Damon update, a pricey souvenir, a reminder about tomorrow and some end-of-the-week tidbits
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Feb 05, 2010 
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Scott Boras is still spinning on Johnny Damon, telling USA Today that he is “negotiating with a number of teams” and then adding that, “There are three teams out there that if they don’t have Johnny Damon, they’re not winning the division. He’s the difference in these teams making the playoffs or not contending.”
Now, it would seem that Boras is talking about the Tigers, Braves and … the famous “mystery team” that Boras has often used in negotiations. Word out of Detroit is that the Tigers could have already signed Damon if they were willing to go to a second guaranteed year but they are – not surprisingly – reluctant to do that. If Damon would take one year, he’d probably already be packing for spring in Lakeland.
What’ll happen? I’d bet on a one-and-one (one year, one option) with the Tigers but who knows? We’re literally weeks (and fast approaching days) from spring training and Damon has no team. Not exactly the way he saw this winter unfolding.
• Alex Rodriguez’s 500th home run ball sold at auction for $103,579. Not a bad haul for the guy who caught it, but milestone baseballs – like everything else in the economy – seem to have dropped in value. Barry Bonds’s 756th home run ball sold for about $750k while Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball from 1998 went for a cool $3 million.
• Normally a list of players invited to Mets spring training wouldn’t merit much notice here but one catcher – Francisco Pena – deserves a mention on a Yankees blog. Francisco is the 20-year-old son of Yankees bench coach Tony Pena. Tony is one of the good guys in baseball and the Mets haven’t exactly had overwhelming success at catcher since Mike Piazza, so here’s hoping Francisco has a good spring.
• Don’t forget that the World Series trophy will be at the Westchester County Center tomorrow from 11-2 for fans who want to come and see it (and take pictures). Admission is free, parking is $4. For more info, click here.
• Barring some crazy news, that’ll probably do it for the blog today. Check back over the weekend for more Pinch Hitters and some Super Bowl predictions, as well as anything that might break. I know it’s been slow for a while around here but the good stuff is just around the corner.
Damon = Toast
I’ve had it up to here with big mouth Boras. I personally “blame” Damon as much as Boras, but still……I just wish he’d clam up. The arrogance is just too much – what a bunch of hot air. I’m sure those teams will do just fine without Damon.
Changed my name!
Do not question Borastradamus!
Before we blame anybody, let’s wait and see what Damon signs for.
Whatever he signs for, it’s not going to be 14 million.
Scott is going to have to spin himself into orbit to justify turning down that offer.
I feel a little sorry for Damon-who could have predicted he would still be without a team in February???
SJ,
Someone (trisha?) posted yesterday that Boras still maintains that the Yankees didn’t offer anything.
Erin,
I think most assumed he’s be with the Yankees. He had, by most counts, a great year. But I guess midnight struck early for him.
hey Al, when I see topics such as this and then we go off on tangents I feel the same way. I have read through many sites, but there was a site that I had gone to that awhile ago I was trying to find (I told everyone I would post it when I found it) and this is it.
http://www.stevewigdor.blogspot.com/
It is called the Genius Maker A tribute to Mariano Rivera. Anyway, I had read through a ton of the posts on here (which are not daily) and they are awesome. His predictions were insanely accurate and his break down of games is better than any I have seen. the negative is that outside of the playoffs the posts are probably 3 times a week or so, but they are meaty. Hope this helps
LEAVING WORK. YAY!!!!
I don’t feel sorry for Damon as he chose his agent and he allowed his agent to be an ass to the Yankees. The Yankees will be ok without him. Matsui is someone people should be more concerned about as he was amazing in the World Series. NJ will be very good but Matsui paid for himself
Wave, I put “blame” in quotes because it’s not the best word I could have used, but it’s the one that expresses how I feel. My point was that Damon is as responsible for where he ends up, if not more so, than Boras. It’s a good deal for Damon, I suppose, if he gets more than 2/14……….but the Yankees still were the best fit for him. Still, he wanted the money, so I assume he will be very happy if he gets 2/14 no matter where he goes. My real point was that Boras and Damon have done an awful lot of talking and it’s tiresome. Who believes either of them at this point?
Erin, I don’t feel sorry for Damon because he put himself in this position. Telling the Yankees to not bother calling if they don’t offer 2/26? The more I think about that, the more it bothers me.
M,
since both Cashman Damon confirm offers were made, Scott is on an island on that one.
Everybody in baseball knows the Yankees made TWO offers to him. The 2/14 million offer on 12/17 and the one year 6 (3 deferred) million offer that was rejected before they signed Winn.
Damon is an Ex-Yankee now, making him dead to Trisha. She isn’t exactly an impartial observer on the subject.
I feel really good about this team. We have a deep rotation, we have Rivera and we have a good lefty for the first time n awhile to go along with a deep bunch of RH throwers. The lineup is very good and our defense is excellent. The only weakness is late innings against a lefty specialist
Betsy -Romine wasn’t built in a day
February 5th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Erin, I don’t feel sorry for Damon because he put himself in this position. Telling the Yankees to not bother calling if they don’t offer 2/26? The more I think about that, the more it bothers me.
*****************************
I know exactly what you mean, but a part of me can’t help feeling bad for him.
Gotta go, but she linked an article with a quote.
So does everyone now agree that johnson should bat 2nd and Granderson 5th agianst a righty and then at the bottom against a lefty?
Yes guru, Nick should be batting 2nd! I am not sure why more people don’t see this as perfect. So what if he is slow he is on base and not making outs before your meat.
Erin, you’ve got to get rid of that nice streak of yours, lol. Just kidding – I understand how you feel.
I don’t think JD will get 2/14 but it looks like he might get more than $7MM from the Tigers for a year, so for 2010 at least he might come out ahead. Course, he might not get that from Detroit, so as far as I’m concerned I’ll wait and see.
Doesn’t matter to me anymore what Damon gets as he isn’t going to get it from the Yanks.
Out of respect for Erica’s pretend trauma I refuse to comment on JD anymore.
The “mystery team” crap always gets a chuckle out of me. Boras is such a bs artist.
Wave Your Hat,
Detroit isn’t paying Damon $7 million per year. That’s a $1.5 million more than Granderson is making, and they dumped his salary.
Patrick, I’m curious about something based on your comment: do you think that, if you were GM of a team, you would never ‘lose’ in a negotiation with Boras?
The mystery team is me. I’ve offerd JD the opportunity to clean my gutters with a mutual option to paint my house this summer. But if he continues to lollygag I’m receinding the offer. Boras wants me to throw in some yard work, but screw him!
Detroit tigers or any other team will not go past $2 Million for the year on a contract. Unless the player is a left-handed starting pitcher with good stuff.
CD, that’s an excellent point.
Wouldn’t make sense to sign Damon, after trading a younger, more agile, better player.
CD-
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....damon.html
Who knows?
I’ll be in the Right Field stands waiting to catch A-Rod’s 1000th – that one should be worth the wait
CD
The Tigers dumped his 25.5 mill contract not just his ’10 salary.
Damon will not get 2yrs/14 mil simply because he’s practically begging the Tigers to take him as no team is interested in Damon at those #’s.
Damon just misplayed this from day one when he started his self promotion in the locker room celebration after the game 6 clincher. He had to have been smart enough to after watching the way that the market unfolded last season for Abreu to realize the potential of that happening to him.
It was total hubris on his part to think that anybody would be offering him 3yrs and/or 13mil per….
Maybe the Stanford Group ponzi scheme took him for more $ than we all know and he really needs every cent he can get.
There has been a lot said pro and con about JD. Before its all said and done this season. I think we are going to miss him in the two hole. I sincerely hope that is not the case.
” Anyway, I had read through a ton of the posts on here (which are not daily) and they are awesome. ”
guruman-
checked out the blog you recommended .
don’t you think the fact that no one comments on it kind of limits it’s effectiveness as a back and forth discussion about the yankees ?
I hope no one signs Damon. Serve him and his agent right.
“Damon is an Ex-Yankee now, making him dead to Trisha. She isn’t exactly an impartial observer on the subject.”
SJ are you implying that once someone is an ex-Yankee he is dead to me, or are you just saying that Damon the ex-Yankee is dead to me? If it is the latter, you are correct.
Mel, I think the article I linked to yesterday may have contained the information about Boras. I’ll see if I can find it.
I am hardly an impartial observer on this subject. Everyone else is impartial though, of course.
Next Monday’s “Prime 9″ should be fun. The 9 most topsided trades, ever.
Mets to Angels – Nolan Ryan and Leroy Stanton for Jim Fregosi
Cincinnati to Baltimore – Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas, Jack Baldshen and Dick Simpson
Mets to Cincinnati – Tom Seaver for Doug Flynn and Pat Darcy
Boston to NYY – Red Ruffing for Cedric Durst and cash
Cleveland to Detroit – Rocky Colavito for Harvey Kueen
KC to NYY – Roger Maris for Norm Sieburn, Don Larson and Hank Bauer
Chicago Cubs to St. Louis – Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio
NYY to Seattle – Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps
Montreal to Seattle – Randy Johnson for Mark Langston
These are my picks. Babe Ruth was not included….strictly a cash deal.
mel – this was the article.
http://www.sportingnews.com/ml.....takes-cake
“There are three teams out there that if they don’t have Johnny Damon, they’re not winning the division. He’s the difference in these teams making the playoffs or not contending.”
Holy good God, I think the only people who turn my stomach more than Boras are Boras apologists.
Betsy -Romine wasn’t built in a day
February 5th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Erin, you’ve got to get rid of that nice streak of yours, lol. Just kidding – I understand how you feel.
**********************
I know, I know, I’m working on it.
GreenBeret7
Trust me Babe Ruth is in there
“I hope no one signs Damon. Serve him and his agent right.”
Billy Z, I swear I just thinking the same thing. Some people find it hard to admit that Boras’s pull has waned in the last several years, but APPARENTLY GMs aren’t eating out of his hand anymore or buying his schtick.
What will be interesting, if Damon does get signed, will be to see how much of a hit he ends up having to take – and how Boras manages to spin that!
Champ 809 I couldn’t agree more.
Carl
February 5th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
GreenBeret7
Trust me Babe Ruth is in there
————————————————————
Only if you count trading him for cash.
Seriously the thing that amazes me the most is that Boras just keeps on spinning. It’s almost embarrassing to read the crap he puts out there. Does he realize what a horse’s azz he sounds like?
Not sure which team was more stupid, but, the Yankees once tried to trade a young minor league first baseman to Boston for a back-up catcher.
Boston turned down Lou Gehrig.
Memo to :
Johnny Damon and Scott Boras
You can’t always get what you want ……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....tube_gdata
GreenBeret7 February 5th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Not sure which team was more stupid, but, the Yankees once tried to trade a young minor league first baseman to Boston for a back-up catcher.
Boston turned down Lou Gehrig.
Boston also turned down the Joe D for Ted Williams because the Yanks wouldn’t throw in Yogi.
No, Carl. The deal was between Tom Yawkey and Dan Topping after a night of drinking and it was a straight trade of DiMaggio and Williams in 1946. They met down stairs and Yawkey supposedly told Topping that they needed to forget the trade because fans would lynch both of the owners. No deal involving Berra was ever talked about. There was a talk about trading Tresh for Yazstremski after the 1964 season, though.
@ Mick Jagger
Dude, why do you wear such a funny wig? Bald is beautiful.
ps whats it like to collect social security?
“Holy good God, I think the only people who turn my stomach more than Boras are Boras apologists.”
Such as?
Such as you Nick!!!
Such as anyone who is a Boras apologist.
Well, who do you actually have in mind as “anyone who is a Boras apologist”?
What does it mean to be a “Boras apologist”?
What is there to apologize for?
Well hold on, maybe I’m using the wrong word. Be right back.
No, I was using the right word. Anyone who defends Boras turns my stomach.
MTU
February 5th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Out of respect for Erica’s pretend trauma I refuse to comment on JD anymore.
**************
Erica much appreciates such consideration
Nick do you have some deep dark complex? Why is it that every time I make a generic statement you fly in and demand to know who it is that I’m talking about? What’s up with that? Do you think I mean you every time I say something?
I am at least a little tired of having to explain to you each and every time that I HAVE NOBODY IN PARTICULAR IN MIND.
Okay?
Main Entry: apol·o·gist
Pronunciation: \?-?pä-l?-jist\
Function: noun
Date: 1640
: one who speaks or writes in defense of someone or something
“Nick do you have some deep dark complex?”
No, I do not.
“Why is it that every time I make a generic statement you fly in and demand to know who it is that I’m talking about?”
There are three things wrong with this question: “every time”, “fly in”, and “demand”.
“Do you think I mean you every time I say something?”
No, I do not.
“I am at least a little tired of having to explain to you each and every time that I HAVE NOBODY IN PARTICULAR IN MIND.”
You don’t ever have to explain anything to me or anyone else. It was a curious statement to make if you had nobody particular in mind. Did you mean in the abstract? That the mere notion of a “Boras apologist” turns your stomach?
You don’t have to answer that. But your belief system fascinates me.
Erica-
You’re welcome. It’s painful enough having to admit defeat and pay off your wager with Nick. Not to mention suffering from PUL.;)
MTU
February 5th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Erica-
You’re welcome. It’s painful enough having to admit defeat and pay off your wager with Nick. Not to mention suffering from PUL.;)
******************
I have a secret. I’ll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone
(I am not admiting defeat yet!)
What? Until now Damon still hasn’t find a home? This is embarrassing!
Boras is doing his job. No need to defend or apologize for that.
If you don’t like how he does his job, don’t hire him. The guys who do have gotten rich on a combination of their talent and his.
Sorry if that upsets your stomach.
I’m happy to respond to it. Yes I mean it in the abstract. I often make general statements here because I am not a 24-7 lohud dwellar and seldom get to read all the posts. So my hit-and-run fashion certainly is not conducive to memorizing the varying beliefs of specific posters. When I make statements such as the one I made, they are meant to be generic. And when I refer to “posters here” I can just about guarantee you that I can’t name names. I seriously don’t pay that close attention where I feel the need to remember who has said what. I can remember, however, that “it” has been said.
About my revulsion for anyone who would support Boras. I find Boras to be conniving, dishonest, manipulative and greedy. It is my opinion that he operates in the excess with those characteristics. Those are things that are really offensive to my belief system. So I find anyone who would support his way of doing things equally revolting. But again, that is generic.
Nobody has to agree with my way of thinking. It is just that, my way of thinking. So I am giving my opinion on the forum. Sometimes I have very strong opinions. It’s who I am.
I’d still want Boras for an agent.
And it’s unbelievable to see how some have turned on Damon. He was a great Yankee – I’ll miss him.
Says much more about the haters — and yes, one in particular — than it does about the man.
Nick couldn’t smoothe a silk sheet if he had a hot date with a babe… I lost my train of thought.
Would Mark Teixeira be an example?
If being a consistent liar is “doing his job” then I think he’s in a field of his own and not typically representative of agents. And yes it turns my stomach. No need to apologize.
Oh you’re breaking my heart now.
YAWN!
The Wheel of Fortune puzzle was just “Yankees capture World Series Title” !
At no time was Damon “a great Yankee” He played quite well for 3 of his 4 seasons, except on defense.
One definition of great:
remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness
“Oh you’re breaking my heart now. YAWN!”
Generic?
GreenBeret7
February 5th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
At no time was Damon “a great Yankee” He played quite well for 3 of his 4 seasons, except on defense.
***********
Just out of curiousity GB7, who ever said that he was that would require such a remark?
Doreen, now that IS a nice thought!!!
Last night Judge Judy had someone from Rochester who was going to the September 29th Yankee game and was in a limo that had no spare tire. The limo broke down and the person had to have a friend come and take him home and then they all got a ride from Rochester. He wouldn’t pay for the limo and the driver was suing him. It was just fun to hear them announce the case!
Doreen
February 5th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
The Wheel of Fortune puzzle was just “Yankees capture World Series Title”
*************************
That’s so cool! I haven’t watched Wheel of Fortune since I was a kid. My grandparents used to watch it every night, so whenever I was over there I’d have to watch. I liked the game, but I could never stand Pat Sajak. lol
Rob NY — 2009 The Road to Redemption
February 5th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Nick couldn’t smoothe a silk sheet if he had a hot date with a babe… I lost my train of thought.
************************
Gold star for the Seinfeld reference
Trisha -
I know. It’s silly, but I get a warm feeling when I get little Yankees reminders.
Last week I was watching the movie “Sweet Charity” with Shirley McLaine and there’s a scene where she is in the middle of Yankee Stadium and it was before the renovations because the frieze was up like it is in the NYS. (The movie was filmed in the 60s.) It was really cool. There was something else recently that escapes me.
Erin -
I don’t like WOF at all, but my daughter looks forward to it. If she specifically asks for it, we watch. Otherwise, I try to fudge it (switching back and forth with something else).
Gold star for the Seinfeld reference
——
Why thank you. When Nick mentioned his fascination with Trisha’s belief system I couldn’t help but think about Mr. Kruger. Another festivus miracle!
Doreen
February 5th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
The Wheel of Fortune puzzle was just “Yankees capture World Series Title” !
————————————————————
That must be one of Nostradamus’ quatrains for 2010.
“A great beacon shall shine from the new city and the royal knights shall smite the hoards wish ill on the population.”
Rob: I was quoting directly, of course.
hoards ***who*** wish ill on the population
“At no time was Damon “a great Yankee” He played quite well for 3 of his 4 seasons, except on defense.”
Agreed…and yet I still thought he was still a great Yankee. Fun in the clubhouse, played nicely with others, never shied away from the mike, played with accountability and he was damn cute, too. That’s my definition of great. I’ll own up to it, GB.
Doreen, lots of times those things make me tear up. I know I don’t need to explain that sentiment to you. It’s like you have this overwhelming sense of pride that the team that you feel you’d die for is being discussed! Once in church the priest referred to a Yogi-ism in his homily and I wanted to stand up and shout “That’s my Yogi he’s talking about!”
damon defines idiot
Nick: excellent usage without being overt. I suppose I should share my gold star with you.
GB7 -
The category was headlines, but it didn’t say past or future!!!
Erica – always OPPC – Wishes Damon would fire Boras and COME HOME!
February 5th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Just out of curiousity GB7, who ever said that he was that would require such a remark?
============================================================
My goodness.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
I’d still want Boras for an agent.
And it’s unbelievable to see how some have turned on Damon. He was a great Yankee – I’ll miss him.
Says much more about the haters — and yes, one in particular — than it does about the man.
============================================================
I was referring to this one, Erica.
Erin-
I need the opinion of a fellow popculture monger.
My EW subscription is up for renewal. The only reason I even subscribed was cause I got an amazing rate. Renewal for a year is very pricey ($68). It gets cheaper per issue if I do alonger term, like two years for $124.
It makes me happy, but it would be a splurge. Should I go for it???
Doreen
February 5th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
GB7 -
The category was headlines, but it didn’t say past or future!!!
————————————————————
I chose to believe they were talking about the immediate future. I dream BIG….
GB7-
Oh. I tend to not pay much attention to handles I don’t recognize.
My opinion, Johnny Damon is a great baseball player. However, sadly, I do not believe he played in pinstripes long enough to be considered “a great Yankee”.
However, for the time he was with the Yankees. He was certainly a great member of the team
Being fun in the clubhouse and glib in the media doesn’t make a player great.
GreenBeret7
February 5th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Being fun in the clubhouse and glib in the media doesn’t make a player great.
*****************
Honestly, think about what you are saying. He was a contributing member of two championship teams. If he can find a place to play and have another few great years, he will be a borderline hall of famer. Definitely not a shoo-in, but he will be someone who gets consideration
Anyone want to talk about something the NY astrologers (well maybe one of them) said that was less than great about what could be happening this year with one Yankee player in particular? I think about it from time to time because I am definitely open to that stuff, though I don’t say I set my clock by it. But when they all said that the new Stadium was going to be surrounded by good luck and that the opening year was going to be a great one, it made me happy! And of course I sat up and took notice. And voila!
Anyway, unless someone actually asks about it I won’t mention it.
Erica – always OPPC – Wishes Damon would fire Boras and COME HOME!
February 5th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
GB7-
Oh. I tend to not pay much attention to handles I don’t recognize.
My opinion, Johnny Damon is a great baseball player. However, sadly, I do not believe he played in pinstripes long enough to be considered “a great Yankee”.
However, for the time he was with the Yankees. He was certainly a great member of the team
————————————————————
I’ll admit to Damon being a great fit for this team, Erica. Just not at his price going forward. I wish he would have taken NYY’s first offer, because as a DH/part time outfielder it was a fair price. I blame both him and Boras for trying to milk every dime. Damon made the mistake of thinking he was irreplaceable. He just wasn’t worth the demanded ransom.
“damon defines idiot”
Trashing people as they leave town is too Red Sox-ish.
Johnny gambled and lost. Simple as that.
Erica, I like Damon, but, he stopped being “great” quite a few years ago.
Personally, I would never die for a baseball team that couldn’t give two crappinos for me or anything about me except my almighty dollar.
Death is not a term to be tossed lightly – especially in light of past recent regular blogger history…
Would anyone here deny that Damon was a valuable contributor to the 2009 Yankees and one of many ingredients to the eventual Championship?
Whether he was a ‘great’ Yankee or a ‘good’ Yankee or whatever is a semantic judgement.
I certainly wasn’t meaning to be literal.
I also didn’t mean to show any insensitivity to Austinmac. I believe he would know that.
GB7 at 8:01 pm – Bingo!
The never ending Damon saga is costing a lot of trees their lives, but fortunately, not as many as would be the case if the newspaper business wasn’t dying.
“Johnny gambled and lost. Simple as that.”
Although that’s probably true, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet.
Rich in NJ
February 5th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
The never ending Damon saga is costing a lot of trees their lives, but fortunately, not as many as would be the case if the newspaper business wasn’t dying.
*****************
I have developed at least 3 new gray hairs!!!! Okay, at this point they are more like silver.
Erica
“I have developed at least 3 new gray hairs!!!! Okay, at this point they are more like silver.”
From reading your posts, I think I have gathered that you are too young for that!?!
Joe from Long Island
February 5th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
GB7 at 8:01 pm – Bingo!
————————————————————
Joe, Damon was a $13 Million center fielder 4 years ago, but, he’s not a #13 mil a year left fielder, especially at the rate of his defensive decline. He would have been outstanding as the primary DH, though, not at $20 mil over 2 years. I liked what he did for the Yanks, but, as I said, he was not irreplaceable. He was important to the makeup of the clubhouse, $3 mil a year extra is a lot for intangables.
Rich in NJ
February 5th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Erica
“I have developed at least 3 new gray hairs!!!! Okay, at this point they are more like silver.”
From reading your posts, I think I have gathered that you are too young for that!?!
*************
Yes, I am. I’ll be 30 (GULP) in December. (Caution, I am in major denial about that too). The silver developing is very subtle and scattered, but they are there. However, I blame my stressful job for that more than anything
Erica, I just turned 30 and Yesterday my girlfriend bought me ‘Just for Men’. And she wasn’t joking.
The only dog I have in this fight is if Johnny signs somewhere for less than $7M for a year.
If he does, then I think the Yanks could have afforded him, even if it meant trading Gaudin and Mitre, and if he would have signed with the Yanks had we offered him that much, then Cashman made a mistake by not making the offer. Whether all that is true though we probably can never know.
I think the Yanks last $3MM now/$3MM later proposal, if true, was a non-starter. Johnny will get a better deal than that, probably from the Tigers.
I don’t understand all the hostility directed toward Damon and Boras, though. They were probably hoping to land somewhere around 2 years/$20MM, they just misread Cashman who IMO was not serious about negotiating with Damon.
Everybody is entitled to try to make the most they can, it just appears JD may have misplayed his hand with the Yanks, although until he signs somewhere we can’t be sure.
GB7 – Oh, I fully believe that Damon had his chances to stay, which is more than Bobby Abreu had. Buster Olney did a nice discussion of the events on his ESPN.com column the other day, which I’ve seen other writers basically confirm. Nobody that I’ve read has disagreed.
River Avenue Blues has an intersting analyis today. Basically, they make the case that a big reason why Damon had such a good year at the plate was due to his hitting second, ahead of Tex and Alex, and getting a healthy diet of fastballs as a result. Further, they hypothesize that Nick Johnson, whom they feel “murders fastballs”, will therefore excell hitting second.
If that’s what plays out, then Johnny Damon will be soon forgotten around here. Which would a be shame on one level, given how much he contributed last season. But, again, he wrote his own ticket out of town.
it was me who posted the article re Boras saying yesterday no offer had every been made it was an article in USA Today by Bob Nightengale. I can’t believe he is still saying this and I cant believe nightengale is still reporting it even when Damon went on WFAN last week and said that the offer had indeed been made.
“The only dog I have in this fight is if Johnny signs somewhere for less than $7M for a year.”
And then? Who is to blame?
Tom in NJ
February 5th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Erica, I just turned 30 and Yesterday my girlfriend bought me ‘Just for Men’. And she wasn’t joking.
********
Ouch!
Taking advantage of NYS’s park effects and having two great hitters behind you and another one in front of you is a pretty sweet situation.
Speaking of Damon, Neyer had this note:
“Retaining Pavano, trading for Hardy, and signing Jim Thome and Orlando Hudson … individually, you’re talking about four players who won’t come within a mile of a Cy Young or MVP ballot next October. In the aggregate, though? It’s hard to imagine how the Twins could have done much better, short of signing Johnny Damon to replace Delmon Young. “
“And then? Who is to blame?”
I suspect that will be the subject of innumerable comments from the indefatigable regulars on the LoHud Yankees Blog.
I hope no one signs Damon, he once again has proved it’s only about the money and I hope it backfires w/ him on his couch in Orlando all season
As Joel Sherman opined (after he stole my thoughts from this blog
), the Yankees could have decided to pass on Winn in the hope that eventually Damon’s price would come down (since Winn isn’t good enough to matter), but I thought the Yankees should have offered Damon arbitration, so what do I know?
Most likely, Wave Your Hat, but I was just wondering about your own opinion, given the general understanding that an offer of $7M per year for 2 years was made to Damon, whether it was a “serious” offer or not.
Forgive me Erica, but I think if you look at JD’s history with other teams and now the Yankees, he seems to usher himself out the door looking for the next deal. Don’t get me wrong, I think he is a good guy and fabulous player and has done well with NY, but it looks like he gets itchy feet and has to move on. He has done this repetitively, not just with the Yanks. That is my observation anyway.
The problem with arbitration is that he would have ended up making MORE than he did last year via the arbitrator as he numbers were very good and usually arbitrators tend not to give pay cuts
cc on msg..at the knicks game
Nick-
Over in this corner I think the Yanks should have passed on Winn and waited to see if Damon’s price would drop below $7MM for a year. I’ve been pretty consistent in stating that.
Now perhaps Cashman knows that Johnny wouldn’t take such an offer from the Yanks even if the Yanks had the high offer. Or perhaps Cashman was pretty sure that some team, like the Tigers, was going to step up and offer Damon more than $7MM for a year. Or perhaps Cashman never had more than $7MM per year to offer Damon or any other hitter, once about $10MM for a starting pitcher had been budgeted.
So who knows? That’s why I think there’s room for many comments.
Joe, I’m not sure what to think about Damon, last year. I don’t know if he was just having leg issues and he’ll regain most of his footspeed and ability to steal bases or if that’s history. It was his speed plus occassional power that lifted his value. Without the return of the speed, his vaue is about what Johnson’s is. I guess it’s going to be a wait-and-see proposition.
“Patrick, I’m curious about something based on your comment: do you think that, if you were GM of a team, you would never ‘lose’ in a negotiation with Boras?”
—
Sorry for the late response, I left work right after making my comment. If I thought that as a GM I’d best Boras in every negotiation that means I would think that I’m smarter than every GM in baseball (I am). However, logic tells me that is doubtful so I would probably not win every negotiation.
The thing is, Boras’ clients are usually the top tier players and therefore its hard not to bid against mystery teams.
I can say I wouldn’t but its tough to put myself in a GM’s shoes because in that situation I’m sure there is a lot of pressure to sign Boras’ players.
For about the umpteenth time, Damon’s less than adequate outfield skills, his arm, and his greed were the final nails in his coffin as a Yankee.
Had he accepted the first Cashman offer or the more recent offer, he might be employed today.
He is the client and Boras is his agent. He could have intercepted weeks ago and told his agent to stop the music and he chose not to.
End of story.
Indeed, who really knows?
But if it comes to pass that Mr. D signs somewhere for less than the Yankees offered him, I probably won’t put Cashman on top of my blame list.
“he once again has proved it’s only about the money”
Of course it’s about the money. It’s his job and one that has a short shelf life.
I’m not saying the Yankees should have paid him what he wants but if I was asked to do my job for a 50% pay cut, I might go look for a different one too.
If everyone offered me a 50% pay cut, I’d take the job that had the most upside which is where I think Johnny really missed out.
His upside in NY, because of the Stadium, team and ownership, is bigger than anywhere else I can think of for him.
Too many people wanted to be right rather than be happy so everyone stands to lose.
Patrick: good answer. I agree, it’s harder than it looks because a lot of the time the players are highly desirable and there very well might be some other team expressing stealth interest. It would be easier if Boras was always faking.
Nick-
I’m no Cashman hater, and I’m not really a blamer either as I think with or without Mr. Damon the Yanks stand a darn good chance of winning the AL East.
However, IF it turns out that Damon does sign for less than $7MM, I would have liked to see a little more patience on the part of the Yanks.
However, my current thinking is that he will sign a one year deal with the Tigers for north of $7MM so the whole issue will be moot.
GB7 – I don’t think Damon’s legs are coming back at age 36. Whether one says his replacement is Johnson or Granderson, the Yankees are moving on with a pretty good replacement for that spot in the order.
why would Detroit bid against themselves and pay Damon more than the market price. As of now, there’s no competition to sign damon — there’s no bidding war. I mean it’s the ultimate sign of weakness when Boras approached Detroit for an offer. In short, it’s a buyer’s market.
I have found the answer to the Damon puzzle.
Bring JD back as a player/coach.
Once Nick Johnson hits the DL, pay JD $2 mil to DH and $4 mil to sit on the bench and hold Jeter’s bat. He’d have to shave his head and put up with Jeter’s rubbing fetish, but that’s a small price to pay for the extra dough. Once in awhile he could whisper strategy in Girardi’s ear to make it look good.
Coach’s and manager’s salary don’t count against the Selig luxury tax right?
Next year Jeter will get $5 mil to play and $15 mil to coach first base.
I’m betting Damon ends up in Japan.
Joe, if Damon’s base stealing days are over, I’d say it’s a fair swap…as long as Johnson is healthy. Gotta love the Granderson trade, though.
An article and interview with Hank Steinbrenner.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
“cc on msg..at the knicks game”
I hope he has a strong stomach.
GreenBeret7 February 5th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Erica, I like Damon, but, he stopped being “great” quite a few years ago.
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One could argue whether Damon was ever great but last year was pretty close to 2000 and 2004 as his best seasons. He had the highest slugging% and OPS+ of his career of his career lat year. He didn’t steal as many bases while batting second but he did not get caught once.
Yeah, his defense has gone dramatically downhill. Purely as a hitter his numbers were as good in 2009 as ever.
Who wants a tainted baseball from A-Rod?
“Who wants a tainted baseball from A-Rod?”
Feel better?
Cashman should have waited longer to sign a left fielder. Damon’s price could go as low as 4-5m for a yr then we can all throw up that we signed Winn for $2m. Winn stinks, had his worst yr ever last yr, hit 158 in 125 ab’s against leftys and may very well be on the serious down side of his career. Damon is a far far better player and not for a lot more money now. Why the heck didn’t Cashman wait, do you really think if someone else signed Winn there wouldn’t have been anyone else out there to sign, please.
Once Spring Training starts up Johnny Damon will be forgotten.
Erica this is a super late response to your post and you probably won’t read it but i feel obligated to share.
I started getting “silver” hairs at age 21. I’m 24 now and it’s only gotten worse. Still not noticeable but the “silvers” are there. Go dye your hair and feel lucky that you got grays at age 29 and not 21
Like the first commenter said in th NY Post about Damon on his finding a team. It Doesn’t matter where he goes, just show him the money!.
Am I underestimating Damon’s contributions to the Yankees in his tenure or is Erica overstating his impact?
m
You are spot on! Damon isn’t the MVP on the Yankees.
like i said, damon doesn’t fit the team once they signed nick johnson.
at this point, damon is more of a dh 3-4 times a week, than an everyday leftfielder.
the yankees moved on…i rather have damon as our dh than nick the stick, but these things happen, and obviously other teams dont see damon as a real effective outfielder anymore either.
this team should focus more on defense for left field, than offensive production, and that is pretty much what they have with granderson and winn…the outfield defense looks a lot better now than with damon there…and the offense should be just fine.
“Am I underestimating Damon’s contributions to the Yankees in his tenure or is Erica overstating his impact?”
Those aren’t mutually exclusive notions. The size of the gap between the two depends on how little you value Damon’s contributions.
The deterioration of the Yankees, will be the steady lessening of value, position by position, as it was prior to last year’s $420 million infusion. Johnson’s not the player Damon has been; Granderson’s not the player Matsui has been; Swisher is not anywhere near the player that Abreu had been; pitchers like Ponson, Rasner, Karstens, Mitre, Gaudin, Small, Chacon, Giese, etc. etc. etc. popping up all over the place; erroneous over-reliance on various unproven pitchers (such as Kennedy, Hughes, Chamberlain); way too many moves that look good to an accountant, but bad to someone who knows the game. A farm system that never seems to produce very much. Its what we’ve come to expect of the Cashman regime. Time for a change. The knee-jerk response of “We won the world series last year” rings a bit hollow when you temper that sentiment with the realization that any monkey could have turned the team around from its downward spiral if that monkey had $420 million to spend.
“…erroneous over-reliance on various unproven pitchers (such as Kennedy, Hughes, Chamberlain)”
“A farm system that never seems to produce very much”
As usual, you rebut your own posts.
If you want the farm system to produce, you have to have patience.
Most recently, that patience has led to significant contributions from Hughes (his presence in the pen was critical to their success last season), Joba (he was a dominant reliever, then a dominant starter before he got hurt, but despite that development, he still made a contribution in 2009, Roberston (who has identical stats to Bard), Aceves, and to a lesser extent Pena, Cervelli, Melky, Coke, and Gardner. That doesn’t even include Cano, who has been stellar at times, and Wang, who was an upper echelon starter until he got hurt.
All of that has taken place even though Cashman had no control over the draft until 2006.
If anyone has displayed a “knee-jerk response,” it’s you…repeatedly.
(*heads back to bed*)
Rich in NJ
Jeter Posada Mo Pettitte
damon still an idiot
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com....._id=113028
A very familiar pattern. Every time Damon was eligible for free agency, he left where he was.