Brian Cashman has made it clear that he’s not going to give Hideki Matsui an inflated contract based on his small sample exploits in the World Series. Good on him! We’d welcome Godzilla back on a one-year deal for significantly less than the $13mil he made last year. But, the safe assumption is that some team will offer more money and/or years, and the Yankees will need to fill a vacant DH spot.
The two best hitters of the free agent class are Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. Both will be roaming left field somewhere on multi-year contracts with $15mil+ AAVs. However, the third best hitter available can likely be had on a much cheaper, one to two year deal for well under $10mil per. That man is Nick ‘The Stick” Johnson, and he should be the next Yankee DH.
Stick is an on-base machine, having just completed his fourth consecutive season with an OBP over .400. His BB/K is perennially elite, which softens the decline in his age curve (he’ll be 32 next year). He gives the Yankees the left-handed bat they must have at DH in the new stadium. His power is likely to rise simply by returning to career norms, and the move from Washington/Florida to the Bronx will help that along. His brittle bones and consequent performance will benefit from not having to play the field. Plus, given his injury history, you’d think he’d be fine with being rested semi-frequently and only playing in 120-125 games, thus allowing the Yankees’ old men to fill in/get semi-rest when he’s not playing. He has a slight reverse platoon split for his career, so he can’t be LOOGYed in high leverage situations (unlike some other new Yankees).
The pinstripes will disguise his doughy midsection, and his uncanny resemblance to Private Pile will intimidate the more cinematically astute pitchers of the American League…
Sign The Stick!
Between these two athletic speed demons, Nick Johnson wins the race for DH.
28 Comments
VUYanks December 9, 2009 22:39
Good idea!
Chesser December 9, 2009 22:44
I fully support this move…and I look forward to cringing every time he runs the bases in fear that his legs will spontaneously disintegrate into a thousand small pieces.
Brian December 9, 2009 23:30
i salivate over this idea
perfect hitter for our two hole
think about how many times would he and Jeets would be on base to start an inning
Chip December 9, 2009 23:54
Not to mention that he was about a .200 ISO player for his career until he had wrist surgery and dropped back to .114 last season. I’d imagine that he’ll go back up to his career norms with a full offseason to recover. Also, he’s crushed fastballs throughout his career, imagine how many he’ll get with Jeter on first and Tex/A-Rod sitting on deck
steve December 10, 2009 00:17
I’m down with NJ but I feel kinda funny about having high OBP guy and not a strike out machine 30 homer guy in there I don’t know if I can adjust to a 100 walk 80 K DH. I guess I will just have to deal if this happens at least he is fat and slow so it won’t be too big a change.
Neal December 10, 2009 00:40
Terrible Idea, on base% is a wildly over-rated stat especially when you hit for no power and can not run. Not to mention Nick Johnson’s complete inability to stay on the field. He gets hurt and takes forever to heal.
Rob A from BBD December 10, 2009 02:21
Adding injury prone players makes me scared. Plus Johnson looks like he’s about 54 years old now.
leutbneot December 10, 2009 03:23
“Neal says:
December 10, 2009 at 12:40 am
Terrible Idea, on base% is a wildly over-rated stat especially when you hit for no power and can not run.”
Is this a joke? Are you Dusty Baker?
Tyler Durden December 10, 2009 05:24
Have you picked a left fielder yet? Also where would Johnson bat? 2nd? I like his OBP in the 2 hole, but I don’t like his fat ass there.
Mariano Rivera is Great December 10, 2009 07:24
I worry about Johnson’s power decline, but I do generally like the idea of going cheap on the DH spot, so…how about Jim Thome? He’s just one season removed from a very strong offensive output, and the new stadium is sort of built for a hitter like him.
“Have you picked a left fielder yet? Also where would Johnson bat? 2nd? I like his OBP in the 2 hole, but I don’t like his fat ass there.”
NoMaas wants Holliday for left field.
Butcher December 10, 2009 07:45
I like this idea. I still would bat Granderson in the two hole, but I like using Johnson at DH.
Ron December 10, 2009 08:27
I heard St. Nick got hurt Christmas shopping and may not be ready for either Christmas or Spring Training.
LeisureSuitLarry December 10, 2009 08:58
OBP is overrated? I also hear food and water are overrated.
In The Bummy December 10, 2009 09:49
My biggest question so far is: Who will bat fifth?
I’d love for Matsui to come back for one year.
I don’t know if Nick Johnson strikes fear in anyone or provides A-Rod any protection.
If Damon comes back, I guess Grandy would bat 5th?
LeisureSuitLarry December 10, 2009 09:52
Why does it matter where everyone bats? So much attention on the batting order. Just collect the talent. Who cares where they bat.
ben December 10, 2009 10:02
1. Great idea
2. One of the greatest and most a propos photoshoppings I’ve seen
In The Bummy December 10, 2009 12:31
Leisure Suit Larry is right. Tex was doing great before A-Rod returned to protect him in the order.
Jeter should just bat anywhere in the lineup. Forget about all the double plays he hits into.
I think they should let Posada hit leadoff since nothing matters.
ckm December 10, 2009 13:37
I’d definitely hit Johnson second in the Yankees’ lineup. He takes a lot of pitches and would allow Jeter plenty of time to steal bases. Yanks would have two men on for Tex and A-Rod remarkably often. Johnson is slow, but I don’t think he’s Giambi/Posada/Molina slow.
Granderson can and should hit 5th. He’s an aggressive, low OBP type so he’s not really suited for the 2 hole, and he has more than enough power to hit 5th.
Chazzy December 10, 2009 13:57
This is a great idea that surfaced on river ave blues a few weeks ago as well. You’d be getting the most out of Nick Johnson throughout the season because he can sit once a week to allow for a rotating replacement of A-Rod, Jeter and Posada.
- The big deal is that it
1. gives you a DH to pencil into the lineup for game 1
2. Keeps N.Johnson healthy for the postseason by rotating the vets in on a regular basis
3. Keeps vet healthier for the postseason. see 2.
If he plays 120 games or so to the tune of his .402 lifetime OBP i think it’s a no brainer.
BObvious December 10, 2009 15:15
Would Hank Blalock be a good option as well? He could play the corner positions when needed and his lefty bat could be a + in the new Yankee Stadium and if I am not mistaken he is only 29 yrs old.
greg 23 December 10, 2009 17:35
Hank Blalock good thinking. He was a higher regarded prospect than Tex which was y Texas moved Tex from 3rd base to 1st base.The guy just never stays healthy.Blalock could DH & spot A-Rod & Tex at the corners,I think the Pirates are in neg with him though.Not crazy bout Nick Johnson idea I feel his value is diminished if he is not in the field playing a gold glove 1st base.
greg 23 December 10, 2009 17:40
If were talking a 2 or 3 million dollar diffrence I’d much prefer Matsui to Pile.
greg 23 December 10, 2009 17:46
Blalock had a 726 OPS last year , never mind he’ll fit right in with the Pirates.
Frederick the Elephant December 10, 2009 19:24
Pile is arguably a better hitter than Matsui.
Jason O. December 10, 2009 23:29
I feel a bit sheepish correcting Nomaas, but it’s private Pyle…as in Gomer Pyle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomer_Pyle
greg 23 December 11, 2009 09:41
Better hitter no, he has a higher on base but so does Luis Castillo ,dosnt mean I want him hitting 5th in my lineup. The power production between Johnson & Matsui isnt close.
Mr. Faded Glory December 11, 2009 18:51
ATTN Jason O.:
You are bad at this.
steve December 12, 2009 13:02
Garret Atkins just got non-tendered I think he can bounce back, plus fill in at the corners