Yankees

Did the Yankees give away the farm? So far, it looks that way with Austin Jackson having a great start for the Detroit Tigers. Ajax is batting .356 with 1 Homerun, 7 RBI, 21 Runs and 5 Stolen Bases.

Austin Jackson went 5 for 5 as the Tigers beat the Los Angeles Angels 10-6 on Friday. Jackson became the first Tigers rookie with five hits in a game since the player he replaced, Curtis Granderson, did it on Sept. 18, 2005. He is hitting .364 and leads the AL in hits.

I wasn’t pleased with the Yankees letting their top prospect go and getting Granderson which will cost the Yankees $25.75MM guaranteed over the next three years.

Curtis is one of the best guys in baseball hands down, but he has been in serious decline since 2007. You can look up his stats. Outside of the spike in HR last year, he has done nothing to suggest that he’s going to be worth the money the Yankees paid.

Let’s hope Granderson comes back with vengeance and can start hitting lefty pitching better.

The Detroit Tigers are prepared to offer Johnny Damon $14MM over two years. This would make the Tigers the favorite in signing Damon, but that could change at any time.

Don’t hold your breath for a Damon signing. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that nothing is imminent with the Tigers.

If the Tigers get Johnny Damon, it would likely solve the Tigers’ lack of left-handed bats in the lineup.

James Schmehl of MLive writes: Unlike former Tigers left-handed All-Star Curtis Granderson, Damon doesn’t have to be pulled from the lineup against left-handed pitchers. He’s an equal opportunist, hitting .291 against righties and .283 against lefties in his 13-year career. If he doesn’t make a start, it’s because he’s 36 years old — not because of a pitching matchup.

Damon’s presence could also result in one of three things for Raburn. Raburn could transition into a full-time utility player, making scheduled starts at third, first, left and center field. He could also split time at DH with Guillen and, occasionally, Magglio Ordonez. Or, he could platoon in center with Thomas. The latter would likely result in rookie Austin Jackson not making the 25-man roster.

Of course, if Jackson is sent to Triple-A Toledo to start the season, Damon would likely hit leadoff with second baseman Scott Sizemore batting No. 2.

I think the Tigers are putting too much into a 36 year old left fielder with no arm and at the end of his rope.

Felix Hernandez is a much better pitcher than Verlander and he is three years younger. Felix won 19 games and posted an incredible 2.49 ERA last season. He also pitched for 238 innings, two less innings than Verlander, but close enough.

Verlander won a career-high 19 games with a career-best 3.45 ERA last season. A far cry from Felix Hernandez ERA he posted last year.

I am not sure what the Detroit Tigers were thinking or were they at all. Justin Verlander is a work horse who pitched 240 innings last year. I just have a problem with Verlander getting more money than Felix Hernandez. Let’s be honest, who would you rather have?

Detroit fans let me here what you have to say. I am sure you will debate with me, but the numbers tell the true story. I am confident that Felix will outperform Justin in 2010. Are there any betters out there?