New Center Fielder

A lot of you have been laughing (uh, ROB) over the fact that the Yankees signed Johnny Damon to play CF.  I will admit, I wasn’t in a big hurry to get him.  But the more I think about this, the more I’m warming up to this.

Damon was the one who said he wouldn’t chase the highest offer.  Then again, he also has Scott Boras as his agent, and he’s not exactly known for getting his clients mediocre contracts.  If Red Sux fans want to be mad at him, that’s they’re problem.  Again, it’s their ownership who didn’t go the extra mile to keep him.  He got basically the same deal as what Matsui got, which I can live with.  The seven year deal Boras was calling for would have been insane.  So the Yankees got a centerfielder and leadoff guy for less than the Tigers spent on Magglio Ordonez last year.

With Bernie signing a 1 year deal for $1.5 million, he can fill the DH slot.  So going into 2006, the Yankees lineup looks something like this:

CF     Damon
SS     Jeter
3B     A-Rod
RF     Sheffield
1B     Giambi
LF     Matsui
C     Posada
DH     Williams
2B     Cano

I’m liking the looks of this.  A-Rod, Sheffield, Giambi, and Matsui can be shuffled in any order you want, since they all have power and good OBPs.  You can flip Bernie & Cano if you want, but since we’re talking about 8-9, it really doesn’t make that much of a difference.

Last year, our CF had average speed and no arm.  Now we’ve got one with good speed and no arm.  Yes, I agree that Rickey Henderson’s arm is just as good as Damon’s.

Are there still some big questions in the starting rotation?  Yeah, being more excited about Wang and Aaron Small doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.  But the bullpen has been overhauled (completely) except for the Hammer of God (Tony Kornheiser’s phrase)—Mariano Rivera.

By no means do I think this wraps up a division or anything.  However, they are better with him in center than Bernie.  Williams served the team well, but the last couple of years his range had just diminished way too much to be effective.  And while Damon will likely be remembered for his stint with the Red Sux, he spent the firs 6 years of his career in KC, so it’s not like he came through their system.  All in all, I think this is a pretty good mood at what’s almost a bargain price for George.

So nah-na-nah-na-nah-na.