The running Spring Training thread, 2010 edition

[spnited]

The Yankees offered Damon 2 years for 14 mill. Bor-ass turned it down, asking for 2 years, 22 mill. The Yankees, wisely, said good-bye then made a late take-it-or-leave it 1 year, 5 mill plus incentives.

Meanwhile, the Tigers didn't want to pay Curtis Granderson 23.5 mill he's owed over the next three years but they'll pay a 36-year-old who can not play the outfield any more and has the worst arm in baseball 8 mill this year -- basically to replace Granderson.

Yeah, that makes sense.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Damon to the Tigers, so says (of all people) ESPN's Karl Ravech:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4931560

One year, $8 million ...

Wasn't that around what the Yankees were offering him originally?

Something like that. I'd say that the Yankees made a mistake playing hardball over a few bucks with Damon and then signing Nick Johnson, but I'm sure they will just add another bat when Johnson gets hurt again.

I thought that it was Damon trying to play hardball by trying to get a multi-year deal for a lot more money. And look where it got him.

Detroit and it's actually not a bad move for him. The Tigers will be in contention.

It's a terrible move for him because his numbers will suffer badly outside the new Yankee Stadium, and will have to find a new contract next year, off of mediocre numbers. HAd he stayed with the Yanks & hung around for a few more years, he would have put himself into HOF talk, now that's pretty unlikely.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Oh stop. Johnny Damon wasn't going to be in any hall of fame except the one in his hometown. And since he's not from Cooperstown, NY, he never ever had a chance to be in any hall of fame i that little town, baseball or otherwise.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Ryan Sonner is geeked about his Nationals.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

The Mets' collection of mediocre catchers grows by one. They've signed Rod Barajas:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/rosenthal-mets-and-barajas-agree-on-contract-022010

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

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

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Oh stop. Johnny Damon wasn't going to be in any hall of fame except the one in his hometown. And since he's not from Cooperstown, NY, he never ever had a chance to be in any hall of fame i that little town, baseball or otherwise.

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.

 

[deskslave]

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!'

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

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:

 

[Della9250]

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.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

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!'

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

 

[outofplace]

Damon to the Tigers, so says (of all people) ESPN's Karl Ravech:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4931560

One year, $8 million ...

Wasn't that around what the Yankees were offering him originally?

Something like that. I'd say that the Yankees made a mistake playing hardball over a few bucks with Damon and then signing Nick Johnson, but I'm sure they will just add another bat when Johnson gets hurt again.

I thought that it was Damon trying to play hardball by trying to get a multi-year deal for a lot more money. And look where it got him.

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.

 

[Moderator1]

The next great one, Stephen Strasburg, has picked up the nickname Jesus.
Why?
Pulled from the Washington Post's Nationals Journal:

"'Cause what's the first thing you say when you see him pitch?" centerfielder Nyjer Morgan said, excited just to answer his own question. "Jeee-sus!"

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Damon to the Tigers, so says (of all people) ESPN's Karl Ravech:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4931560

One year, $8 million ...

Wasn't that around what the Yankees were offering him originally?

Something like that. I'd say that the Yankees made a mistake playing hardball over a few bucks with Damon and then signing Nick Johnson, but I'm sure they will just add another bat when Johnson gets hurt again.

I thought that it was Damon trying to play hardball by trying to get a multi-year deal for a lot more money. And look where it got him.

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.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Damon to the Tigers, so says (of all people) ESPN's Karl Ravech:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4931560

One year, $8 million ...

Wasn't that around what the Yankees were offering him originally?

Something like that. I'd say that the Yankees made a mistake playing hardball over a few bucks with Damon and then signing Nick Johnson, but I'm sure they will just add another bat when Johnson gets hurt again.

I thought that it was Damon trying to play hardball by trying to get a multi-year deal for a lot more money. And look where it got him.

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.

 

[outofplace]

Damon to the Tigers, so says (of all people) ESPN's Karl Ravech:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4931560

One year, $8 million ...

Wasn't that around what the Yankees were offering him originally?

Something like that. I'd say that the Yankees made a mistake playing hardball over a few bucks with Damon and then signing Nick Johnson, but I'm sure they will just add another bat when Johnson gets hurt again.

I thought that it was Damon trying to play hardball by trying to get a multi-year deal for a lot more money. And look where it got him.

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.

 

[steveu]

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.

 

[Steak Snabler]

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!'

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

Was just going to point this out. I know my stepmother, for one, became a huge Damon/Red Sox fan during the 2004 playoffs. I'm sure she wasn't on the only one.

The next great one, Stephen Strasburg, has picked up the nickname Jesus.
Why?
Pulled from the Washington Post's Nationals Journal:

"'Cause what's the first thing you say when you see him pitch?" centerfielder Nyjer Morgan said, excited just to answer his own question. "Jeee-sus!"

Awesome. Reminds me of an old joke by George Wallace (the comedian, not the governor), back when the Braves were terrible:

"I was at a Braves game the other day and I thought I had mistakenly stumbled into a Billy Graham revival. Everyone kept saying 'JESUS CHRIST!!!'"

 

[Drip]

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!'

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

Was just going to point this out. I know my stepmother, for one, became a huge Damon/Red Sox fan during the 2004 playoffs. I'm sure she wasn't on the only one.

The next great one, Stephen Strasburg, has picked up the nickname Jesus.
Why?
Pulled from the Washington Post's Nationals Journal:

"'Cause what's the first thing you say when you see him pitch?" centerfielder Nyjer Morgan said, excited just to answer his own question. "Jeee-sus!"

Awesome. Reminds me of an old joke by George Wallace (the comedian, not the governor), back when the Braves were terrible:

"I was at a Braves game the other day and I thought I had mistakenly stumbled into a Billy Graham revival. Everyone kept saying 'JESUS CHRIST!!!'"

George Wallace is one funny guy. I know this is straying a bit but it reminds me of a Chris Rock joke. "There are a lot of white guys here this evening. That's good. But I'm willing to bet that none of y'all would want to trade places with me. And I'm rich!!!"

 

[Drip]

Anyway, back on topic. Manny says this is it for him in Dodgerland.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=4935675

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Apparently Bobby Kielty is trying to do a reverse-Ankiel and trying to reinvent himself as a pitcher.