The Yankees are stacked, but Damon's absence could hurt chance of repeat

Damon didn't want to sign a new contract with New York. And, boy will he be missed in the Bronx.

The New York Yankees are the best team in baseball. They have the best lineup. Every hitter is capable of hitting 20-plus homers and batting over .280. They have one of the best pitching staffs, anchored by the trio of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte. But one departure could hurt their chances of repeating as champions: outfielder Johnny Damon, who recently signed a one-year deal worth $8 million with the Detroit Tigers.

Damon has the weakest of arms and is 36 years old, but he was such an integral part of their success. In his four years with New York, he was more than solid offensively, hitting .285 with 20-plus homer power. His final season with the team was the third-best of his career statistically. He batted .303, socked 24 homers, drove in 82 rbi’s, reached base 35 percent of the time, and scored 102 runs. With a slap-swing that has incredible whipping action through the zone, pitches were often deposited deep into the right field seats of Yankees Stadium.

Last year, New York had plenty of offense, with seven batters hitting more than 20 homers. They may have the same amount this year. But Curtis Granderson, whom the Yankees acquired this offseason to replace Damon, will have a difficult time having the same effect. Pitchers were scared of Damon in the second-hole of their lineup. He had a reputation of being a solid hitter who could get that big hit. Granderson has the 20-homer ability, has more speed than Damon, has a better arm in the outfield, and is much younger, but he doesn’t scare anyone. Especially since he’s coming off an awful year at the plate.

Granderson hit 30 homers and drove in 71 rbis. Now those are good numbers, but coupled with a .249 batting average and a measly .327 on-base percentage, his year was a forgetful one. He will steal 20-plus bases, hit over 20 homers, and drive in 60-70 runs in New York, but he’s not going to hit for average unless he completely changes his mindset at the plate. While Damon has never struck out more than 98 times in any season, Granderson has whiffed an average of 141 times in the past four seasons. And those strikeout totals won’t decrease for Granderson given the pitching in the American League and especially the American League East.

Damon had the opportunity to return to New York. The Yankees had a 2-year, $14 million offer on the table, but he turned it down, waited for a while while agent Scott Boras worked the phones, then took one less year and six less million to sign on for Detroit. He evidently didn’t want to be with New York anymore, instead deciding to end his tenure with the team on a high note and move on.

The Yankees offense will be productive. Their pitching staff will be steady. They will be near or atop the American League East division til season’s end. But one dangerous piece to their puzzle will be missing. And that missing piece alone could keep them from hoisting the World Series trophy once more, keeping them from fulfilling the goal demanded yearly by their higher-ups.