Johnny Damon

Knowing GM Ken Williams as most fans do by now, he doesn't always make it easy to be a White Sox fan, but he does make it interesting. Another one of these moments could be happening as we speak. Within the past two days, MLB.com has reported that the White Sox could be the leaders for acquiring the services of Johnny Damon.

The Yankees' pitchers and catchers officially reported to Tampa, Florida today to begin spring training. The Mets will begin camp tomorrow when pitchers and catchers report in Port St. Lucie.

The Yankees come in to spring training as the defending World Series champions. As they look to repeat, some changes have been made this offseason. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Melky Cabrera are out. Curtis Granderson Nick Johnson are in. And Javier Vasquez is back.

Johnny Damon has a more than fair offer on the table from Detroit: one year for $7 million.  If that's not enough, he has a second offer from Detroit for an additional year and an additional $7 million.  He's old, he has the arm strength of an eight-year-old girl, and yet he is still not signing on the dotted line.  Detroit just isn't enough. 

Point: Yes, I hope the Tigers bring Johnny Damon in. It makes perfect sense.

Counterpoint: The Tigers might as well turn over left field to Ryan Raburn.

P: Raburn? I like Raburn as a fifth outfielder. He won't put up what Damon will.

CP: Signing Damon would make the Tigers awfully crowded with outfielders. They have Raburn, Clete Thomas, Austin Jackson, Wilkin Ramirez, Magglio Ordonez, and possibly Carlos Guillen.

CP: Forget Ramirez and Thomas. Now you are down to four guys. Guillen could play a lot at third base considering Brandon Inge's injuries.

Brett Gardner had 284 plate appearances last year, and during approximately 284 of them I was screaming at my TV begging him to bunt.

Maybe 284 sacrifices is a bit much for one season, but when you have as much speed as the Yankees' outfielder does, it makes sense to lay one down once in a while to see if you can beat the throw to first.

This is why I was pleased to learn today that the 26-year-old has practiced more bunting this offseason. Because, after all, it's hard to steal bases if you're not on base.

When I have a couple of things to write about at the same time and don't feel like making separate posts about each one, I combine them under a heading I like to call Quick Hops.

Every now and then, I get some information passed along to me. You can take the information for what it's worth to you. At this point, after all, I am just a fan of the team that enjoys sharing his thoughts about it.

So, with that disclaimer out of the way, let me pass along what I've been told.

Here we sit in the first week of 2010, and the Atlanta Braves still, seemingly, have a hole to fill in the outfield.

With a starting group currently composed of Cabrera-McLouth-Diaz (the Braves will probably end up taking the Hanson route with Heyward), you can kind of see why.

With that in mind, though, you have to think that the Braves aren't going to be looking to break the bank (sorry, no Matt Holliday ) since they could go to war with that group and be okay.

We are almost upon the New Year of 2010. A new decade is about to dawn upon us.

But, when that decade comes, the Yankees will begin it as the reigning champions of baseball.

They will also be still in search of a left fielder for the 2010 season.

Just this week, two more options went off the board for the Yankees in the left field sweepstakes.

Mark DeRosa signed a two-year, $12 million dollar deal with the San Francisco Giants.

Jason Bay signed a four-year, $66 million dollar deal with the New York Mets.

Washington DC

By Patrick Read