[Mid-depth_Reporter]

Yankee Stadium has seen it’s fair share of great centerfielders. Joe DiMaggio. Mickey Mantle. Maybe even Bernie Williams. They’re big shoes to fill. And when the 2006 season begins, Johnny Damon will get his chance.

Sorry Yankees’ fans.

After signing a four-year, $52 million contract, Damon will now take helm at center field in New York. Now, I don’t know if George Steinbrenner (owner of the Yankees) and Brian Cashman (GM) know this, but Johnny Damon has a weak arm for a center fielder.

Of course, the center field at Fenway is huge and although any stadium is a step down, Yankee Stadium is still very large. Do the Yankees really expect Damon to help cut down on runs?

No. Actually, it’s the opposite. They want Damon to hit and score runs, which he can do. He’s scored over 100 runs the last seven years and has a career .290 batting average – with most of his at bats coming from the leadoff spot.

This means trouble for the Yankees. Although New York scored 886 runs, second most in 2005, it also allowed 789 runs, eighth most in the league. That was with better arms in centerfield, too.

Yet, somehow, the Yankees expect need to cut down runs scored. Now, Damon does have a little more speed than Williams, but if you’re a runner looking to tag up on a ball hit to shallow center field, you’ll be glad that Damon has the ball.

Overall, the Yankees made an improvement in finding another left-handed batter to help score some runs and add depth to a Yankees batting order. However, they’ve weakened the outfield a little, giving teams more chances to score.

And that’s something Yankees pitchers can’t afford.

[BigBadBuc]

Mid-Depth,

Good point about the throwing arm of Damon. I see the Yanks taking a lot of gambles with these veteran stars. Some of them work out and some don't. If they don't, George has spent a lot of money. How good Damon is at this stage of his career remains to be seen. Four years at 52 million is a huge investment but I guess that is what a Johnny Damon commands in today's market.

BBB

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

This is something Red Sox fans have been saying for over a year. Damon needs a cutoffman just hit his own cutoffman.

[legend]

do you see thrown out by any centerfileders these days? Not many. If Damon plays up to the levels of the last few years, he will be responsible for many more runs than his poor throwing arm gives up.