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    Big League Stew

    Johnny Damon and his 2,723 hits are still homeless

    By 'Duk | Big League Stew – Wed, Feb 15, 2012 12:10 PM EST

    "Say, B.J., think you can get Friedman's ear for a sec?" (AP)With position players set to hit spring training next week, Johnny Damon still finds himself among a group of aging stars who don't have gigs for 2012.

    And unlike Vladimir Guerrero or Hideki Matsui, the shape of his aging body isn't the main concern. Rather, it's said that Damon's close proximity to 3,000 career hits is part of what's scaring teams away from what would otherwise be a valuable piece for depth: A veteran left-handed presence who can steal an occasional base and still play the outfield.

    In a Wednesday morning column, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that Damon's decreased plate discipline as he swings away in an attempt to collect 277 more hits is scaring away potential suitors, including the New York Yankees.

    Executives from three teams that had interest in Damon expressed concerns a fixation with 3,000 has diminished an attribute that greatly contributed to the perception of Damon as a winning player: patient, tough at-bats. And statistics appear to confirm the criticism.

    Damon's batting average dropped 10 points from 2010 to 2011, but his on-base average fell a more dramatic 29 points to .326 from .355, his career average entering last year. His walk percentage fell to 7.9 per 100 plate appearances after he had averaged 10.7 over the previous five years, never falling below 10.0.

    Sherman's take is far from a mid-February tabloid fodder fueled by the observations of one anonymous scout. DRaysBay was on Damon's newfound impatience as early as late last July and Damon's plate discipline page on Fangraphs backs it all up.

    At the same time, it'd be folly to suggest that Damon won't pick up a job for this season. He still has more to offer than some of the other bats out there and it's unlikely he'll give up his quest for 3,000 just because his role or salary won't be what he might have envisioned them to be.

    Pitchers and catchers report this week, so don't miss a beat ...
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    • wassup, wassup, wassup
      wassup, wassup, wassup  •  Kansas City, Missouri  •  2 months ago
      Boston can thank Damon for singlehandedly WINNING the world series for them.
    • TroyS
      TroyS  •  Kirksville, Missouri  •  3 months ago
      It would be cool to see him have his 1st and 3,000th hit in a Royals uniform.
      • Alpo
        Alpo 3 months ago
        No way, Damon has always been a jerk, going back to his Royals days.
      • Kirk
        Kirk 3 months ago
        Alpo you are way off... Have you ever spoken to him? Did he not sign your kid#$%$
      • wassup, wassup, wassup
        wassup, wassup, wassup 2 months ago
        That's where he started. That would be cool. I've watched many a game with Damon in a Royal uniform.
    • Darkstar1011
      Darkstar1011  •  3 months ago
      I think the media is being a bit over dramatic yet again. I seriously doubt too many, if any, teams are not signing Damon because they're afraid he'll start swinging wildly at every friggin' pitch. He'll get signed.
      • Mike
        Mike 3 months ago
        You are exactly right. The article and the excuse are both total baloney
    • Jeffrey
      Jeffrey  •  3 months ago
      The A's got David Justice the year they won 21 in a row. Johnny looks like Justice and could help a team with leadership.
      • The real emcee
        The real emcee 3 months ago
        20* I'm a stickler for baseball records, what can I say?
    • Paul K
      Paul K  •  Austin, Texas  •  3 months ago
      Is that his gut?
      • Ethan K
        Ethan K 3 months ago
        off season Twinkies and chocolate milk!!
      • Athena
        Athena 3 months ago
        Either that or a colostomy bag.
      • DonaldG
        DonaldG 3 months ago
        colonoscopy bags are attached to the left side.
    • Martha
      Martha  •  Flint, Michigan  •  3 months ago
      I'd give him the league minnimum in a minute but 277 hits from a part time player?? He would have to bat over 500 to do it this year.
      • Peter
        Peter 3 months ago
        Hello, i am not a big baseball fan, but when was the last time anyone had 277 hits in a season........must be in politics.
      • Wolfhounds27
        Wolfhounds27 3 months ago
        Petere is right....when was the last time someone had more then 250 hits in a season?
        This is at least a two year contract. And remember Scott Boros is his agent.
      • Ben
        Ben 3 months ago
        Last time was 2004, when Ichiro had 262. But obviously, Damon is no Ichiro.
    • dave m
      dave m  •  Branson, Missouri  •  3 months ago
      Has Damon developed an off season gut?
    • Lee
      Lee  •  Irvine, California  •  3 months ago
      I'm thinking it's the beer belly.
    • Dave
      Dave  •  Wallingford, Connecticut  •  3 months ago
      I hope he gets picked up and that he can get to that 3000 mark. Every player dreams of that opportunity and with it in reach, why shouldnt he have the same chance as all the other aging players who were that close? Gwynn, Boggs etc.. all played that extra year just to get that mark. He showed last year he can still play the game.
    • poppafly
      poppafly  •  Randolph, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      I see him in an Oakland uniform.
    • Bonzopookie
      Bonzopookie  •  Boston, Massachusetts  •  3 months ago
      for a minute, I thought it was John Daley in the photo!
    • TODDR
      TODDR  •  Springfield, Missouri  •  3 months ago
      Cmon Epstein what have you got to lose?
    • Kevin Ealey
      Kevin Ealey  •  Nashville, Tennessee  •  3 months ago
      He can play someone sign the boy I mean if he gets 277 hits he is bound to drive in some runs
    • xxyz
      xxyz  •  Scranton, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
      Is that a bad camera angle?
    • sugar
      sugar  •  Springfield, Missouri  •  3 months ago
      st.louis who likes older players will get him.
    • Ken
      Ken  •  New Philadelphia, Ohio  •  3 months ago
      Johnny absolutely fits with Yankees.. see Jete's 3000th watch Johnny's expression and eyes during post hit celebration. Possibly only Posada and Mo expressed more passion.He would certainly be a clubhouse as well as liineup asset. For all his time in Boston no one has more love for the "Pinstripes."
    • kdc
      kdc  •  Dover, New Hampshire  •  3 months ago
      nice gut!!
    • Contrary to the point
      Contrary to the point  •  Southfield, Michigan  •  3 months ago
      Seems like he'd be a perfect fit for a team not really going somewhere and needing a reason for fans to come out for. I doubt his batting discipline would be that diminished as its part of his effectiveness. And he'd be the perfect hitting mentor to a rising young player.
    • Angelo Bepp
      Angelo Bepp  •  3 months ago
      2,723 hits.......wow. that makes the134 hits Bugs Mantogianovelli has seem small. Never heard of this Damon before. What gang was he associated with?
    • Steve
      Steve  •  3 months ago
      I would just like to take this (and any other) opportunity to say ... screw the Yankees.
     Post a comment

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