The running Spring Training thread, 2010 edition

http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2010/02/18/as-mets-catchers-report/

At this rate I expect Junior Ortiz to get a call.

 

His numbers would have gotten him close to those traditionally, I don't think he's a HOFer either, but he could have faked it.

 

Nah, I don't think he gets close. My test is pretty much 'did people ever turn up at the ballpark just to watch him?' And I'm pretty sure no one has ever said 'I can't wait to see Johnny Damon play!'

 

Rays C Dioner Navarro, quoted by St. Pete Times' Marc Topkin: "I just want to do my job and get rich."

Based on looks, he needs to do that in order to afford the donuts:

 

If Damon played four more years, which isn't totally impossible, he'd be knocking on the 3,000-hit door. That would put him in the conversation at the very least.

 

I'd think some women and gay guys might have said that, for non-baseball reasons.

 

Actually, it was both. There was no good reason for the Yankees to back off from their initial offer except they wanted to prove a point. The only point I think they will end up proving is that they would have been better off with Damon on the roster than they will be with Nick Johnson.

Did Boras overplay his hand and hurt his client on this one? Absolutely. Did Damon screw up by listening to Boras? No question. I'm just saying both sides messed up.

 

I agree. Maybe I'm nuts, but I'd rather have Damon than Johnson, just because of the speed factor. I'd think if the Yanks really wanted to, they could have offered Damon $9 million for the year and locked him up.

 

His line, straight thru with the Yankees (from what I heard him say) was no less than 2 for 22.

 

That's not true, at least not from what I've heard and read. Boras tried to come down, but it was too late in the Yankees' eyes, so they lowered their initial offer. If they had kept the 2-year, $14 million on the table rather than try to lowball him around the time they signed Johnson, he'd be a Yankee.

 

Methinks Bor-ass might find himself with fewer clients down the road. His take it or leave it is getting old, even though he has the notes to back up his claims a lot of times.