Making The Call: Damon Should Be A Met

Johnny Damon steals third in Game 4 of the World Series. (AP)

The Yankees signed Randy Winn this week, a move that put an end to Johnny Damon’s career in pinstripes. Hopefully it doesn't mean Damon will leave New York, because he would be a perfect fit for the other club in town — the Mets.

Damon’s deficiencies are well-documented. His range in the outfield is getting smaller and smaller and his arm is non-existent. But, he is still a very good run producer: he hit 24 home runs last year with a .282 batting average and 12 steals. Since the Mets only scored 671 runs last year, that’s the kind of bat they could use. Putting Damon into the #2 spot in the batting order would lengthen the lineup and a one-two combo of Reyes and Damon would be a formidable duo, setting the table for the run producers.

The problem is where to play Damon. Jason Bay is clearly going into left field and Damon no longer has the tools to play center. But, Bay will need days off and the Mets could use Damon as a first baseman the majority of the time. Yes, it’s not an ideal fit, but Damon has played first seven times in his career and the Yankees considered putting him there for a stretch of games in 2007 when their regular first baseman, Doug Mientkiewicz, was hurt.

Pitchers and catcher report in less than three weeks and Damon is still looking for a team. He is no longer in the market for a multi-year deal and the opportunity is there to scoop him up cheaply. The Mets have made some improvements to their ballclub this offseason, but they have a lot of work to do if they want to compete in the NL East. Adding Damon would narrow the gap with the Phillies and show the fans that they are serious this year.

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By Peter Trinkle in News on January 31, 2010 1:45 PM

Comments [rss]

jaycjay

"Judas-like move from the Red Sox"

I've never really understood that sentiment. The Sox were the third team Damon played for. He was there for just one contract term, so it's not as if he was the native son who a fan couldn't imagine seeing in another uniform.

Then, the team refused to even negotiate a new term of over three years at any salary level. Damon wanted five, the Yankees offered four. That all happened during the period Epstein had bugged out of the front office for a while so there was some amount of disarray and lack of communication, but that too is on Red Sox management, not on Damon.

henrycat

I still haven't recovered from Damon's Judas-like move from the Red Sox to the Yankees. I hope no one signs him. the greedy bastard deserves it.

Kevin Walsh

Damon is ideally a DH. He can't cover the spacious outfield at Citi.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Joel

You must be kidding. Damon can no longer be a regular outfielder and there is no DH in the NL. Besides Citi Field is not Yankee Stadium and not tailored to Damon's swing.

jaycjay

"Citi Field is not Yankee Stadium and not tailored to Damon's swing."

Yep. According to baseball-reference.com, placement of Damon's 24 home runs last season:

Right field line: 5

Right field: 16

Right-Center: 3

Anywhere else: 0

Yankee Stadium right field: 314 feet.

Citi Field right field: 330 feet.

17 of Damon's 24 home runs last year were at Yankee Stadium.

By the way, that "has played first seven times in his career" mentioned above? That's seven appearances for a total of 11.1 innings. He's never played a full game at first.

SP

hey, did I miss something? did the nl adopt the dh rule over the weekend, or does Peter Trinkle continue to not know what he's talking about?

jaycjay

It took a while, but I eventually figured out that this "Making The Call" series is Gothamist's humor feature. It's parody, like the sports page in The Onion.