Baseball Musings: Damon In New York?

April 05, 2005

Damon In New York?

Johnny Damon was on Regis and Kelly yesterday, and Regis was telling Damon how much Steinbrenner liked the centerfielder:

Damon, the Red Sox's center fielder and leadoff hitter, is a free agent after this season and the Yankees likely will need someone to replace Bernie Williams. The Yankees are unlikely to exercise their $15 million option on Williams for 2006.
Philbin told Damon, "So I'm sitting there with George Steinbrenner in his box last night. You come up to bat. I said, 'George, this guy is a great center fielder.' George loves you. He says, yes, you really are."

Off camera, Philbin kept telling Damon how much Steinbrenner had been raving.

Of course, if Damon moves to New York, he'll have to cut his hair and lose all his powers. :-)

I actually believe the Yankees solution should involve moving Jeter to center, A-Rod to short and finding a new third baseman. Jeter probably won't make the move, but Robin Yount did that and won the MVP. Jeter is better on fly balls than grounders, and he probably has a better arm than Bernie.

Posted by David Pinto at 08:43 AM | Players | TrackBack (1)

Comments

PROBABLY has a better arm than Bernie? Shoot, *I* have a better arm than Bernie at this stage of his career.

Posted by: sabernar at April 5, 2005 09:43 AM

Given Damon's less than stellar arm, playing CF in Yankee Stadium would not seem to be an ideal fit. The Philbin comment sounds like Big George's flavor of the month routine.

Posted by: high&tight at April 5, 2005 09:47 AM

That's great idea, David. I hope that Jeter will really consider it, realizing that proving yourself to be a winner at 2 positions would be an even greater accomplishment. But I, too, fear that he'll balk at the move. Anyway, can Damon be anymore full of himself? Well, comic relief is always welcome, so thanks, Johnny!

Posted by: Jan at April 5, 2005 09:48 AM

Jeter wasn't willing to move to third for a superior player; what makes anyone think he'd move to a center field for an inferior one?

Posted by: Josh at April 5, 2005 10:22 AM

Josh didn't make any sense. Jeter would be moving to CF for the same superior players, A-Rod. But I think Regis was just blowing smoke up Damon's ass, like all talkshow hosts do to their interview of the day. Damon won't last 5 minutes in NY. Just see how he sucked when he was considered the missing piece in Oakland in 2001.

Posted by: wilson at April 5, 2005 10:38 AM

Its pretty clear the Yanks need a new CF. Is there any chance they would take a shot with the hot headed but talented Milton Bradley who is also a free agent after this season? At just 26, he's young, likely to improve as a hitter, and would bring a much needed defensive upgrade.

Posted by: Jinwoo at April 5, 2005 10:46 AM

What's funny is that this is the same Johnny Damon who was criticized for not handling the media pressure well in Kansas City as a young player.

Posted by: Crank at April 5, 2005 11:14 AM

I think that's phenomenal. I really hope the Yankees sign Johnny Damon, who turns 35 at the end of 2005, to a 5-year, $40 million contract. That would make me ecstatic.

The Yankees should've moved Derek Jeter to either second base or center field last year. But if they were smart, they would've planned better in the offseason. Jeter should move to second, A-Rod should go back to short. Carlos Beltran should be playing center. They never should've spent money on a handful of old, mediocre players (Although, Tino Martinez does have "nostalgia" value. It won't help them win any games, but what the hey.)

Jaret Wright = wasted money. If you want a reclamation project, you take Wade Miller.

But seriously, I would absolutely love it if the Yankees signed Damon next year. I'd love it even more if the Red Sox somehow got them to enter into a bidding war, and one of the two teams end up overpaying him for way too many years.

Posted by: Inquisitor at April 5, 2005 05:24 PM

the yankees are old. lets get nolan ryan. money spent more wisely would have been to get carlos beltran. i would go after barry zito. i would go after beckett and burnett from florida. mariano is gone. bernie is gone. a-rod stinks. giambi is a has been. posada stinks. we have the highest paid names in baseball. however, 2/3 of the yankees stink. forget the names. get youth. youth. youth. i heard we might be signing johnnie bench

Posted by: joey nyy pavia at April 20, 2005 07:41 PM

ummm i am a red sox fan and damon if u are reading this WE DONT WANT U BACK!ur a trader and yes WE HATE U!so dont ever think about comin back!

Posted by: brooke at January 28, 2006 11:26 AM

looking at all these comments makes me laugh, the guy who predicted damon wouldnt last 5minutes in ny was wrong. the people who wanted derek in center are idiots.
and joey nyy pavia, mariano is the best there is, you should go die. giambi is a has been? posada stinks? you should def. go die.

Posted by: HAHA look at the comments!! at July 26, 2006 08:02 AM

Posted by: HAHAHA LOOK AT the comments!!! at July 26, 2006 08:02 AM

HAHAHAHA looking at all these comments makes me laugh, the guy who predicted damon wouldnt last 5minutes in ny was wrong. the people who wanted derek in center are idiots.
and joey nyy pavia, mariano is the best there is, you should go die. giambi is a has been? posada stinks? you should def. go die.

Posted by: look at the comments at July 26, 2006 08:03 AM

Posted by: stupid comments at July 26, 2006 08:05 AM