.

“We thought he would be ready to play,” Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said, in a telephone interview. “We knew defensively, he would be fine. His instincts, he’s very good defensively. He’s good on the base paths. We knew he had good athleticism.

“I think the offensive part of it is the one that, right now, he has done very well, probably compared to what you would expect at this time.”

The Tigers’ Bronx influx of Jackson (who also led the AL with 32 strikeouts) and Johnny Damon has lengthened Detroit’s lineup considerably. The Tigers are scoring runs like it’s going out of style.

Damon’s production ranks as less of a surprise, however, and the Tigers control him just for this season. If Jackson can continue to provide this sort of value, even with an expected drop-off, then he could be a huge trade acquisition for Detroit. Jackson wouldn’t start making big money, through the arbitration process, until 2013.

The next step, Dombrowski said, would be developing power in his swing. Said Dombrowski: “You see the power there. You know it’s in there . . . he has the potential to hit more home runs as time goes on.”

 Howard's odd end

Color us still stumped over the Phillies’ decision to give Ryan Howard a five-year, $125-million extension that starts in 2012. What exactly was the hurry?

The Phillies, justifiably getting grief from other organizations for raising the market for just about everyone, have defended themselves with the line, “We thought his price was only going to get higher.”

Here’s my question: Who exactly was going to meet an even higher asking price for Howard? For that matter, what other team was going to pay him $25 million?

The contract represents a complete inability to understand supply and demand. As good as Howard is — and kudos to him for slimming down to improve his defense and baserunning — there are plenty of other good first basemen in the sea.

Razing Arizona

Well, no matter how you stand on it, can we at least agree that this Arizona immigration law has created a messy situation for baseball? On Friday, the Players Association came out against the measure, which ramps up scrutiny of foreign-born people in the state.

Major League Baseball itself hasn’t commented on it, and though the fighter in you might want immediate boycotts, it’s probably the smart play for MLB to stand on the sidelines as amendments to the law are discussed. Once the dust clears, then baseball will examine the law and see what, if anything, needs to be done.
Of the major sports organizations, MLB has the most, by far, invested in Arizona, from 15 teams holding spring training there to the existence of the Arizona Fall League, from an actual Arizona MLB office existing to the scheduling of the 2011 All-Star Game at the Diamondbacks’ Chase Field.

HOPE again

You know you’ve created a positive initiative when the president of the United States gives you a shout-out. So it went this past week when Barack Obama, hosting the Yankees at the White House, mentioned HOPE Week, the brainchild of Yankees media relations director Jason Zillo.

HOPE Week, standing for Help Others Preserve and Excel, sent Yankees players, coaches and front-office staff out into the community to recognize worthy individuals, families and organizations. It will take place Aug. 16-20 of this season.