Braves need to make a run at Johnny Damon
How much better would Braves' lineup be with Johnny Damon?
So I listened to Braves general manager Frank Wren on 790 The Zone Wednesday morning, hearing him touch on many of the same themes he said two weeks ago when I spoke to him about the team’s offseason moves, and he concluded, “I think we’re better.”
I don’t agree. Most don’t agree. When a team adds Billy Wagner, Troy Glaus and Melky Cabrera and subtracts Javier Vazquez, Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez, the math doesn’t work out.
If Wren really wants to convince people the Braves will be better this season, here’s an idea: sign Johnny Damon.
Barring any significant move, this team has three significant questions going into the season: Leadoff hitter (Nate McLouth), cleanup hitter (Glaus) and closer (Wagner). McLouth looked average for most of last season. Glaus and Wagner represent medical roulette.
I haven’t written much on Damon in
Loading ...part because it was presumed he would simply re-sign with the New York Yankees and, with Scott Boras as his agent, he would ask for an obscene amount of money on the open market. But he’s still out there, with spring training a month away. The asking price — once believed to be in the two-year, $14 million range — almost certainly has come way down.
The Braves are at their self-imposed payroll limit ($90 million). But there’s a difference between being fiscally smart and just plain cheap. Adding Damon makes the Braves better. If they’re better, they win more games and sell more tickets. Maybe they even make the playoffs.
Now there’s a concept.
The Braves have not had a legitimate leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal left town after the 2005 season. That’s also the last season they made the playoffs. Funny how that works out.
When I asked Wren about Damon a couple of weeks ago, he said only, “We like the way our club has come together.”
How can that be with so many questions? Damon is 36. He is not a long-term solution. This is about now. He hit .282 last season with an on-base percentage of .365. He also tied a career-high with 24 homers (granted, aided by the short right field in new Yankee Stadium) and had 82 RBI, third-most in his career. McLouth could still start in center field. Damon could play in left. Jason Heyward: right field. Melky Cabrera? We’ve got your resume, we’ll get back to you.
The Braves have questions, and right now Wren is just counting on too many things going right. Damon eliminates one of the doubts.
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305 comments Add your comment
ATLRedSoxFan
January 20th, 2010
1:07 pm
I agree wholeheartedly good article Jeff.
Art Vandalay
January 20th, 2010
1:07 pm
Didn’t they learn last year about pinning your hopes on risks going your way? entering last season it was we will be great IF Francoeur fixes his hitting fundamentals, IF Kelly Johnson finally consistently breaks through, IF Jordan Schaffer is ready for the bigs, IF Tom Glavine is able to return. This year they will be great IF Troy Glaus is healthy, IF McClouth is a solid lead off hitter, IF Chipper can rebound, IF Lowe has fixed his mechanics problems, IF Martin Prado wasn’t a fluke, IF Heyward is what we think he is, IF Tommy Hanson doesn’t have a sophomore slump. Johnny Damon hasn’t been an if in about 10 years, with him you KNOW your lead off man will get on base, continue rallies, and drive in runs when he needs to.
Kentavo
January 20th, 2010
1:09 pm
Regarding Diaz: I’m not a big Cox defender, but his use of Diaz is appropriate. Add up his boneheaded plays – trying to bunt when not asked to bunt in run-producing situation, not being able to put down bunts when asked to, getting caught off third base when he could have scored tying run, defense that makes you close your eyes any time the ball is hit to him. It all adds up to: Part-time player.
All I'm Saying Is...
January 20th, 2010
1:09 pm
I like the way your mind is working on this one Schultz. Have to say, though, that the fact that signing Johnny Damon would be an upgrade over who we have currently to bat lead-off is a sign of the desperate state of the Braves.
[For the record, I said a million times that they should have kept Furcal and Wren acknowledged that mistake when he thought he had a deal to bring Furcal back prior to the start of last season...but (finally) moving on...]
Nate has not impressed me with his supposed ability to bat lead-off which is where he was supposed to shine for us. Hopefully there is another explanation (he was playing hurt) for his batting average and OBP in 2009 and he’ll come back better than he was.
Like it or not, Damon has proven himself capable of being an effective lead-off batter in pressure situations for both the Red Sox and the Yankees and has the championship rings to prove it.
Furthermore, typically AL hitters (even those 36 years young) do well when they move to the NL because
a) you can’t make it out of Double AA ball without proving you can hit the fastball so they’ve already established their ability to do that and you get more fastballs in the NL due to the pitchers hitting and
b) the fact that AL hitters have to know how to hit the breaking pitches because they get them in boatloads due to the usage of the DH causing pitchers to throw more junk
BOTTOM LINE: If we can get Damon inexpensively for a one year deal with a team option (certainly no more than a two year deal), then I say do it because it would make us better. Why? Because based on what I’ve seen I don’t think Schafer will ever be the answer, Diaz is a career platoon player, and Damon is better now than Nate.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2010
1:11 pm
I would waste your time and say something complimentary of your writings or uniquely scathing of your opinions, Jeff, but all I really want is a reaction from you, acknowledging that I exsist. You know, my five minutes of reaction fame. Maybe I should make a sign…
E-ven
S-chultz
P-ens
N-egative
…SportsCenter is Next!
DHD
January 20th, 2010
1:12 pm
Haven’t we already had this article? Maybe you didn’t read it.
Buford
January 20th, 2010
1:16 pm
don’t need no sissified boy from new york city on the braves. my sister throws better than him and she has the rumatoid. don’t you dare do it mister wren. go on and let that diez boy play more now.
Bravesfan101
January 20th, 2010
1:18 pm
The Braves could use Johnny Damon but the team is cheap if the phillies needed him they would have been signed him instead of waiting.
74Dawg
January 20th, 2010
1:19 pm
Jeff-you “did my homework,Damon doesn’t pitch,how about that? ” . Nice one.
Will C
January 20th, 2010
1:19 pm
I certainly don’t think we should get Damon. He is an awful outfielder. I say the Braves bite the bullet and bring Jason Heyward up for opening day. I am also sick of Wren signing these players to one year contracts, I would hate for us to do that with Damon.
Maurilio
January 20th, 2010
1:20 pm
Instead of telling what the Braves should do. Go to the games and support them. We cant afford any good players because during a weekday on 20k or less fan show up. How can we demand the Braves to spend money when we dont do anything to help them
JRish
January 20th, 2010
1:24 pm
Jeff,
Building off what a few other posters have been discussing – why isn’t there much discussion of Diaz hitting leadoff if the Braves are unwilling to sign Damon?
I just bothered to look up the splits and when hitting in the #1 in the order last season:
Diaz: 41 AB, 7 R, .439 BA, .531 OBP, 1 SB, 1 CS
McLouth: 338, 59 R, .260 BA, .354 OBP, 11 SB, 6 CS
That is a small sample size for Diaz and he was placed there while he was hot – but these are some promising statistics for Diaz.
john
January 20th, 2010
1:24 pm
Been a die-hard Braves fan since 1957-then Milwaukee Braves-I read the blogs everyday and it amazes me at the lack of baseball knowledge that exists. You people diss Frank Wren all year. Under the circumstances he’s done a good job-Blogger Marty listed a good line-up, and we don’t need Damon- number alone do not tell the value of a player coming from another team. I promise I wont use the word “Idiot”
Bravesfan101
January 20th, 2010
1:25 pm
This could be the potential lineup if the team was put together right and the braves would go ahead and stop being so cheap and sign Johnny Damon.
Johnny Damon
Nate McLouth
Chipper Jones
Brian McCann
Martin Prado
Yunel Escobar
Troy Glaus
Melky Cabrera/Matt Diaz (Platoon)
Chris Rutherford
January 20th, 2010
1:26 pm
Is there any up and comers in the minors or in the Dominican leagues that are being scouted and ready to come to “The Show”? Truly someone must be ready and have potential now!
#1 Falcon Fan
January 20th, 2010
1:28 pm
I’ve said it before and I will say it again “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR” the Braves will not sign Johnny Damon because they are too cheap. They havn’t made the playoffs since 2005, and in order to sell tickets and have home sell outs…you need to win games and make the playoffs. If the Yankees want to re-sign damon then they will because nobody ever out bids the Yankees. No one in our lineup will scare an opposing pitcher..we will once again miss the playoffs in 2010 and probably first in 3rd place behind the Phillies and Mets or the Phillies and Marlins…..too bad, so sad…you get what u pay for!
Dozer
January 20th, 2010
1:29 pm
Jeff – why would the Braves want Damon? He doesn’t meet their criteria for player acquisition; (1) broken-down, (2) cheap, (3) overrated (4)bland. remember – we’re a small-market team now……..
crackbaby
January 20th, 2010
1:30 pm
NO! NO! NO!
Do not sign Damon and commit the $$$$
He’s too old, over priced. If Wren signs Damon, it invalidates the reasons for trading Javy Vasquez away.
Braves need to get younger. Don’t get a free agent for this season alone, get talent for the future. Schultz, you are a funny guy but I’m not sure you even like sports, much less know much about it.
Fourbee
January 20th, 2010
1:30 pm
Marc in FL and others have stated the obvious. Matt Diaz is very under-appreciated in Atlanta. Many bloggers over at DOB’s blog absolutely crucify his defense, even though he is rated slightly below average. It’s almost as if they thought Loaf’s defense was superior.
It’s true that Diaz would be a STAR if he didn’t play for Cox and the Braves. How in the name of heaven can you have a career .310 hitter ride the pine or platoon? Many say he doesn’t hit RHP well. They obviously haven’t looked at his year by year stats. When Diaz plays regularly, he hit RHs very well (much better than Melky).
I suppose Rodney Dangerfield isn’t the only one who can say : “I get no respect, no respect at all!”
BravesFanLostInOhio
January 20th, 2010
1:30 pm
I’d rather have more money to play with to address a mid-season need than to sign Damon, who really doesn’t make us THAT much better.
Besides, we ARE better than the team we started last year: Glaus is better than Kotchman; Prado is better than Johnson; McLouth is better than a rookie Schaffer, and (gasp!) Diaz is more consistant than Francoeur was. I think Melky is even with Anderson, but gives us more from a club house perspective.
You bag on Wagner, but most pitcchers recover very well from his surgery, sometimes with improvement. He’s a big game pitcher, and we need one of those in the late innings.
Daniel
January 20th, 2010
1:34 pm
Jeff: Good article overall, and I would certainly think the addition of Damon at 3-4 milion for one or two seasons(max) would be great. I think that Cabrerra would be the odd man out and reasonable trade bait, either during spring training of middle of season when you want to bring up Heyward. That being said I have to say this team is better than the team that STARTED last season. I am not sure if they are better than the one that finished last season(not counting last 6 games of give away ball). I think that is the distinction that needs to be made. Do you really think that last years opening day team is better than this one? Or are you basing this on what the team was doing at the end of the year.
As far as If’s are concerned, everything is an If, that is the nature of life and the future, so looking at If’s is kinda an empty exercise.
Simply put Damon (at the right price) is a better leadoff and left field option than Cabrerra or Diaz. I think the Braves agree with you and that is why they are being so “hush-hush” about the subject. You know waiting for Boras to fizzle on his teams of fake interest like the Tigers.
Brave Heart
January 20th, 2010
1:37 pm
Looky here fellers, Why not think outta the box and try something new and different and unorthodox. Bring back Bob Horner (If he’s still alive). I used to like to watch him play. He reminded me of a bulldog I had at that time. I mean they looked just alike. And what about Chief Knockahoma. I know they needed his TeePee space for seats but I think he put one of them sourgrapes curses on the team before he went back to the reservation. I do. I know y’all thought he had it made sittin’ in his hut with his feet propped up, smoking the pipe and waitin’ for a home run. But I ain’t kiddin’ y’all, I think he helped us out. Course, come to think of it, I miss “Live Atlanta Wrestling” too. Come back Gordon and Dusty, Mario and Buddy Fuller. Where are y’all at fellers?
Tami
January 20th, 2010
1:41 pm
Agree with you Jeff, ONLY if there’s someone at AAA ready to come up in a year or so. We don’t know if Chipper will be able to play a whole season (which is no longer realistic anyway), so having Damon in there ensures that Mac doesn’t have to pull the whole load again. Tough to pull the ‘hitting load’ when you’re also talking about the starting catcher as well. In fact, I would hope that Wren is pulling together a coverage plan for any possible injuries to key personnel — which has happened the last couple of seasons, and the coverage wasn’t exactly optimum (except for Prado). I also hope he’s pulling together a plan to not keep some of the “old” guys just acquired for more than a year or so and get someone in there full time. Tough job he has. Wouldn’t want it.
BravesFanLostInOhio
January 20th, 2010
1:43 pm
Yes, Fourbee. Diaz gets no love. I am fine with him as a starter, but I wish he were not quite so feast or famine with him.
Tami
January 20th, 2010
1:44 pm
I think I agree with Braves101’s roster proposition. Sounds good to me.
papadawg
January 20th, 2010
1:45 pm
I don’t care for signing players who are past their prime or soon will be. Reminds me of the 80’s when the braves sucked so BAD. I’m for bringing up a young talent from the minors and let him get his feet wet
Freddie G
January 20th, 2010
1:45 pm
Jeff, You must have been high on something when you wrote this article.
The Braves have already made some stupid moves this offseason, and here you are suggeating that they make another one.
BravesFanLostInOhio
January 20th, 2010
1:46 pm
My last sentence was so terrible that I leave the blog in shame. Time to get back to work, anyhow.
Fischerking04
January 20th, 2010
1:47 pm
I fully disagree with you Jeff. Saying that we aren’t a better team was enough to stop reading right there. But claiming that “Most people” agree with you is even more absurd.
Give the man some credit
January 20th, 2010
1:48 pm
Okay, after sifting through the (most times) painfully ignorant comments, I have determined a few things.
1) Frank Wren is in charge of the Braves player personnel decisions. So if you MUST address how we SHOULD run things, please keep in mind that he did not get to where he is by twiddling his thumbs. The man knows how to operate a baseball team, from an off-the-field standpoint, and there is reason to believe (based on his job description and title) that he also knows enough about what he is doing, on a day to day basis, that he got the job in the first place.
2) Johnny Damon is eleven years older than Melky Cabrera. Yes, Damon has the clear advantage in statistics. But Cabrera began his career as an outfielder for the New York Yankees, when he had just before turning 21 (albeit, he only played in 6 games his first year). But the next year he replaced Hideki “Godzilla” Matsui. Damon, on the other hand, began his career with the Kansas City Royals. Perhaps playing for the Royals in the mid-to-late 90s was more difficult than speculation lets on, but there seems to have been more pressure on Melky Cabrera throughout his (short) career than on Johnny Damon in his first four years.
3) Perhaps Troy Glaus, Billy Wagner, and Takashi Saito are question marks. But Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, and Casey Kotchman certainly had their fair share of (fan and writers alike) “cry-outs” against them.
4) Hanson was not with the Braves at the beginning of the season. Kenshin Kawakami was pitching in the MLB for the FIRST time in his career. Derek Lowe was supposed to be our “ace-in-the-hole.” Javier Vazquez was coming off of a 12-16 season with a 4.67 ERA (Gee, that number sounds familiar). Jair Jurjens was still relatively unknown. And the fifth rotation spot was up for grabs. This year, we have Lowe who could be much improved from his FIFTEEN win season, Tommy Hanson COULD be a stud again, Jair Jurjens SHOULD be a stud again, Tim Hudson hopes to build on his late season starts and return to his dominance, and Kenshin Kawakami has a year of Major League Baseball under his belt.
Cecil34
January 20th, 2010
1:50 pm
Well, Schultzie, he at least fits Wren’s profile of players – over 35 and their best days behind ‘em!
tony
January 20th, 2010
1:50 pm
why again do we need a guy that hits 280 with 13 homers, don’t we have a roster full of those type of guys already?
yes i know he hit 20+ homers last year but most were at short porched yankee stadium, and that was a career high for him.
no to mention his arm is a wet noodle.
ugaaccountant
January 20th, 2010
1:50 pm
To me this one is simple. If Damon is manning left field in April, I personally will be attending games and believing we have a chance to win a wild card spot. If Melky is manning left field, I’ll be watching from home with no expectation of being in the playoffs.
Right now, we’re close enough to contention that Johnny Damon would be a major difference maker.
Martin
January 20th, 2010
1:50 pm
Jeff, in 2009 Damon’s UZR has him ranked as the worst defensive left fielder in all of baseball! Plus, if we sign Damon, there’s no room for Heyward. Melky is the 4th outfielder and is not going to be traded because he’s the only one who can play center to rest McClouth (Schaefer will spend most of the year in AAA). So the only way we sign Damon is if we trade Diaz…Let’s compare.
Diaz BA .313 OBP .390 SLG .388 SB 12 UZR +0.3
Damon BA .283 OBP .365 SLG .389 SB 12 UZR -9.2
Remind me again why we want Damon? He steals less bases, has worse defense and has less power (esp. away from Yankee Stadium). He’s only popular because he’s played for NY and Boston and had a cool beard back in the day.
Martin
January 20th, 2010
1:53 pm
+ Diaz had better leadoff stats than Damon. Why don’t we put Diaz in the 1 spot?
Martin
January 20th, 2010
1:54 pm
Technically Diaz and Damon stole the same number of bases, but Damon had 200 more PA, which is why I would say Damon steals less.
Brave Heart
January 20th, 2010
1:56 pm
Yes Sir, I always thought alot of ‘ol Bob.
Bobby's Cox
January 20th, 2010
1:58 pm
What makes you believe we’re not better than last year? We had the 3rd best record in baseball after the break after benching Johnson and trading Francouer. We still have their replacements (Prado and Diaz), no longer have Norton but have Cabrera and Hinske, and have Heyward just about ready.
Glaus won’t perform worse than LaRoche in the 1st half, and if he sucks move Prado to 1st and insert Infante at 2nd.
Seriously, I don’t get the issue you with you people, and I haven’t even mentioned that I think none of you in Atlanta are seriously underrating Melky. Our bench is better, our outfield is better, our bullpen is better, and our rotation which was one of the best in baseball last year is a wash.
I’d rather throw Wager and Saito out there than unreliable Soriano and Gonzalez. What did Gonzo blow last year, like half of his saves? Please. I like what Wren has done unlike all of you people.
dap01
January 20th, 2010
2:00 pm
Thanks Jeff for a timely and accurate article. You are right, Damon would give us a legit leadoff hitter. Frank Wren needs to be called out when he says things like, “we are better” and “we are at the same payroll as last year”.
Sign Damon, we would not have to rush Heyward like we did with Schafer, and it would balance out our team.
Say it again Jeff and say it louder!
Northern Songs, Ltd.
January 20th, 2010
2:00 pm
please excuse if this has been covered but….
damon can’t throw the length of the dugout. where’s he gonna play?
he had 1 for sure and 2 ‘maybe’ hall of famers hitting in front of him. here? not so much.
the new stadium in new yawk was made for guys like him. here? not so much.
just don’t see it happening.
RW
January 20th, 2010
2:02 pm
I didn’t see it mentioned yet – WHY NOT sign Damon just for the STAR POWER? He will put additional fans in the seats. He is the best base runner. REMEMBER HIS SECOND-AND-THIRD BASE STEAL IN THE WORLD SERIES? I would love to watch him everyday.
ugaaccountant
January 20th, 2010
2:06 pm
Tony – Damon is better than Melky in every conceivable offensive category. Since we’re looking at Damon to start instead of Melky, that’s a significant upgrade.
As to his defense, I’d much rather have someone with a weak arm than someone like Loaf who couldn’t get to the ball in the first place. Besides defense is the least of the concerns I have for a corner outfielder. We’ve played Ryan Klesko there, Chipper, Loaf, etc. and it simply isn’t the most important factor for a left fielder.
Tremaine
January 20th, 2010
2:08 pm
Jeff, signing Damon makes to much sense, that’s why I think the braves will not make the move. Damon will probably end up going to the Mets and beating the braves with game-winning hits. If Damon was 40 years old and struggled last year then the braves would sign him in hopes of him recreating the magic. WHAT A JOKE THIS TEAM HAS BECOME!
ugaaccountant
January 20th, 2010
2:08 pm
Martin – We would trade Melky before Diaz. We have 2 backup plans for centerfield even without Melky – 1) Jordan Schaefer for extended time and 2) Infante for day to day fill-in work. If Melky was a great defensive or offensive player I might see your point, but Melky is very very average in nearly every category of play.
Hanks heroes 44
January 20th, 2010
2:10 pm
i don’t see how you guys can say the braves aren’t improved from last season. Glaus will help alot if hes healthy and we got a very good backup in hinski . wagner / saito is a big up grade from soriano / gonzalez. gonzo is great but overpriced he would have helped but soriano had to go he cost us the wild card spot with his late inning homer balls. And if you think the trade was vasquez for cabrera your missing the point , we got to good piching prospects in that deal. Keep your eyes on schaffer in spring training that kids got to much talent and heart he mite end up in left and leading off.
ugaaccountant
January 20th, 2010
2:16 pm
How can anyone start adjusting Damon’s power numbers (or average or sb’s) down because he was a yankee, and then do the opposite for Melky? Damon was a star in his own right when he went to the Yankees and became a complimentary player to sit between Jeter and A-rod. Someone mentioned how Damon must be getting fat pitches down the middle of the plate, which of course is proven false because his walk total is very respectable. Damon isn’t some lucky schlub who just happened to be 2nd in the Yankees lineup, he was a key piece that was just one more thing for the pitcher to worry about in that lineup.
Melky however was usually the only “easy out” in that lineup. I don’t know enough about his mental approach to say how he’ll cope with the change to a much lessor lineup, but nothing in his statline suggests he’ll improve. If i’m adjusting Damon’s power numbers down, which I am, I have to do the same for Melky. So even though Damon won’t be quite what he once was, neither will Melky.
greg
January 20th, 2010
2:18 pm
The upper management of the Braves should be embarrassed. To say that Melky and Glaus are the upgrades offensively they need especially compared to last year, and then the Frank & company need to be demoted to the minors. You are right, the Braves need a proven hitter and winner and who else fits that mold but Johnny Damon? This is Bobby Cox’s last year and if this is the year the Braves bring home another World Series, then the roster still needs improvements. Speaking of Melky, he will provide the same offense output as Anderson put up last year. And if the Braves are banking that Glaus is the answer, well to beat your 2010 season one guy that did not even play last year is stupid. This team is not built to win a World Series and please Braves personnel, read this blog!!!!
Ray Pugh
January 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
Credit–you’re one of the few people on this board that knows anything about the braves, or baseball in general. A platoon of Hinske/Diaz/Cabrera in left accomplishes the same thing Damon does, and saves us some dough to make a deadline acquisition (Adam Laroche, anyone?). Nate McLouth has a perfectly adequate OBP for a leadoff hitter, and you can expect him to have a better season as his injury has healed.
Oh, and Martin: Jeff doesn’t even know what UZR is so don’t bother using it to convince him of Damon’s suckitude…
Sluggo
January 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
The question is, what has been done to excite the ticket buying public? Keep putting more and more games on television and make it easy for me to stay home. Save on the gas, fighting the horrid Atlanta traffic, over-priced parking, over-priced food items… Do I need to keep going?
That’s the difference between franchises like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc. They have such history and tradition that the diehard fan bases will not and do not stand for mediocrity.
Kristin
January 20th, 2010
2:22 pm
The Braves do not need to rebuild around a 36 yo player. If they were already established and just wanted to add him to an already strong line up that would be one thing but come on you already have Chipper Jones.
As a Yankee fan I would LOVE for him to go back to the Red Sox!