Indians: Damon a dud so far

CLEVELAND — So, Indians fans, how is this Johnny Damon experiment working out for you?
General manager Chris Antonetti feels your pain.
The 38-year-old Damon, who was brought aboard to shore up the offense, pulled into the off day Thursday batting a laugh-out-loud .203 with three home runs and 13 RBIs through 38 games as an Indian.
And though defense isn’t what the Indians expected when they signed the 17-year veteran, all of their fears have been realized in the department. Damon has downright embarrassed himself at times in left field.
“Everybody’s well aware that Johnny’s not a Gold Glove-caliber player,” manager Manny Acta said. “I think that we know he has spent a lot of years
DH-ing at the end. We got him over here to help us out with our offense.
“Unfortunately, you can’t have nine guys that can play at both ends, defense and offense. This guy gives us the effort and that’s all we can ask.”
Damon certainly has an excuse. After playing the outfield in only 52 games for Detroit and Tampa Bay the past two years, Damon did not sign with a team this offseason and did not attend spring training.
“I actually feel fine and fresh out in the outfield since I did DH the last couple years,” Damon said. “I feel like I’m better than many guys out there. I can get to a lot more balls than other guys can.
“The tougher plays are the ones over your head where they slice or they curve on you. I’ve definitely had a few of those this year. But I’ve been pretty good at going lateral and going forward. There’s definitely an adjustment, but I’ve been playing (at Progressive Field) for many years, just not on an everyday basis.”
Damon isn’t willing to admit the lack of spring training has played a part in his struggles at the plate and in the field.
“It’s not that I got too far behind. It’s just a matter of scuffling a little bit at first,” he said. “I came here ready to go, but the hits didn’t come and I started changing my stance a little to overcompensate when I actually didn’t have to worry about anything. The hits just weren’t coming. Sometimes as players that’s what you do first, but I feel like I’m in a good spot. But obviously good at-bats don’t always translate into hits.
“I’ve just had to go through that battle just like a lot of guys have to every year. I’m going up there and swinging the bat, and I think it’s OK — just the results aren’t where I would like them to be and where the Indians would like them to be. I just have to find a way.”
Damon and the Indians are holding out hope that a recent warm streak — .295 (13-for-44) over the last 16 games — is a sign of better things to come.
“It’s encouraging to see it,” Acta said. “He got off to a very slow start, and I know a lot of people are just going to keep looking at the batting average and stuff, but I can point out right now at least five games over the last 10 days where Johnny had something to do with us winning the ballgame.”
If Damon doesn’t look more like the professional hitter he’s been in the past — lifetime .285 batting average — the Indians will have to consider other options. Grady Sizemore’s status is still in doubt, and the best alternative could come at the July 31 trading deadline.
Whatever happens, Damon plans on playing somewhere, while maintaining a balance with realism.
“If the body feels good, I’m just going to keep going,” he said. “I would love to say I want to play until the jersey gets ripped off my back, but I also know that being 38 now, things could change in a moment. I have six kids who I think they all really love me. I’d like to keep playing. I’d like to keep winning and having an opportunity to win.”
Roundin’ third
Right-hander Derek Lowe was an early candidate for comeback player of the year when he went 6-2 with a 2.15 ERA over his first nine starts. Lowe has fallen on tough times since, allowing 26 earned runs over 25 innings of his last five starts, to leave him at 7-5 with a 4.30 ERA on the season.
“Anytime your sinker gets flat, you’re going to get hit,” Lowe said after allowing seven runs on 11 hits over five innings Monday against the Reds. “Let’s be honest, this isn’t 10 years ago, where I could overpower guys. If you don’t have your stuff, you’re going to get hit. That’s kind of where I am.”
… Shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is considered the Indians’ top prospect, will play in the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium on July 8. He will be joined on the World roster by Advanced A Carolina infielder Jesus Aguilar.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.