Man, I love that picture.
Anyway, last season, in left field, Johnny Damon’s 36-year old throwing arm was 4.2 runs below average. Damon’s negative mark was the lowest arm rating of any regular outfielder in the American League, except for… wait for it… Nick Swisher’s -4.3 grade. However, whereas Swisher’s outfield arm rating was more likely the result of errant and inaccurate throws earlier in the season (Swisher later worked on the issue with Dave Eiland and he seemed to improve), Damon’s rating was simply an indication of just how feeble his arm is and will continue to be as he ages.
I honestly think it – the arm – is one of the primary reasons teams are concerned about his defense and have chosen to shy away from him this winter. His overall range in 2009 wasn’t that bad – RngR of -3.7 – but it was the limp appendage he calls his left arm that mainly contributed to his -9.2 UZR (there are three components used to compile FanGraphs’ UZR totals, including arm runs, range runs, and error runs).
Original photo via La Prensa
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4 Responses to Johnny's useless arm
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TIQ IQ
Ha, great pic.
While there is NO excuse for a grown man to throw the way Johnny does, it was nice to see him make an effort to get the ball back in faster last year. 2 years ago he would take these exaggerated crow hops and I would creep towards the edge of my seat, saying to myself “there might be something on this throw.” And while I was never shocked when the ball came out of his hand like a pitching wedge shot on the senior tour, I’d still expect spectacular results each time I saw that crow hop.
But this past season he would hustle to the ball and with a windup toy-like motion, toss the ball back in w/ zero accuracy and velocity. But due to his hustle, very few runners went from 1st to 3rd on him. Home plate was still for the taking from 2nd base each time but it was just nice to see him address his terrible arm in some manner.
Matt you happened to be right but what about the way he went after fly balls , running with his glove in the air like a LLer //?/ how did he get away with that..slowed him up and still mis judged a lot of balls hit over his head.. if he wasn’t on the yanks i would find it comical..if only damon realized exactly what you and most everyone else knew, he would have taken 7 or 8 mil as a Dh . he is only a half a player .and a .280 hitter, the stadium played well for him..if he played in a bigger right field how many less HRs do you think he would have..that many less and less of a BA, it would have dropped also.. roy white or damon who has a better arm..
Take this for what it’s worth, as it’s complete hear-say to me.
My physical therapist studied at Northeastern in Boston. The therapist that he worked for up there worked, along with the doctor, for the Patriots and the Red Sox. Apparently (although it’s a complete violation of HIPPA laws), Johnny has a complete tear of the rotator cuff. If he were to go and have it surgically repaired, his career will end. This is the reason Boston would only extend a 3 year deal way back when.
Again, this is all hear-say, but it does make sense as he throws like my three year old son. I still get a kick out of the Red Sox fans who wear the shirt with his picture and the slogan, “Looks like Jesus, Acts like Judas, Throws like Mary.”