Johnny Damon

I thought he was better than this. I thought that this time it would be more about the team, more about the fans, and more about the prestige of putting on the Yankee Pinstripes.

I was wrong.

With Johnny Damon, no matter what he said in November after helping the Yankees win the World Series, it is still only about the money.

And that is just plain stupid of Damon.

Hello once again!

Well, the hot stove fire really sparked and crackled for the Yanks during the General Managers' Winter Meetings this past week, so let's do a quick recap of the biggest deal made, so far, in this offseason.

Three Team Trade between the Yanks, D'Backs, and Tigers

Here is how it broke down for the Yanks: New York received OF Curtis Granderson from the Tigers, while shipping out Ian Kennedy to the D'Backs, and trading prospect Austin Jackson, and LHP Phil Coke, to the Tigers.

He's making a list.

Checking it twice.

Gonna find out who is terrible or nice.

Santa Cashman is coming to town, Santa Cashman is coming to town.

Yes, I am in the Christmas spirit, and the Yankees are too, because they have begun their holiday shopping.

Unlike us, who shop for December 25, Brian Cashman is shopping for next season and beyond.

Cashman had a proven center fielder with a decent contract on his list. A three-way trade for Curtis Granderson took care of that need.

News reports today have the Yankees negotiating to re-sign Johnny Damon.

Damon turned 36 years old on Nov. 5. For the past three seasons, he has had problems with his legs and feet.

Once a fearsome threat to steal bases, Damon had only 12 thefts in 2009.

Once a centerfielder with range as good as all but three or four players in the majors, Damon now is a shadow of himself on defense. 

He cannot cover the ground he once did and his throwing arm is virtually non-existent. Beginning in 2008, teams realized they could run on Damon at will.

With rumors swirling throughout the baseball world at this year's Winter Meetings, the biggest move so far has been the three team trade between the Yankees, Tigers, and Diamondbacks.

It is rumored the Yankees will receive Curtis Granderson, the Tigers will receive Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke, and Austin Jackson, and the Diamondbacks would receive Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy. 

The trade featured two big time prospects.

According to several reports published today, the Yankees are close to acquiring center fielder Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers, in a three-way deal with the Diamondbacks and Tigers, which involves the Yankees giving up Phil Coke, Ian Kennedy, and prized outfield prospect Austin Jackson.

Some things are rock solid for the New York Yankees going into the 2010 season.

To begin with they have the best infield in all of baseball both offensively and defensively.

Mark Texeira - First Base.  Robinson Cano - Second Base.  Alex Rodriguez - Third Base. Derek Jeter - Shortstop.  No need for any changes there.

Jorge Posada will back behind the plate but don't expect him to catch more than 100 games. He will DH a great deal more and they will give his aging legs a lot more rest.

While every one now is pondering why Roy Halladay is needed on the Yankees (he isn't), I want to focus on the first important deal that Brian Cashman will attempt to get done.

Creating a championship team has never been more difficult than it is now in professional sport.

Annual play-off contenders in all sports are working hard to continue the trend and make important post-season revenue to pursue or re-sign important team components.

Dave Hall will examine the most successful builders of champions in each of the major sporting leagues in a four part series.

There have been many outlandish claims made when comparing the relative merits of baseball players, but to conclude that Johnny Damon is in the same league as Derek Jeter is as graphic an example of specious reasoning as baseball fans have ever heard.

The only way to accept the claim is to facetiously state that they are in the same league because they are both American Leaguers.


It Hurts Johnny Damon's Case

To give Johnny Damon a long-term contract borders on insanity. Comparing Johnny to Derek Jeter only weakens his position.