Damon and Wang, remember them?
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 09, 2010 
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Of course you do. A handful of reports from across the country brought some updates on the former Yankees and current free agents.
• Chien-Ming Wang might be close to a deal. Ken Rosenthal reports that Wang has offers on the table and is close to making a decision. Rosenthal names the Dodgers and Mets as candidates, but says they’re behind some unknown teams. Meanwhile, the Nationals are said to be “aggressively pursuing” Wang.
• An odd pitch from Scott Boras to Detroit: Johnny Damon likes the Red Wings. So maybe the Tigers are still in the mix for Damon. The Braves might also be in the mix, but it seems that the Reds are not in the mix.
• Hardly the same big name as Wang and Damon, but former Yankees lefty Chase Wright has re-signed with the Brewers.
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By the way, that Detroit Free Press story about Damon includes a mention of former Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames signing with the Yankees. The note includes a quote from Brian Cashman, who said Thames will compete for a job, “against the Rule 5 pick Jamie Hoffmann and against any other players we bring to camp or who are available through the spring.”
Yeah, I remember those guys, but for how long? Wang will be forgotten, but I suppose the performance in the WS gets Damon a place in Yankees history.
The Boras quote was an unseemly suck up, even for him.
Nick is not gonna be happy.
Breaking news..Damon just said he likes the Knicks and he’s available to be their new point guard for 2/20.
Wanger is going to get a bigger contract this year than Johnny.
“Breaking news..Damon just said he likes the Knicks and he’s available to be their new point guard for 2/20.”
If Isiah was in still in charge, he’d probably get it.
Talk about Damon overkill, whew. In any case, he and Boras will say anything at this point, but boy – I hope the Tigers don’t cave.
Blake, lol…..
“If Isiah was in still in charge, he’d probably get it.”
No kidding, or maybe he could develop a major knee problem and get a contract with the Mets.
They will both have great seasons. Doesn’t matter, though. We have Randy Winn, Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre.
“No kidding, or maybe he could develop a major knee problem and get a contract with the Mets.”
Hey don’t ever count Omar out of anything, Damon is still available you know.
The Brewers are having a CC Sabathia Bobblehead day this season on August 29:
http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.c.....moschedule
Damon is fooling nobody. He goes where the wild goose goes.
There were no hockey teams in K.C. or Oakland but he was a Bruin fan in Boston, a Ranger, Devil, and Islander fan in NYC, and if he suddenly had interest in the Rays, he’d be a Lightning fan.
• An odd pitch from Scott Boras to Detroit: Johnny Damon likes the Red Wings. So maybe the Tigers are still in the mix for Damon. The Braves might also be in the mix, but it seems that the Reds are not in the mix.
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Johnny Damon used to like the Yankees too!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Just saying…. sigh)
“The Brewers are having a CC Sabathia Bobblehead day this season on August 29:”
That’s pretty wild. I see they’re giving away several old Brewer bobbleheads.
I’ll tell you what though…I become a CC fan during that stretch. I’m sure many did.
Off topic but a sign that Spring (training) is near:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/
from Anthony McCarron
just nice to read that players and coaches have been there and working out
Betsy,
What do you mean, you hope the Tigers don’t cave? If they want Damon, they will make an offer.
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Damon/Boras will go where the most money is. Unfortunately, for them, they will not get close to the best offer they got from the Yankees. He might get 3-5 million from some team.
From the McCarron article. If Robertson finishes the development of that change-up and Melancon comes around as fast as Robertson did, they would be the keys to that bullpen. The bullpen would no longer be a weak link beyond Rivera, who’s just Rivera.
“There are other major leaguers around, too. Eiland said he’s worked with Dave Robertson, Alfredo Aceves and Mark Melancon. Robertson has “looked real good” the pitching coach said, and the changeup he started throwing last year is developing into a good pitch for him.
“He got a feel for it pretty quickly, a little quicker than I thought he would and he took it out into games quicker and got some outs with it,” Eiland said. “It’s going to be a weapon for him against left-handed hitters, something soft, down and away, to complement that fastball that rides into them. It’ll be something that slows down the lefties’ bats, along with his curveball, and especially in our stadium, that will be good for him.”
Eiland believes Robertson will be a big part of the 2010 bullpen – just like last year. “He really came on strong there toward the end,” Eiland said. “His velocity picked up, his command got better, his curveball got more consistent.”
Melancon has made strides, too, Eiland said. The Yankees want him to get to his arm slot quicker so he can command the ball better and he has continued to work on that, Eiland said. “
“Meanwhile, Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com report that Damon hasn’t moved off his demand of a two-year deal.”
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
A great “Studio 42″ with Bob Costas tonight. A classic 2 hour interview with Willie Mays.
GreenBeret7 February 9th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
A great “Studio 42? with Bob Costas tonight. A classic 2 hour interview with Willie Mays.
Really good.
Joba and then Hughes were hardly weak links to Mariano, but any talented starter will be a good reliever.
I see Robertson as a 7/8 inning guy. He has good stuff, throws strikes and doesn’t seem to get rattled under pressure.
I mean that I hope the Tigers don’t cave and give Damon and Boras what he wants
One last post for the day. Just a cool picture of the trophy at West Point.
Tomorrow Johnny will be “spotted” in a suburban Atlanta food court “enjoying his favorite carbonated refreshment Coca Cola and watching his favorite news channel CNN.”
On Thursday he’s off to Milwaukee for a bratwurst festival sponsored by Schlitz.
Rich in NJ
February 9th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Joba and then Hughes were hardly weak links to Mariano, but any talented starter will be a good reliever.
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Instead of trying to read in to what you think is said, trying reading what is said. All I said was that the Yankees weakest link was the bullpen beyond Rivera. Since nobody knows which of the two (Hughes/Chamberlain) will be in the bullpen, it’s incomplete and therefore a weak link.
If Robertson finishes his work on his change-up, he’s going to break a lot of hearts in the batter’s box. A reliever with 3 quality pitches is cruel and unusual punishment.
Boras should be ashamed of himself. He has ruined Damon’s year. Damon could save face by firing him and pulling a A-Rod by negotiating his own deal. Take a one year somewhere and blame Boras.
It will be interesting to see Wang this year. I cannot believe he would go to a National League team, especially the way he runs the bases.
A-Rod didn’t really fire Boras.
GreenBeret7
OK, my bad. Lighten up.
Gb-
“If Robertson finishes his work on his change-up, he’s going to break a lot of hearts in the batter’s box. A reliever with 3 quality pitches is cruel and unusual punishment.”
Maybe he shpuld be more than a reliever if he has that much aptitude ?
Hope you are getting good reports and camoflaging yourself when nurse Wratchet comes by. After all, you were a Green Beret.
“Boras should be ashamed of himself. He has ruined Damon’s year.”
Boras works for Damon. Damon has the final say on a contract.
MTU, NY has more need for good young late inning guys than starters in the system right now. Not sure when the last time Robertson even started a game. He could make a boatload of money where his is.
Tomorrow is “Dooms Day”. I’m hoping Nurse Kaloff has the next few days off to get her neck bolts tightened up.
Rich in NJ
February 9th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
GreenBeret7
OK, my bad. Lighten up.
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Perhaps if you’d take the time to read instead of trying to be smarter than everyone else and playing “gotcha” it would help.
GreenBeret7
Oh jeez. If I wanted to play “gotcha” I would have quoted your post and used your name. To the contrary, I immediately tried to diffuse the situation by apologizing.
You keep accusing me of having an attitude, but from your reading your post, I think the person who should heed your advice is you.
“Tomorrow is “Dooms Day”. I’m hoping Nurse Kaloff has the next few days off to get her neck bolts tightened up.”
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Good news GB! I just called and offered bonus pay out of my own pocket to Nurse Kaloff to be there tomorrow.
ray (sox fan)
February 9th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
“Tomorrow is “Dooms Day”. I’m hoping Nurse Kaloff has the next few days off to get her neck bolts tightened up.”
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Good news GB! I just called and offered bonus pay out of my own pocket to Nurse Kaloff to be there tomorrow.
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LMAO. Ray, if I ever said anything nice about you and “yaz”, I was lying.
How have you been doing, Bud. Haven’t seen you around much. Hope that you and the (sox fan) family are doing great.
Hard to believe Cashman signed Winn when Damon’s price was falling like a stone. Way to read the market Cashman. We get Winn for $2m who stinks and Damon can’t get a deal. Damon’s a better 2 hole hitter than Johnson, has better speed, helped Jeter in the leadoff spot, had an ops more than 50 pts higher than Granderson and 150 pts higher than Winn. Since when did the Yankees get so cheap. The bottom of the order is weak, very weak when Posada doesn’t catch and suspect late in games vs leftys at the bottom of the order. Should have waited for Damon, you can always always find spare parts like Winn, Thames etc. Every day players are hard to find, Damon has always been one.
Pistol Pete,
Winn was willing to take $2m, Damon was not and that’s all that Cashman had. Hard to argue the Yankees are cheap or are getting cheap when the team spends upwards of $200m on payroll.
The budget’s a joke. As soon as the Yankees hit a snag they’ll spend money and prospects to fix the outfield. Why not spend a little more now. This was personal, both Boras and Cashman got pigheaded, big mistake losing 2 veterans like Damon and Matsui. I can understand one but not both. The lineup will not have the length or experience of last year. Granderson and Winn’s numbers batting right handed are scary bad, really really bad.
The budget’s a joke. As soon as the Yankees hit a snag they’ll spend money and prospects to fix the outfield. Why not spend a little more now. This was personal, both Boras and Cashman got pigheaded, big mistake losing 2 veterans like Damon and Matsui. I can understand one but not both. The lineup will not have the length or experience of last year. Granderson and Winn’s numbers batting right handed are scary bad, really really bad.
Sorry for the double post.
“The budget’s a joke. As soon as the Yankees hit a snag they’ll spend money and prospects to fix the outfield.”
Then why did Hal veto Cash’s trade for Cameron last season because he didn’t want to add his contract to the payroll?
Cameron stinks, strikes out too much, Boston will get sick of him just like the Mets did. Good move by Hal.
That’s irrelevant. Cash made the trade; Hal vetoed it for salary reasons because there is budget, which rebuts your point.
I guaranty if there’s a difference maker out there and the Yanks have to spend a few million they will. Cameron was never a difference maker and Hal knew it. He’s never played in the playoffs, hits poorly vs good pitching which he’d see in October, and strikes out at an alarming rate. Damon is a difference maker and got real cheap. Ask Javy Vazquez and Brad Lidge if he’s a tough playoff out. This decision was absurd, they will fix it later and will spend the money to do it. Last year all their regulars were good players, this year leftfield has a gaping hole. They really didn’t need Cameron.
If Cameron stunk so badly, Cash would not have tried to get him.
“I guaranty if there’s a difference maker out there and the Yanks have to spend a few million they will. Cameron was never a difference maker and Hal knew it”
So Hal turned down Cash’s attempt to add $5m but will agree to add $10m or $15m or $20m? Then why didn’t they sign Holliday?
So Cash has never gone after players at the wrong time, please. Kei Igewa, Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, Jared Wright, Kyle Farnsworth. There’s $240m right there.
The issue in your post that I responded to was the budget, not Cashman.
Cash has made mistakes, but he was against signing Wright, and has made more right moves than wrong ones.
Part of the reason that he had to go after Brown and Pavano is that the farm system, which he had no control over until 2006, was not producing any pitchers.
Now Pete, I know you’re smarter than that, right? No?
Do you only go after players whom you know are going to have great seasons? Based on the winning lottery tickets over the last 4 weeks, what’s this week’s winning combination?
Better yet, what’s your stock portfolio look like last year? What happended to those proven winners?
Phu-lease!
GM’s are not gods.
There are 29 other GM’s in the league. Are the rest of them dummies for their selections last season or however long they’ve been building their teams?
Answer that Pete.
Wang close to a deal with the nationals.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/