To: Nick Johnson
by Charming Devil on Dec 18, 2009 4:57 PM PST
76 comments
I imagine the phone call. It must have gone down something like this... Ring. Ring. You: "Hello?" (You should get Caller ID.) Agent: "Hey Nicky J! Good news! I just got off the phone with Cashman and the Yanks wanna make you their exclusive DH. Apparently, all of the other guys are young enough that they don't need the occasional rest. AND, they're willing to match the Giants offer! I think we should move on this one now, Nick-O. We all know what a reputation the Yanks have about being stingy with their money..."
As a Giant, you could have been worshiped, revered even. Women would have swooned, and a few men too. The fans would have screamed your name until their throats were raw. Tacky hand-painted poster board signs with your name and likeness would have been painstakingly made and displayed by every fan. Renel would have announced your name like Jesus Christ, the four horsemen, and all the angels were coming to bat. Barry Zito would have christened you with your new nickname, "Spanky". A special section of the stadium would have been named in your honor. You could have hung with Willie Mays, and tried on Bruce Bochy's hats.
But, no. Instead, you went back to the same team that thought you were nothing more than chopped liver when they said sayonara -- the same place where most fans don't even know you used to play for the team. You'll be Mr. Potty Break, as half the fans will leave their seats during your at-bats because they won't want to miss jeering at A-Rod, cheering for Jeter, watching Teixiera launch one, or Granderson saunter into third. You'll be "that guy"; the nameless DH, that's only seen once every 2-4 innings. You'll be lucky if anyone even knows your name by the time you're looking for next year's contract.
You should get a new agent, Nick.
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
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Actually, you’d be surprised by how many Yankees fans appear to be epic Nick Johnson fanboys.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Dec 18, 2009 5:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I do hope this is satire because the idea that Nick Johnson would be reduced to obscurity by playing on the Yankees is hilarious.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Dec 18, 2009 5:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ESPN will be saying Johnson is the greatest DH in baseball every night.
"meh"
by SFGuy on Dec 18, 2009 5:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
this is the year ESPN discovers OBP
Thing A
by sam23 on Dec 19, 2009 7:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
the idea that he'd be a megastar in SF is even funnier
don’t get me wrong, he’d be a valuable part of the offense (if healthy). But a team with Lincecum, Sandoval, and Cain (and hopefully soon MadBum and Buster), the spotlight is pretty much already taken here, methinks. And as much as we drool over OBP in this neck of the woods, I think there would be other fans wondering why our first baseman wasn’t hitting more DINGERZZ!
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Dec 18, 2009 7:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
THANK YOU
Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.
by satyricrash on Dec 18, 2009 8:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
a guy who can be nicknamed Porkins
is not going to be setting the metrosexuals on fire here or in NYC.
Even if Lars is in love with the guy. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
"I sometimes still can get insider info and I am not a dumb or average fan.
Molina is needed."
by natteringnabob on Dec 18, 2009 8:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Johnson would be better off in next years open market from playing for a team where he can pad his RBI stats and probably get a higher pay day than he would after playing a season with the Giants. Obviously along with the chance of winning a championship.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Dec 18, 2009 5:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I’m inclined to agree with this if only for the bitterness I feel at the Giants having no offense next year. =/
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Dec 18, 2009 5:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I think the biggest aspect
Is that, as a DH, he has to do half as much work and gets paid the same. Maybe he doesn’t want to get injured, which always happens in the field for him.
Desirous of Matt Holliday and Dan Uggla since 2009.
by GiantPain on Dec 18, 2009 6:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
"half as much work"
I’ve seen this phrase before and it’s funny. It’s like he’s an insurance claims adjuster or something. Isn’t the point of dreaming to be an athlete that one gets paid to play a game? I thought that was at least a tiny bit of wanting to play all the time rather than ride the pine.
On the other hand, don’t Rowand and Renteria want to be real union men and get paid to eat sunflower seeds on the bench? I think it’s the right thing to do, just to keep them from getting hurt again.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
"I sometimes still can get insider info and I am not a dumb or average fan.
Molina is needed."
by natteringnabob on Dec 18, 2009 6:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I used to romanticize ballplayers
But I’ve been cured of that. I think they do enjoy the game, but sadly, it’s become too much about the money. That’s what happens when you pour adulation and worship on a guy from the time he’s sixteen years old: most of them grow egos and stop concerning themselves with anything other than how much they’re worth, and what better way to show how “valuable” you are than with a dollar figure? The few players that do give hometown discounts to play for the teams they rooted for as a kid don’t discount a lot and don’t give those discounts until the end of their careers, well past their prime anyway. I don’t think that most of them are bad people per se, but they are basically taught from a fairly young age (most of the top prospects are identified in their teens, and giving multimillion dollar contracts to an 18 year old kid introduces some atypical conditions) that money matters above all else, from agents that are pushing to for top dollar and friends and family who very likely do the same.
by quincy0191 on Dec 18, 2009 11:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
it’s just strange that I don’t ever remember seeing a player’s choice justified by “he gets more money for less work”, and I’ve seen it in multiple places for Johnson in the last few days. Weird, but maybe I never noticed before.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
"I sometimes still can get insider info and I am not a dumb or average fan.
Molina is needed."
by natteringnabob on Dec 18, 2009 11:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Just a couple of points here. First, you’re probably assuming what team Nick Johnson rooted for. Could have been the Dodgers. Second, the reality is that cost of living means that you’re dreaming if you think anyone is going to accept a discount to play in SF, hometown or otherwise. A premium paid is more likely. Third, while you’re right about heads not being screwed on correctly, even if they are grounded people it’s still about the money in a line of work where superior physical ability determines whether you are employed or not. Of course they maximize their payday. The window of opportunity is tiny.
by maysian on Dec 19, 2009 8:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
your point is well taken, but Johnson actually turned down more money from the Giants to sign with the Yankees. In this case, the “hometown” was actually a place he had played before, not the city he was born in. Of course he could have been thinking that he’ll make more money further down the road, since his numbers in Yankee Stadium should be far better than the numbers he would have put up in ATT.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Dec 19, 2009 11:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The lineup he will be a part of should also help his numbers considerably.
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Dec 19, 2009 11:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not applying this specifically to Nick Johnson, but to most ballplayers. As a rule, they don’t take hometown discounts until the end of their careers, when they can’t get a much better deal anyway. You’re not going to see Jason Bay turn down a 5/60 contract from the Mets to play for the Mariners at 4/50.
And I don’t buy the “cost of living” argument. These guys are making at least a couple million dollars every year, and they purposefully buy houses in Florida to state that as their place of residence so they don’t have to pay income tax. If they can’t live on a couple million in the Bay Area (especially considering they have no expenses for half the year), they’re ridiculously irresponsible financially and that’s got nothing to do with where they play. The “maximize payday” thing falls under the same heading; even if you make league minimum, that’s a hell of a lot more than most people get, and if you find your money’s run out, get another job. The vast majority make do with less than $400,000 a year, even in the Bay Area, so there’s no reason for these guys to be complaining about their income.
by quincy0191 on Dec 19, 2009 11:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
‘Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each’
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Dec 19, 2009 8:56 AM PST up reply actions 6 recs
Rec'd
Matt Downs . The Kevin Frandsen of 2010 !
by nvsfg on Dec 19, 2009 9:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nah.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Dec 21, 2009 9:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You could have hung with Willie Mays, and tried on Bruce Bochy’s hats.
lol
What do you think Bochy would have called Johnson? Nicky? Johnsie? Sonnie?
by Sgt. Dingleberry on Dec 18, 2009 8:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Nicky
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Dec 18, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
once he primarily becomes a dH he will lower his value.
NL teams will be hesitant for a guy who hardly played the field for a year. And wouldn’t you rather play for a team with the enthusiasm of Pablo Sandoval, than the cynicism of Alex Rodriguez?
by bradleybear on Dec 18, 2009 10:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yankees = Great chance for ring. Giants, not so much.
"meh"
by SFGuy on Dec 18, 2009 10:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I always wonder about this sentiment
Say you’re Dan Marino, you’re 40, you don’t have a ring; do you wanna sign with the Pats to be Brady’s backup so you can get a ring? Seems exceedingly unlikely. You want to feel as though you’ve earned it. Now obviously NJ is not the superstar that a guy like Marino was, but still, wouldn’t it mean more to win a championship if you were a major cog in the machine, as opposed to a bit player?
by taliesin on Dec 18, 2009 11:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He’s not exactly going to be a bit player though. He’s going to play every day and he could very well hit second.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Dec 19, 2009 12:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
maybe
if the season started tomorrow, yes. The Yankees are still talking to Mark DeRosa though. If they sign DeRosa, Johnson becomes only the lefty DH. He also runs the risk of losing his job if he gets off to a bad start. The Yankees don’t have patience for players that struggle.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Dec 19, 2009 6:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I strongly doubt all of this.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Dec 19, 2009 9:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah they really gave up on Tex quickly!
say hey nation is the Ralph Nader of McC.-Xanthan
by say hey nation on Dec 21, 2009 8:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah NJ will be a very valuable cog in the Yankees lineup, this is a completely different situation
Congrats to my soul mate and birth brother Zach Wheeler on being drafted into greatness. Should I just buy my Wheeler jersey now, or wait till my next birthday?
by TexasRanger on Dec 19, 2009 9:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think that it is sad he didnt sign with the Giants. I personally (as a Yankee and Giant fan) wanted Damon with the Yanks and Johnson with the Giants, but your anger is misplaced. Saying he would be treated better here is complete crap. Playing in NY makes you a God, whether you are Tex or Brett Gardner. You still get as much a$$ as you want and you are seen as a faith-healer of sorts.
Another problem I have is the assertion that the Yankees “thought you were nothing more than chopped liver when they said sayonara.” You do realize Nick Johnson was the main piece of the Javier Vasquez trade with the (then) Montreal Expos. Trading for the guy who was the best pitcher at the trade deadline with your best first-basemen/prospect isnt really thinking he is nothing.
All in all, this is a sad situation for the Giants, but if the Giants BRAZ had decided to sack up for an extra year at a poultry 5.5 million, he would have signed. 5.5 million for a guy whose OBP alone makes Aaron Rowand look like Eugenio Velez.
by gimpsta7 on Dec 19, 2009 12:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hey man...
cool it. We’re bitter and alone, and we’re lashing at out at everyone in our grief right now. Sheesh
/reaches for the tissue box
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Dec 19, 2009 3:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
poultry 5.5 million
That’s a lot of chickens!
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
by Goofus on Dec 19, 2009 7:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
TWSS!
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Dec 19, 2009 8:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
(as a Yankee and Giant fan)
/brain explodes
Thing A
by sam23 on Dec 19, 2009 7:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve known more then a few. Ussally they are older than me but that combo does exist.
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
by daveinexile on Dec 19, 2009 10:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't that backwards?
Should Yankee/Giant fans be younger, because the older ones remember the NY rivalry?
by quincy0191 on Dec 19, 2009 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
/ knuckles small of back then shakes cane at kid
A healthy part of the men the “showed” baseball to me remembered Seals games. And I am old enough to remember the Yanks before Steinbrenner.
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
by daveinexile on Dec 20, 2009 12:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I have never been able to understand this. A fan of more than one team? no way.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Dec 19, 2009 11:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
/barfs
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Dec 21, 2009 4:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Couple things to note-
-Before the Giants came west a few teams were broadcasting nationwide.
-Joe DiMaggion was a yankee before the Giants came west.
say hey nation is the Ralph Nader of McC.-Xanthan
by say hey nation on Dec 21, 2009 8:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
joking, of course. But actually I think we (meaning some) do feel bitter more at Sabean for not biting the bullet and going after Nick Johnson. I think the OP was being a little sarcastic in his bitterness and we jokingly shift the blame to someone else, even though WE ALL KNOW IT WAS SABEANS FAULT! lol.
Hey Fred Lewis, remember Mother's Day?
by anotherbadexcuseguitar on Dec 19, 2009 3:27 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Sabean didn't really want him
All he had to do was give him the second year and he would have signed him. Obviously he didn’t want him that badly. Perhaps he was concerned that he would spend two years on the DL and his contract might be the one that puts it over the top and gets him fired. We’ll really never know if Sabean made a mistake here, because whatever Johnson does with the Yankees will be tempered by the stadium he plays in and the fact that he’s a DH. The homeruns he’ll hit as a Yankee will mostly be balls that wouldn’t have been out of the park in SF, and even if he bats 500 times a season, we’ll never know if he’ll have been able to do that if he played the field every day.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Dec 19, 2009 6:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Going into the offseason
Sabean’s assistant: The McCoven are back at it sir.
Sabean: Oh yeah? I thought they were starting to like me now? That I was drafting well & letting the team rebuild. That I had some sort of new plan to rebuild the ballclub.
Sabean’s assistant: Well sir, those trade deadline deals for Sanchez & Garko didn’t quite work out.
Sabean: Darn it. It seems like whenever I make a decision they don’t like it, and when player development makes a decision they love it. Is there anything I can do to please these people?
Sabean’s assistant mutters under his breath: well you could just develop the players you have, give them ample playing time at the big league level and not trade away top 10 prospects for small two month upgrades…
Sabean: What was that?
Sabean’s assistant: Nothing. I was saying ‘nothing’ sir. I think it’s best if you just did nothing.
Sabean: Nothing huh?
Sabean folds his arms. Taps his chin & ponders.
Sabean: I think you may have something.
"It's too late now."
by ResDog on Dec 19, 2009 9:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
In line with this fan post
A poll in today’s NY Daily News on the Nick Johnson signing:
rather have Johnny Damon 41%
yes. he’s a good hitter 32%
sign them both 27% (typical yankee fans, sign everyone)
Judging from the first two results, I’m guessing the “sign them both” crowd would prefer Damon to Johnson, so it looks like yankee fans don’t even want Nick Johnson. I doubt he would have seen negative numbers even close to that if he signed with the Giants.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Dec 19, 2009 7:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
You’re underestimating the power of Damon Bruce and his minions who wouldve blasted the Giants for signing a guy with so few dingerz and ribeyes to fix offense.
Thing A
by sam23 on Dec 19, 2009 7:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Olivio & Jacobs….
/ continues flogging self tell the pain lessens and morale improves.
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
by daveinexile on Dec 19, 2009 10:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He thinks the Giants made a mistake not bringing back Molina.
"meh"
by SFGuy on Dec 19, 2009 7:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree with rxmeister that Sabean didn't really want him that much,
plus Sabean was never going to get into a bidding war with the Yanks. Once they offered the same money to be a DH, Sabean moved on to other things, although at this point I have no idea what those are.
We’re not going after Holliday or Bay, no matter how small the market now is for both of them, because Sabean rightly won’t cough up the Type A compensation that would be required, and because neither would play here (according to the oracle Gammons). But as smart as it may be for Sabean to be patient this offseason and wait for the price to come down even further on the remaining players, what exactly is the plan Brian?
Mark DeRosa, at age 35, to play LF for 3/$18 million? Perhaps that might work if we’re willing to accept some defensive downgrading.
Adam LaRoche, for 1B at 3/$24 million? Sure, if we’re willing to watch another LH hitter struggle at AT&T park. But he’s now the best bet remaining at 1B, unless Sabean is waiting on . . .
1. Adrian Beltre for 3B, if he and Boras come down from their 3/$36 million laughable demands. But would Beltre come down to 3/$24 million, to make it worthwhile for the Giants, who would still have to move Pablo to 1B? Or
2. Uggla, if the Marlins come down from wanting Sanchez and Runzler, and accept something less. Or
3. Is there a Sabean mancrush for Damon at 2/$16 million to play, well, you pick it.
What’s the plan Brian?
Responsible for the last great homegrown Giants team.
by Al Rosen on Dec 19, 2009 10:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Limited time offer!!!
You to can make choices just like The Sabean!!! All you need to do is type and hit enter!!
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
by daveinexile on Dec 19, 2009 10:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Ball sez:
No on Uggla, Beltre, Damon, yes on DeRosa.
That’s almost entirely backwards.
by quincy0191 on Dec 19, 2009 11:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
At my house, we ask a higher power.
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Dec 19, 2009 11:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I’d like Uggla and Damon if the price is right. But it probably isn’t.
That said, I’m not hoping for LaRoche to come down a bit and Damon.
Damon LF
Sanchez 2B
Pablo 3B
LaRoche 1B
Bowker RF
Rowand CF
Posey C
Renteria SS
Matt Cain: throwing complete game shutouts since 06'. No big deal.
by cain1rstballothof on Dec 19, 2009 6:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Playoff Money
I like the tongue firmly planted in the cheek..I guess the choice of playing for a consistant playoff team and world champion against playing for a team that has never won a ring, was not a tough decision..
by The Sear on Dec 19, 2009 2:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Women would have swooned, and a few men too.
YES. HOT.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Dec 21, 2009 10:00 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
RED SIX IS NO LONGER STANDING BY!!
/cry
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 21, 2009 10:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Official McPokeMaster
by GrahamCrakalaka on Dec 21, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
fapfapfapfapswoonfapfapfap
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Dec 21, 2009 12:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
We really couldn’t give a 2/8 contract to Nick Johnson? Really?
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 21, 2009 1:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
And to drive this point home
2/18 to Renteria was a good idea, but 2/8 to Nick Johnson isn’t?
Seriously, what the fuck?
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 21, 2009 1:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe that’s why they didn’t. They now regret giving Rents that money so Sabean doesn’t want to give 2 years to Johnson.
"meh"
by SFGuy on Dec 22, 2009 12:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Probably more like 2/12 or 2/16, but still.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Dec 21, 2009 2:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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