Johnny Damon is very proud of never going on the disabled list during his major league career.

Normally, having pride in such a streak is admirable, in a “at-least-I’m-not Carl-Pavano-sort-of-way.”

But the point has long passed where Damon’s streak is hurting the team. Since he suffered his first injury of the season on Opening day (81 days ago), he has been holding an important roster spot hostage while he refuses to heal on the DL.

The other day I was listening to Joe Torre (the enabler) running down Damon’s list of injuries. Let’s see, there is the calves, back, stomach, shoulder, ribs and now teeth—yes, teeth.

It’s apparent by now that the $52 million dollar man is one of Brian Cashman’s greatest follies. (There have been many.) Clearly, it’s not Damon’s fault that he is injured, and who wouldn’t take the money when offered.

Damon’s fault is not understanding that he can’t help the team by sitting on the bench and playing a few innings a week. His calf-back-stomach-shoulder-rib- tooth-injury prevents him from being a successful pinch-hitter, and his inability to play center field is exposing the average-at-best Melky Cabrera.

Damon is coming off as selfish, nothing more. No one but he cares about his “No DL” streak, and it’s amazing that Cashman and Torre have agreed to play with such a depleted roster during six straight games in National League parks.

A truly odd characteristic of Damon's is that he seems to revel in these injuries that don't land him on the DL and he enjoys talking about them. "My rib is shot" he told the The New York Times.

Why, one wonders? Why does Secret Agent Damon get away with this?

Torre recently said: “But at this point in time, even if Johnny isn’t at the top of his game, he’s probably still better than someone we could put out there, especially when we get to the D.H. situation.”

There is so much wrong with this statement that my keyboard is burning and I have to settle down before responding.

(Perhaps Torre is getting less oxygen to his brain now that he is standing during the team's at bats. Previously, he wouldn't get off his duff during a game even if the bench were on fire. And I applaud his new found interest in the team, but something ain't right here.)

Damon is a shell of a player now. His power numbers are staggeringly inefficient. He can not use his legs to run or steal, and he can’t play defense. Even if healthy, that arm of his makes Bernie’s look like Roberto Clemente’s. There is nothing he can do in his present state to help the team.

Yet Torre thinks there is no one better to put on the roster?

Joe, here’s an idea: How about someone who might actually contribute?

The Damon absurdity was particularly troublesome this week. With the need for pinch-hitters and extra bench players because of double-switches and hitting for pitchers, Torre and Cashman elected to forgo the extra roster spot that might have actually helped the team.

Damon recently said that he was hopeful to be ready for the Baltimore series this week. “I’m just praying that I’ll be ready for Tuesday,” Damon said.

Good luck with the prayers, Johnny, you’ll need them.

There’s no doubt about it. Cashman made a foolish move here. Damon is signed through 2009.

Courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com
Johnny Damon 
4years/$52M (2006-09)
•	signed as a free agent 12/05
•	06-09:$13M/year
•	partial no-trade clause
•	4 years/$31M (2002-05), signed as free agent 12/01
•	02:$7M, 03:$7.5M, 04:$8M, 05:$8.5M
•	1 year/$7.1M (2001) (Oakland), avoided arbitration
o	rejected KC's 5 year/$32M (2001-05) offer 9/00
•	1 year/$4M (2000) (Kansas City)
•	agent: Scott Boras
•	ML service: 11.051

DISTURBING STAT OF THE WEEK:
Mike Mussina's lifetime batting average is 28 points higher than Wil Nieves'
Moose: .170
Nieves: .142
Wil the Thrill is hitting .111 this year.

It’s amazing to me that every season the Yanks' reserve catcher is worse than the guy before him. I would be very surprised if Nieves is on the roster by the time the Yanks get home from this road trip.

Here's a pathetic tidbit. Below is a list of the worst hitting catchers by batting average since 1900. (At least 125 plate appearances). And I really don't want to hear about "small sample size." Would you really want the Nieves sample size to get any larger?

CAREER
MODERN (1900-)
C

AVERAGE                         AVG    
1    Al Pardo                   .132   
2    John Butler                .134 
3    Wil Nieves                 .142 
4    Tom Doran                  .145   
5    Frank Crossin              .147   
6    Jim Campanis               .147   
7    Charlie Armbruster         .149   
8    Billy Holm                 .156   
9    Steve Korcheck             .159   
10   Dick Gossett               .159 
Info coutesy of Lee Sinins Complete Baseball Encyclopedia  

HORRAY FOR CHRIS BASAK:
No doubt his loved ones have filed a missing persons' report since he has been buried on Torre’s bench for an undisclosed period of time. He did get his first major league at bat on Sunday as he smoked a liner that Bonds’ grabbed. At least Chris hit the ball hard!