Nah, Johnson belongs in the 2 hole. With an OBP of .400 he'd be on base plenty for Tex & A-Rod. He's not a run producer anymore but very easily a guy that can get on base and move runners over. I'm starting to come around on signing Johnson, although I think they would need to add another bench bat in case he went down.
I'm sure you can't possibly believe one word you have written there, can you? Oh wait, you probably believe Nick Johnson is the answer...why would I be surprised. While they are at it they can bring back Javier Vasquez too who is the best pitcher available by trade now that Lackey has signed and Halladay is in Philadelphia.
Cashman has had an advantage obviously being able to plug holes via free agency. But since he has started to wield more power the team has brought up a few impact pitchers in Joba and Hughes, some other valuable bullpen arms like Robertson and Aceves as well as swung trades like the Betemit for Swisher. More importantly, he has not made any dumb long term signings that would severely hurt the team in the not too distant future. Look at the Tigers, having to trade the equivalent of Cano because of the decisions to hand out long term contracts to players that aren't worth it. He's retained the core of a championship team and is poised to wait the market out to get players at his price. I can't really complain with what has transpired so far.
You're right, I can't believe that Brian Cashman has been a failure for putting together a championship team or that the Steinbrenners should take over personnel decisions. Because that's unfathomably stupid. And no, for the record I don't particularly want Nick Johnson. I want Johnny Damon back. But if Damon refuses to back down from his ridiculous demands, Johnson is pretty much the best backup plan available on the market
Curtis just introduced. Shades of Mickey, except, you know, without the degenerate gambling problem. God, I can't wait for this season to start.
Wow, you've really been reaching new troll heights (or depths) in this thread. Obviously Don realizes that he has no respect or credibility on these boards, as evidenced by his "Least Knowledgeable Consequence Of Incest" Award that he wears so proudly. At this point he's just posting illogical, argumentative, just-plain-dumb statements in order to annoy and agitate (hey, whatever helps get you through the day). Anyone trying to provide an intelligent counter-point is wasting their time and mental energy.
My problem would be having the slowest man on the club in the #2 spot, in front of Tex and Alex. I don't like my doubles to end in exciting plays-at-the-plate. :wink: I'm pretty sure Granderson's OBP will go up hitting in front of Tex anyway. And Swisher's OBP isn't anything to laugh at. My big problem with him is his terrible ability to hit with RISP. Holy crap. Betemit for Swisher is genius in hindsight. I didn't even recall that Betemit was traded for Swisher. Don, you know I like you, and I try not to get on your case like most people, but damn man. This post was just terrible. The Yankees have only lost Matsui from the World Series winning team so far (and that's not a huge loss when you factor in that we got a lot better defensively in the outfield by getting Granderson) and if Damon doesn't return it would be the only other WS winner not returning. To say the Yankees are not still the team to beat in baseball going into 2010 is just unfathomable to me.
Yankees move closer to signing Johnson as DH (Source) The Yankees and Nick Johnson are moving toward a one-year deal for the left-handed hitter to be the club?s DH, and it could be announced Friday morning. Asked today by The Post if there was deal to be announced, Brian Cashman said, ?Not at this moment.?? Johnson has drawn interest from the Mariners and Giants to play first base, a position that isn?t available to him as a Yankee because Mark Teixeira is entrenched there. However, the chance to return to the Yankees, who picked Johnson in the third round of the 1996 draft and dealt him to Montreal in December 2003, is enticing to him. Johnson, 31, would replace Hideki Matsui, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Angels. Johnson batted .291 with eight homers and 62 RBIs in 133 games for the Nationals and Marlins last year and had an impressive on-base percentage of .426. A career .273 hitter, Johnson hits lefties (.292) better than righties (.266) and sports a .402 on-base percentage. Considering Johnson?s extensive injury history -- he missed all of the 2000 and 2007 seasons and appeared in 73 games in 2004 and was out for 63 games in 2003 -- the contract is expected to include incentive clauses. Johnson made $5.5 million a year ago and fits into the Yankees? budget. If Johnny Damon doesn?t return, Johnson could hit second between Derek Jeter and Teixeira, although his lack of speed is a detriment in that spot of the order. His power numbers should spike playing 81 games in Yankee Stadium.
I'd much rather see Damon back. And I'd be upset if the Yankees let Matsui go because they wanted to wait out the Damon negotiations, only to jump on Johnson less than a week later. But I guess if they do sign Johnson it means that they're certain that they can't work something out with Damon and they're moving on to plan B. It still sucks, I'd rather have Matsui back. By the way, just watch Damon end up back in Boston. It wouldn't surprise me in the least.
Either way it's a win-win. Johnson is an OBP machine and Damon offers power and flexibility in the field. Imagine if the Yanks sign both Nick and Damon (NOT LIKELY) SS: Jeter LF: Damon 1B: Teixera 3B: Rodriguez 2B: Cano C: Posada CF: Granderson RF: Swisher DH: Johnson C: Cervelli OF: Gardner OF: Hoffman OF: Cabrera UTLI: Pena
looks like the deal is going to be for about $5.5M (Source), less than Matsui and about half of what Damon is looking for. 1 year deal, can't complain one bit. Jeter, SS (R) Johnson, DH (L) Teixeira, 1B (S) Rodriguez, 3B (R) Granderson, CF (L) Posada, C (S) Cano, 2B (L) Swisher, RF (S) Cabrera, LF (S) Could switch Cano & Swisher, Granderson & Posada, depends on what you like. I like Granderson in front of Posada because it should give Posada more opportunities to drive in runs with Granderson's speed in front of him
I love the deal this is just the kind of guy we would like to have, if he is healthy at the moment I invision the yankee lineup like this Jeter Cano/Cabrera/Granderson-if he hits for a higher avg Tex Arod Johnson Granderson Posada Swisher Cabrera
I think jim thome, carlos delgado, vlad guerrero, troy glaus, and xavier nady are all still available. the yanks should look into who is the cheapest of these guys to platoon with johnson against RHSP and for insurance in case he gets hurt. (he is ridiculously injury prone).
I can't believe Johnny isn't coming back. He's going to find out what Abreu found out last year...when the big players shore up their needs, the market just isn't there. I like Johnson. A signing I'd really like to see to fill the power bat off the bench role that Hinske had last year is Jack Cust. His defense is shit but he'll hit a lot of home runs to that short porch.
Nick Johnson signed, huh? How Cashman like...maybe they'll get 80 games a year from him. Pathetic, just pathetic...I'm sure Cappy is in lala land over it though. 5.5 million but they couldn't give the WS MVP 6.5..again, how typically Cashman...Steinbrenners must be on vacation.
