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
dawgrific
January 21st, 2010
11:51 am
Come on now, that Diaz blunder was awful, but he was HUGE in getting us into contention, and I love his “blood and guts” effort on the field. I think he is WAY underrated as a hitter, and yes, he does strikeout too much, but he also has a great deal of “pop” in his bat.
screw foam tamohawks, lets bring in real ones
January 21st, 2010
11:51 am
following the previous rant, Damon leading off in front of Chipper and Yuni would be a fun thing to watch, a run thing to watch!
Robert
January 21st, 2010
12:40 pm
“Damon would give the Braves a professional hitter, a good teammate and a player that would help put behinds in seats”
Greg Norton meets those definitions as well. (sort of). He gets paid to play, and part of his duty involves taking hold of a bat and standing at home plate (I hesitate to call it hitting). And the Nortons attend 20+ games a year
Johnny Damon is NOT a bad ballplayer. But he is not the answer. His offense is overrated, and the only thing he really brings, which is his fiery style, would immediately be stymied by Donk in the Dugout
The Braves could find a noodle armed player with a career OPS of 105 for a lot fewer greenbacks than it would take to sign Damon
No. Ga. Bob
January 21st, 2010
12:56 pm
This was suggested weeks ago. But of course suggestions are not good unless they come from someone else. He lives in Orlando within throwing distance of the Brave’s
training park. Also weeks ago he said on WWE that he didn’t know where he would be playing but it wouldn’t be NY. Are you still with me newspaper man? In case you don’t watch WWE, they have a guest manager each week and that was why he was on the show. (Maybe you should cover wrestling also!)
VoiceOfSanity
January 21st, 2010
1:25 pm
We all pretty much seem to be in agreement. Damon’s a good player. Not what Atlanta needs.
datominator
January 21st, 2010
1:41 pm
Good Lord, how many times would I have to spit out my drink watching Damon’s throws back to the infield cutoff man bounce 20 times before getting there? Any run production he gives HAS to be discounted alongside the runs he would give up with men taking the extra base on him at every opportunity, no threat of getting thrown out on tags, etc. For the money he is going to want, even coming off his original demands?? NO THANK YOU
Mike D-O-double G
January 21st, 2010
2:03 pm
We’re going to s**k more ball than RuPaul this year
Jason W.
January 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
I got a kick when you said a legitimate leadoff hitter and Furcal together in the same statement. While with the Braves, his numbers did not indicate that he should have been a leadoff hitter. Just because he runs like a horse doesn’t qualify him to hit first in the lineup. If you remember, after he left, the FO thought it was fine to put Giles up top since Furcal’s OBP wasn’t typical for a leadoff hitter. It wasn’t until he played for the Dodgers that he started to try to hit the ball into the ground instead of swinging for the fences each time out
MR2NOLE
January 21st, 2010
3:06 pm
Hey Jeff Frank just called me and said if you would donate your salary, they could sign Damon, Balls in your court big man
Robert
January 21st, 2010
4:05 pm
“It wasn’t until he played for the Dodgers that he started to try to hit the ball into the ground instead of swinging for the fences each time out”
It wasnt until he played for the Dodgers that he had a manager who knew anything about baseball.
Coincidence? Methinks not
rico43
January 21st, 2010
4:07 pm
A theory, Jeff: Both Damon and Nady are waiting for the Yankees to make a final decision about left field; one or the other seems likely, only price is an issue. The man left standing will basically be out of options and could be had at the Braves’ price. I know Nady is not a leadoff man, but I can live with less-than-perfect fit at No. 1 if that power were added.
Discontent
January 21st, 2010
5:12 pm
Wren and the Braves were very clear last year that this was a two year process – last year they were going to fix pitching and this year they would get a big bat. I don’t see that yet – Glaus has some potential but he isn’t the “big bat” promised. If the Braves don’t get Damon or another good bat consider me done with the Braves. Promises and trust violated.
mmck
January 21st, 2010
5:27 pm
Let’s bring back Greg Norton! We could afford him!! Ha!!!
George
January 21st, 2010
6:14 pm
This team is NOT better regardless of what Mr. Wren says. However by Mid-June it will all be over for the Braves (remember the 70″s?) and we can all move on or continue to live in the 90″s when the organization stood for something.
Kevin
January 21st, 2010
8:22 pm
I think the team is better than last year. I would like to see one more OF, however Damon doesnt look like a fit too me, Nady, yes. I prefer someone who has put up numbers without any help vs someone who needs Arod, jeter and Tex behind them.
But come on people this team is better: there is no way that Lowe (Lets not forget Hudson 1st year wasnt good either) plays as bad as he did last year again, same for chipper. Glaus will be good if healthy and be a good player splittling up chipper and mccann in the lineup. Wagner didnt look like he was hurt when nearly had 2-to1 k ratio.
I would rather not sign anyone, and make a trade midseason like how we got McClouth. Dont sign someone cause their the best available.
Tweets that mention Braves need to make run at Johnny Damon | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
January 21st, 2010
8:34 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeff Schultz, Brett. Brett said: Should the Braves go after Johnny Damon? http://bit.ly/8aMejT #braves #mlb [...]
paulie
January 21st, 2010
9:46 pm
Pitching is the braves strength.If Lowe and Wagner have big years,the braves will be right in the mix. I like Damon,buy I don’t think he would be the same player away from the Yankees.
robert i
January 21st, 2010
11:06 pm
there’s nowhere for damon fit in! u can’t play him over Mclouth (08′ all star), u can’t play him over diaz(too much value on the dollar), and HEYWARD! (REALLY!!!) i don’t understand what all the talks about honestly!? Damon’s average at best and old (36). This team is much stronger than last yr. at this time. chipper and Glaus 130-140games each and the braves win the division! Heyward, rookie of the yr., escobar, all star! best staff in the league! if that’s not enough, third most saves all time? Billy Wagner. 385!
Braves Win, then what? No one shows...
January 21st, 2010
11:11 pm
yes, spend the money on damon. Then maybe make the post season. Then fail to sell out a post season home game. The Braves have done it before, they will continue to do it. I don’t blame the Braves for being cheap. No one cared when the braves WERE good, and WERE spending the money. So why should the Braves look to increase payroll when there is history that Atlanta is mostly indifferent when it comes to the Braves attendance? The answer? It makes terrible business sense.
Spare me the “I’m a huge Braves fan and I go to the games” nonsense, because if that is true than Turner Field wouldn’t look so pathetic (other than games versus the Mets, Cubs, Red Sox, or Dodgers). You could drown in the empty seats! Sad too, because you don’t see that in New York, Philly, or Boston. but, hey, at least the Braves outdraw the Marlins, right?
Stop complaining about the payroll, please. It is what it is. Either you support the team as a fan or you don’t. And if you are pissed off about the payroll thing, then show up to Turner Field. Holy crap, you can get tix for next to nothing anyway. It is a far cry from New York, Boston or even Philadelphia (where it truly IS EXPENSIVE to attend games).
Bravesfan101
January 22nd, 2010
12:46 am
I hate to say it but the way the roster looks now it doesn’t look like a playoff roster the braves need to make a few more moves. The braves need another power bat maybe Jermaine Dye in left field could work. I would say even signing Orlando Hudson would be a good idea to play second base him and prado can platoon that position.
scottbravesfan
January 22nd, 2010
2:48 am
Actually the people on MLB Network think that the Braves have gotten a lot better as well. Not sure where you get your information.
Robert
January 22nd, 2010
6:01 am
Once the offense proves to be non-productive what deals will Wren make? I hear the Royals have a OF in A ball that hit .175. They would probably take three starters for him.
dpelfrey
January 22nd, 2010
8:53 am
You’re oversimplifying things Jeff. They’re actually replacing Vazquez/Gonzalez/Soriano with Glaus/Cabrera/Wagner/Saito/Hudson. This offseason was always about moving from a surplus (pitching) to get more payroll flexibility and add more offense to balance this team out. And Wren did that without committing to any potentially disastrous long-term contracts. Do I think this current team is better than the one from Aug/Sept of last year…no, but that was a very good team. But you can’t argue that they’re a hell of a lot better than the April/May team from last year. Would you have rather Wren sign Gonzalez or Soriano to 3-year deals and sink over $40 million into those two balky arms? Or trade Lowe instead of Vazquez and end up paying $5 million per year to another team towards his contract. Wren made shrewd decisions this offseason. I thought last year he was foolish to sink $90 million into Lowe & Kawakami. He didn’t repeat the same mistake this year, which is a good thing with the crop of talent at or near the major league level.
That said, I would love to see them add Damon for a one-year deal under $5 million, but realistically the Yankees will scoop him up before the Braves do. I like your conclusion, just don’t buy your reasoning though. Simply comparing the 2009 seasons of Vazquez/Soriano/Gonzalez to Glaus/Wagner/Cabrera should make one cringe. But like I said, that’s an oversimplification and a bit misleading in my opinion.
dpelfrey
January 22nd, 2010
8:55 am
Oh, and I forget another part of the equation…subtract Norton…add Hinske.
Can I get a HELL YEAH!!!!!
VoiceOfSanity
January 22nd, 2010
9:09 am
On the subject of a “big bat”, maybe Frank Wren was speaking of getting a player who hits with the biggest bat. That’s about all that I can see.
Art
January 22nd, 2010
9:12 am
And KC signs Rick Ankiel for $3.25 mil. Braves where were you?
Will
January 22nd, 2010
9:34 am
Here is key the braves are not the big boppers that everyone wants you see the Phillies and their Power and want the same. Yes it works but remember last year the braves are a single doubles squad Mac Chipper a little from MClouth are the power guys throw a little Excobar’s way as well. They Need a first to 3rd guy and DAMON fits that bill. How well do you think Prado will hit with Damon in front remember Damon was still facing some good pitching in the AL East. dropping Mclouth in the order will help him like it did for escobar. I like the Glaus Pickup if he can stay healthy and Hinske is a plug in from time to time his career high was 20 homers thats with 500+ at bats in 2008. The pitching is there and we are really set but come on if we had Offense it would bring it together
Will
January 22nd, 2010
9:37 am
Rick Ankiel? No way I would have signed that guy check his OBP and strikeout totals
DC Bravesfan
January 22nd, 2010
9:40 am
I say go for it, he’s a proven winner, and this team needs that. Noodle arm and all. If we were able to make due with GA as a defensive liability last year, we can do the same with Damon, and get more of an offensive spark.
stew
January 22nd, 2010
10:02 am
I agree that 2 years ago Melky looked like a very good lead off batter. But since then he hasn’t really shown much. Matty shouldn’t be crucified for his blunder last year but rather for the fact that he is just a punch and judy hitter who hits for average with not a lot of hrs, rbis, and runs scored. In addition, he’s a poor defensive outfielder who’s got a lot heart and a lot of limitations. For left field we needed a power righty bat. Three primo candidates would have been free agents Holliday and Bay and via trade Braun. No one else really fits the bill. Why did Rochy reject the Giants offer of 2 years and 17 mill for 1 year and 6 mill with the D-Backs. Is he retarded or something throwing away 11 mill for what D-Backs suck? Why couldn’t we keep him for 1 year at that rate without blocking Freddie? If Glaus hits 20 hrs this year and we resign him won’t he be blocking Freddie?
Jared
January 22nd, 2010
10:07 am
I’m just amazed at how many of you “fans” either need some “star-power” to get out to the park to see “your” team, or just refuse to go with lame excuses like traffic and ticket prices. You can get $10 tickets for games all day long. Eat at the Varsity before you get there and the most you’ll need is peanuts and a coke (another $10.) Add $10 for parking and you’re at a whopping $30. You’ll spend almost as much at a movie. You can’t touch Cubs or Red Sox tickets for less than $75 or so.
Give me a break with the excuses and go see the team play. You’re part of the problem.
JeanE
January 22nd, 2010
10:18 am
Jeff, I usually agree with you but not this time: you want that noodle armed Damon in Left? We already had that with Garrett “Loaf” Anderson and that didn’t work out so well, why would be try again with Damon? He needs to go DH in the AL, we need a real left fielder, and we’ve got one in Matt “Caveman” Diaz! He hit well in leadoff when given the limited opportunity last season, stick him there again & see how it goes. I agree, McLouth isn’t ideal at leadoff but adding the over the hill Damon isn’t the answer. Damon isn’t the final piece that is gonna lift this team to the next level, forget that. That’s a big “No” on Damon.
ZacheryGoldsmith
January 22nd, 2010
11:41 am
Who the Braves need is Adam LaRoche. LaRoche would put up much better numbers than Johnny Damon any day. The Braves dont need to make a run at Johnny Damon. Damon is washed up and is close to retirement. Why do we need to sign a guy who is just about ready for the glue factory. Damon should apply for a job at Baskin Robbins. We had a strong bat in the lineup in Adam LaRoche, we let him go and now we come to find out that we needed him after all.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
January 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm
Luis Durango…….of course the fans on the outside of the game have no idea who he is. Nor do the writers at the AJC.
As for Johnny Damon, no thank you sir. His numbers last season were the product of Derek Jeter batting in front of him while Teixeira, and A-Roid cleaned up. Not to mention that sweet short porch in right field that Damon had to shoot at while playing in the new Yankee Stadium.
koolmap
January 22nd, 2010
12:55 pm
check out this website. it has the braves projected payroll for next season and it looks about right. i did the math and it adds up to 87,266,666 and if you add scott proctor contract it adds up 88,016,666 so for you guys that want damon, theres not much they could offer him
http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=1816
Robert
January 22nd, 2010
4:41 pm
It’s been taken down, but for a few minutes at least, there was an absolutely PRICELESS photo above the ‘Meet the newest 2010 Braves’ headline on the Braves front page
In said photo, Bobby Cox was visible in the background. His facial expression – well, I havent seen that facial expression since they televized the medal ceremonies at the Special Olympics
Here’s another good one – Caption this photo
http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/sports/braves/braves-reds-0904/
Umpire – Bobby, settle down boy. You know I gotta kick you out if you take a leak on the field
Cox – heee HAWWWWWW! HEEEEEEEE hawwwwww! Hee hee haw haw HAW hee haaaaaaaw!
Robert
January 22nd, 2010
4:46 pm
The Braves actually have a championship caliber player roster right here, right now
ALL they need to do is make one move.
One example of addition (nay – multiplication even) by subtraction.
Get rid of Cox, and this team goes places.
Mark my words. Braves win ten games or more fewer than they should in 2010. Braves miss the playoffs in 2010. Braves become World Series Champions in 2011 (unless Cox chnages his mind and manages again in ‘11)
Mark my words.
Robert
January 22nd, 2010
6:35 pm
http://www.ajc.com/multimedia/dynamic/00368/214936_Braves_Gluas_368006g.jpg
HOW do you get that expression on Cox’s face? I mean, was he
a) remembering getting a gold medal at the Special Olympics
b) savoring the taste of something he mined out of his left nostril
c) trying to fit BOTH thumbs into his rectum at the same time
or d) making the call to bring Dan Kolb in from the bullpen
Personally, I dont think that particular facial expression is possible unless one has a few extra or missing chromosomes
Steve
January 22nd, 2010
9:17 pm
Damon is a joke who is past his prime. I would rather move Chipper back to LF and Prado to 3b and sign hudson ANY DAY. Why is everyone so in love with Johny effin Damon? If not for Yankees field last year his numbers would be about equal with Ryan Church .. and Church plays defense like Willie Mays when compared to Damon.
Some folks on page 3 get it. Others seem to be mired in baseball ignorance.
1) The Braves have a very limited budget. They are actually spending less now than when Scheurholz was around, while many other teams have significantly upped their spending. You can’t just have every player you want.
2) There is a reason Damon is still out there. He is an overpriced, overhyped, aging OF that can’t field a lick. Not one iota in the field folks.
3) Diaz is an absolute
Steve
January 22nd, 2010
9:26 pm
3) Dias is an absolute stud hitter and great force int eh clubhouse because he plays hard and also has fun. David says he has a 3-1 K/BB ratio. Who effin cares!!! He had less than 100 k’s last year while hitting .313 with an OBP of .390 … or in better term ..
AN OBP 25 POINTS HIGHER THAN DAMON!!!
Anyone thinking Damon is a good idea is an absolute baseball MORON.
ARE YOU READING THIS DAVID??? Diaz is better defensively than Damon (so is a lemming) and his OBP far surpassed that of Damon, not just last year, but his career OBP is even better than Damon, who is now well past his prime.
Damon is a major mistake. Orlando Hudson is really no better as a leadoff hitter with his .357 OBP. none of those are OBP’s any better than Nate McLouth who has better power and is a bigger threat on the bases at this stage. Here is an idea. Yunel had a .377 OBP last year and can run a bit .. why not put him at leadoff followed by either McLouth or Prado?
Robert
January 23rd, 2010
1:32 pm
Some thoughts
Johnny Damon – A good ballplayer, but vastly overrated. Guys like this can do well on star-packed teams. Put them on a lesser team and they tend to fizzle. Put them under an idiot manager, and they can stink up the joint.
McClouth, Escobar, and Diaz – Not one of em is even close to being a true leadoff hitter. Yet all are better than Damon at this point
Billy Wagner – 37 used to be a bedeviling age for closers. Maybe not any more. Limited numbers from last year arent discouraging. I dont worry because of his age or his arm. I worry because Wagner will now be pitching for an idiot manager. Of course this would be true for any relief pitcher
There’s no right relief pitcher to go get when your manager is an idiot. The only antidote is to have three guys (like Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz in their primes). In that case, you have the batboy help Cox write in the pitchers name in the 9 hole, then have the clubhouse trainer change Cox’s diaper, and then wake him up when the game is over
Dawgs88
January 23rd, 2010
2:53 pm
Wrong again Schultz, he’s too old and expensive. I think the AJC needs to take a run at getting some good sports writers.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
January 25th, 2010
2:36 pm
The only way the Braves should make a run at that geezer is if he’s walking across the road and they are driving a truck
Don
January 26th, 2010
11:47 am
What difference does any of this make? After all Bobby Cox is still the Manager. And regardless of what offensive changes you make, the only way you are going to win with Cox is to have Pitching so far far superior to the other teams that it overcomes Cox’s management. Although our Pitching is probably going to be good, it is not going to be great enough to win with Cox – expecially after Vazquez leaving.
Don
January 26th, 2010
11:50 am
Is it true that even though TBS can no longer carry baseball full time, they are going to carry all the Braves games (with Cox managing) as a “Comedy Show”?
AG
January 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
First, Schultz did his job by writing an article that provided three pages worth of people’s opinions. If you weren’t interested in what was being written, don’t read the article and subsequently post about it…
Second, if Damon was willing to work for 4 million a year, he would already have signed with the Yankees.
I think a lot of people forget that we were as good as the Phillies for the second half of the year once Prado became our starting 2B, McLouth and LaRoche were traded for. Prado and McLouth are here for the entire first half of the season and Glaus is here in place of half a season of LaRoche (with more power). Hudson (Mr. Consistent) is here in place of Vasquez (Mr. Last Season was my Best EVER). Lowe can’t pitch any worse and Chipper can’t hit any worse. The only place where we might be worse off is in the bullpen.
All that being said, anyone who thinks we aren’t at least as good as we were last year is a little misguided. Additionally, anyone we put in LF is going to be better than Garrett Anderson was the first half of last year.
Are we primed to make it to the World Series, no. But I will say, we’ve got a very good chance to make it to the Postseason in a year in which we can await the development of two of the best positional prospects to come through our system in awhile: Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward.
PS Mark my words, the Braves will look like geniuses in 3-4 years with the trade of Vazquez. The pitching prospect we received is young but grades out as a frontline starter.
Brent
January 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
Please, no. He was past his sell-by date when the Yankees signed him in 2006. He’s four years older, at least a step slower, and has one of the worst throwing arms in baseball. If the Braves are interested in overpaying for over-the-hill free agents they should re-sign Glavine and Smoltz.
MikeT
January 27th, 2010
7:07 pm
Is Wren even trying??? This cannot be our team.
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