Aug 20
Here’s today’s wild thought: Are Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher, this season, the best pair of offensive outfielders that the Yankees have featured since Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matusi played the outfield for the team in 2004-2005?
You could make a case that this is true.
Has it really been four years since the Yankees have had a pair of outfielders who batted really well? How’d that happen?
5 Responses to “Wild Thought: Damon & Swisher 1st Yanks Dynamic OF Duo In A While?”
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August 20th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
What about Abreu/Damon last year?
.298 AVG, 37 HR, 171 RBI, 51 SB, 195 R
That’s pretty good, no?
August 20th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
MJ wrote:
Yup. They did pretty close to “batted really well” – very, very, close. But, not as good as Damon and Swisher, so far, this season.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
We had (have) so many dollars tied up in the infield that adding big outfield contracts haven’t fit. Matsui’s injuries are the other factor that diminished outfield production. The big difference to the plus side this year is Tex vs. Giambi’s infield prodcution. If A-Rod every gets cranking this infield will really rank up there near the all time greats.
Somewhat related… I was pretty sure both Damon and Matsui were gone at year-end. Now I’m not so sure. If they can each be had for Abreu-type money (5 Mill + 3 Mill in incentives), I might be tempted. Damon sometimes looks like he’s playing on a skateboard and I’ve got a better arm than him, but the whole package, fielding, running, hitting, left handed stick in this stadium, etc… at ~ 5+3….maybe so. Matsui? Maybe at 3+5 in incentives, because I just think his kness will crater at some point. The combined savings, even if we re-up both, still leaves enough scratch for another starter.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
@ #15:
I totally agree on both of them. A little less so about Godzilla tho. Hes knees are only getting worse. Still hits great tho.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I long for the days when the Yankees had OFers than could field as well as hit.