Different players, different outcomes

By On February 11, 2010 · 5 Comments · In Uncategorized

Former Yankees and have been news lately, but in different directions. Damon is still unemployed, and while it’s rumored that the Braves have sent him an offer and that he’s been coveting the Tigers, it is also said that he continues to hold out for a two-year deal that may never come. Wang, on the other hand, may have a team shortly, probably landing with the Nationals, but also perhaps the Dodgers. The details of Wang’s pending deal are not being discussed (as far as I’m aware) but I’ll go out on a limb and project that it will be for one year, and not a lot of money.

It’s amusing to see that Wang, not Damon, is close to having a new home. At season’s end, the day after the World Series, any Yankee fan would have predicted the opposite. Damon had completed a 126 OPS+ season (his best ever) and broke out of a slump in the ALDS to become a major contributor in the World Series. Wang, on the other hand … well he was just awful. He started the season posting numbers so bad they belonged in a comic book (I was at that 22-4 game! Editor’s note: Me too.) before going back on the DL. Just when he was regaining his form, he hurt his shoulder, an injury that scares many teams away from young pitchers.

Wang can be an amazing pitcher when he’s healthy, which is probably a large part of why he is attracting interest. Teams can always use another pitcher (except the Yankees, who have like nine possible starters), so Wang is a logical gamble. If he regains even some of his 2008 and earlier form then any team that signs Wang wins big.

The way these two players have comported themselves are also factors in the way their offseasons are playing out. Johnny Damon was supposed to remain in pinstripes. The team wanted him. He wanted them. But greed is not good, no matter what Michael Douglas says. Fans may instinctively blame Damon’s agent, Dracula … sorry, Scott Boras, but Johnny’s a big boy. It’s his responsibility to know when his agent understands what’s best for him, or not. Damon wanted another dumptruck full of money. His ego and greed are the reason he’s still unsigned. Damon is too good of a player to remain out of baseball in 2010, but Yankee fans everywhere are curious to see what deal the outfielder eventually signs.

Wang, on the other hand, announced he was just going to go about his business. He didn’t make a fuss when the Yankees parted ways with him. He didn’t rush to try to get another contract. Instead, he said he was going to focus on his rehab, and wait and see. As a result, teams seem to be coming to him. Wanting to play professional baseball, and not greed, appears to motivate him. I’ll be rooting for him to regain his form in the NL.

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5 Responses to Different players, different outcomes

  1. BomberBanter.com says:
    February 11, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    My hope is that Chien-Ming Wang regains his form in '10 and the Yankees resign him for '11 – maybe cliff lee, too! i get the feeling that the end destination for Hughes or Chamberlain isn't in the rotation. seems unlikely they'd both work out at the same time, but possible, I suppose. i like Chien-Ming a lot (lesson learned: don't use the phrase, 'i like wang' in blog comments), especially his mental toughness. the only time i think i ever saw Chien-Ming lose his temper was that walk off homer he gave up to somebody on the Nationals (ironic) a few years back when the bullpen was totally burned out (who burned out the bullpen: the other starters, torre, or both?)

    Reply
  2. Mike Jaggers-Radolf says:
    February 11, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    I also hope Wang returns to form. My moral from this story is that MLB needs more players who are mentally like him and fewer players who think like Johnny Damon. Damon, by the way, it is now being reported was offered less than $4 million from the Braves, meaning he sold himself short on the Yankees not once but twice. Let this be a lesson to prospective Boras clients everywhere.

    Reply
  3. BomberBanter.com says:
    February 11, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    It also makes me think how down teams must be on Damon's defense. if you asked me the min i thought Damon would sign for at the end of last season, i would have said 1 year, $10 million

    Reply
  4. craig.koestler+isc says:
    February 12, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    The walk off against the Nats was hit by Ryan (Z Pack) Zimmerman in his incredible Rookie season at the old Nats stadium, wherever they were playing. I was pissed when I saw that. Wang had pitched a GEM.

    Reply
  5. Mike Jaggers-Radolf says:
    February 14, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    I'm not sure that its Damon's defense that is killing his value. I think that in this new market he just doesn't play a valuable a position. Now that teams know they can cut pay on players like Damon and Abreu they're doing it. His defense certainly doesn't help, but it just aslo seems that teams are no longer willing to pay a lot, even for a single season, for an ageing corner outfielder.

    I am a huge fan of Chien-Ming. It broke my heart when his come back unwound. I thought for certain he'd refound his mojo. He really was pitching his best game when he hurt his shoulder.

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