The Tampa Bay Rays underwent a major roster overhaul immediately after winning the AL East title in 2010. Gone had been seasoned players and clubhouse leaders like Carl Crawford(notes), Carlos Pena and Jason Bartlett(notes). Hoping to seek out veteran leadership for an very younger group, the Tampa Bay Rays signed Johnny Damon(notes) prior to the 2011 time.
The method was for Damon to replace Carl Crawford in left subject, even though Manny Ramirez(notes) may be the principal designated hitter.
Alas, Ramirez's career as a Ray lasted only 5 games. Manny when all over again tested favourable for performance-enhancing drugs. Since it was his 2nd optimistic examination he would have to serve a a hundred video game suspension. Ramirez opted to retire as an alternative to serving the suspension.
With Male Ram out of the image, the Rays turned to Johnny Damon as their every day designated hitter.
In advance of the time commenced, most supporters predicted Damon would provide typical creation this time. He is not the prototypical DH, but offered the complete absence of production that the Rays have gotten from that placement the previous a number of a long time, common production could be an upgrade.
Damon hasn't only satisfied people preseason expectations, he's exceeded them. Damon continues to be a veteran leader to the Rays equally on and off the field. Once the Rays received off to a 1-8 begin, Damon known as a closed-door, players-only meeting. The Rays received warm immediately after that meeting and Johnny was a essential contributor to the discipline, supplying various game-winning hits.
Rays supervisor Joe Maddon had been batting Damon second and third in the Rays' lineup in an attempt to take full advantage of his run-producing potential. Having said that, due to the fact the Rays have struggled to search out a consistent leadoff hitter, Maddon moved Damon to your leadoff spot throughout the latest 11-game street trip.
Damon has been a leadoff hitter for that bulk of his 16-year main league vocation. He's responded positively towards the transfer. In his last ten video games, he's hitting .333 (15-for-45) and he's scored 8 runs.
Damon has achieved base securely inside the Rays' very last 38 video games. That streak set a individual very best for Damon and broke the Rays' franchise file for reaching base safely in consecutive games.
For your time, Damon is hitting .282 with eight home runs, 33 RBIs, 71 hits and 30 runs. He's on tempo for twenty house runs, 83 RBIs, 177 hits and 75 runs. People number's compare favorably into the creation Carl Crawford provided in the course of his career-best time in 2010 (.307, 19 household runs, 110 runs, 90 RBIs, 184 hits).
When the Rays signed Damon no one expected he would match the offensive and defensive manufacturing the Rays got from Carl Crawford during his 9 several years together with the club.
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