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Johnny Damon Should Not Be an All Star
By Andrew Feingold on July 3rd, 2008 1:20 PM |
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All Star Voting ended last night and the selection show will be on Sunday at 2 P.M on TBS. Leading the AL outfield in fan votes are Manny Ramirez, Ichrio Suzuki and Josh Hamilton. After reading a Newsday article from last week and listening to Michael Kay advocating for Johnny Damon to make the team, I’m going to have a disagree. While the former Royal is having a great season, there is a current Royals outfielder who I feel is more deserving than the two-time All Star.
Player A: .320 AVG (T-6th in the AL), 6 home runs, 37 RBI, 49 runs, .387 OBP, .469 slugging, 13 stolen bases, has missed 5 games, earning $13 million
Player B: .323 AVG (T-2nd in the AL), 9 home runs, 42 RBI, 37 runs, .382 OBP, .496 slugging, 6 stolen bases, has missed 14 games, earning $2.5 million
Player A is Yankee outfielder Johnny Damon and Player B is Royals outfielder David DeJesus. Damon has two factors going for him: 1) the game is going to be played at Yankee Stadium, and 2) AL skipper Terry Francona is his former manager. He is also having a much better first half than last season where he hit .245 with 5 homeruns, 27 RBI and a .339 OBP. I could also argue that Milton Bradley, Carlos Quentin and J.D. Drew are better candidates as well. We all know Damon has been battling through a sore left arch but DeJesus has been fighting through a sore ribcage.
Like Damon, the fourth round pick out of Rutgers is the team’s lead off hitter. The 28-year-old lefty has committed 0 errors this season and has been very consistent against his division rivals. He is hitting .462 vs. the White Sox, .333 vs. the Indians and .385 vs. The Twins. On the flip side Damon is hitting .125 vs. the Red Sox and .143 .vs. the Rays.
DeJesus over his past 14 games is hitting .404 with 14 RBI. The 6-foot left fielder has a .320 average at home and .313 on the road. How is he owned in only 60% of ESPN fantasy leagues? In the month of June he hit .361, with 19 RBI and 19 runs scored. Last night he began July with 3 hits including a homerun. He is currently riding a 14-game hitting streak , hitting .463 with RISP and .345 with RISP and 2 outs.
With smaller market teams playing much better this season, it’s time to give their key contributors the credit they deserve.
“I know I’ve gone out and established myself in this game again. I think that’s what matters.” Damon said.
I couldn’t disagree more.
There are currently 3 responses to “Johnny Damon Should Not Be an All Star”
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I was just curious why you would include how much they’re getting paid. I hardly thing that has any relevance as to whether or not they should be chosen for the All-Star team.
I think they both deserve to go. If it’s one or the other I think Damon is more likely to go because of the reasons you said, it’s at Yankee Stadium and Francona was his former manager.
I am also curious as to why you brought up money.
I agree money has no relevance…just to note that DeJesus is underpaid