Johnny Damon Gone, Red Sox World Turned Upside Down

The first day of winter is a cold one for Red Sox fans as we sit huddled together with a feeling that we wish wasn’t familiar. (Another) One of the most popular Red Sox players is no longer with us any more. Our team spokesman, our lead off hitter, our All Star Center Fielder, our free spirited idiot Johnny Damon is gone. Damon was supposedly the Red Sox number one priority this winter, now in losing him we are conceding him to our divisional (blood) rivals within our own division. For some reason I have a Beatles song off of the White Album rolling around in my mind with the incessant “Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine…” going over and over again in my imagination. For those of you a step back on the “Oh I get it Meter”, that’s Nine consecutive AL East titles I’m predicting for the New York Yankees.

I have a lot of questions now, and it looks like Tim Wakefield’s, “What the heck is this team going to look like next year?” question is becoming more justified by the day. I appreciate the Red Sox creativity in trying to go the Co-GM route…but in a town and ball club that has become more soap opera then baseball it almost looks like a weak play on a weak hand. Too many cooks, one kitchen…yeah, you get the point. Are the Red Sox trying to re-build for the future right now and really just aren’t saying it?

The two most important defensive positions on the field are vacant at Fenway right now. No shortstop, no center fielder. And like it or not, the replacements that aren’t named Miguel Tejada are a drastic downgrade for the Red Sox. I understand the Yankees outbid the Red Sox yet again (didn’t they just lose a bunch of money last year?) but at what point Red Sox fans does it look like we’re just being cheap? (Somewhere a Royal, Pirate, & Brewer fan are laughing…) It’s not like the front office doesn’t have a rabid fan base that pays the most for their seats, and parking, and beer, and souvenirs, etc. The Red Sox have money to spend, and sometimes they may have to spend a little more then they feel comfortable with. The management has a lot to account for, and you can mark my words, after the Red Sox finish with 84 wins next year they’ll realize all of the momentum and support they had after the 2004 season will be a distant memory. They’ve waited, and waited, and now the market is drastically limited for both positions in need. I can’t wait to hear how they tried their hardest but in the end things didn’t work out. Now, on to the caveman.

Johnny Damon. He was the anti-Yankee and now he’s gone corporate, and he’ll be shaved, clean cut, and boring. Just like Giambi is now, the personality will be devoid, and we’ll see if money can buy chemistry again. The Yankees lineup is plain sick now. Damon is going to fall in love with that short right field fence, but lets remember…Damon played almost ½ of last year hurt. Damon is going to be a year older, and the Yankees may have bought Bernie Williams replacement…literally. Maybe this was a smart move on the Red Sox part. Maybe Damon is more damaged then we know. Maybe his girl like throwing will help the Red Sox win Game 7 of the 2006 ALCS as Damon needs two cut off men in the cavernous centerfield that is Yankee Stadium. Who knows.

What I do know is that Damon was offered the same exact contract that Jason Varitek (also a Boras client) accepted last year. Ask yourself this. Who’s more valuable to the Boston Red Sox? Tough question I know, but even if you somehow score that one close, Damon is not $12 million more valuable then Varitek. I think Damon didn’t like the direction the Sox were going, he saw friends leaving, he saw more money, he saw better players. It’s the Yankee way. Now the Red Sox play from behind again…

Comments

[angel encarnacion]

I really don't understand the comment of Damon going corporate. Boston is not far behind in the corporate thing. What a professional player is supposed to do when retirement age comes usually between 40 and 45 years old, Julio Franco not considered in this. You need to grab as much money as you can and run with it. Plus it must be very tempting to play next to Jeter, ARod, Sheff, and Giambi. The only thing that I don't like about the Yankees is the manager.

[Erik]

Good write up my man. You def tried to make yourself/sox fans feel better about it at the end... but good article. Damon will be a huge upgrade from bernie who could barely crouch to pick up a groundball through the middle. He's only 32. And I do agree with you about the corporate look. I'm hoping that they lossen the grip on that a bit. I thikn they are a bit too corporate myself. Heres to 2006. Keep the chin up.

[David Placzek]

I still think back to the comments from the Boston office at the end of the season. They talked about preventing more runs and not scoring as much. They spoke about pitching and defense and doing the little things to win.
With the bolstering of the bullpen and the aquisition of Lowell and Loretta, the Sox could be looking for a stronger defensive center fielder. A guy that 3rd base coaches will be thinking twice about rather than sending a player every time it is hit to centerfield. Losing Damon's bat hurts, but they just need two guys to get on base for Manny and Papi.
I think this really has been a big market teams way of rebuilding. Let the Yankees have all the old offense, their pitching is old, their defense is still iffy, they will still win 95 game but they won't win it all.

[Matt]

Personally I think Damon is a great signing for the yankees. Plus they gave him the perfect deal, he wont be there forever like bernie was and he fits in perfectly to what the yankees need Plus he could be the link to bringing the clubhouse together with his high spirits and pete rose like attitude when it come to playing. I dont understand how you say he lost his peronality, when he had that same persona about him in 2003 when he had short hair and clean shaven face. Other-wise a good article especially for Redsox fans looking for light somewhere.

[Andrew]

Damon is the best leadoff hitter in the game and hitting in front of the best lineup in baseball will only make him a lock for the Hall of Fame. The Yankees will win the World Series yet again. The Red Sox will have to wait another 87 years. The Yankees will for sure win the season series against the Red Sox. Without Damon, the Red Sox will never make the playoffs. If the Red Sox are "rebuilding" they rebuild worse then any team in the MLB.

[Ted Martinez]

On the trade of Johnnie Damon - It's the curse of the Bambino all over again. Will the Red Sox management ever learn?

[Derek]

The fact that some Yankee fans are still clinging to "The Curse of the Bambino" makes me feel sorry for you. You have a good line-up, you've had the highest payroll by far the last couple of years and all you have to show for it is playoff exits....

[Bob]

Glad Damon he is gone !!!!!!!!!! Can't want to little Pappi & Nanny are out of F##cking Boston for good, We need more team player's like Tom Brady he's the real man,

[m]

I guess I was wrong when I thought that Boston had the last team with Honor and Respect. It's really sad that the all american sport is not based on the love of the game but what the game can pay you.

[rgrclass1292]

Damon voiced his opinion earlier in the year he would not mind being a Yankee. If he wanted to go then so be it.
His arm was only good enough for small ball parks. With that big outfield at Yankee stadium all those long singles will now be doubles, and a sac fly to mid or deep center with a man on second-he could tag and WALK to third.
He is a great hitter and the best lead off hitter in the game. But I dont think he was worth that much money. He baited the Yankees into more than he is worth. Good for him. Johnny knows he wont play forever and his hitting and run production will eventually diminish.
Don't fear Sox Nation, we will get the players we need.....eventually! All is not lost, but it is pretty dismal right now!

[beemoe]

haha. i love to see the lame excuses and responses from the most annoying fans in sports. It seems that every time the Yanks pick up one of your favorite players, they go on to win some World Series. And about that fluke in 2004, talk to me after you win 26 championships like the Yanks have. Don't worry....you only have 20 more to go. Heres to another 3 or 4 rings In the next 5 years. Thanks Boston, way to keep loser boy Manny but give away Damon. Smart one.

[rgrclass1292]

TO:beemoe
From: Sox Nation
Re: Damon comments
You are right about lame excuses, we blew the A-Rod trade too, and he has how many rings does he have, welcome to your curse?
See ya soon!

[ejflex]

ugh.. you see its yankee fans liek the guy who posted above who give us all a bad name. I agree that Sox fans are among the most annoying fans in baseball.. along with Met fans. But I dont think the fact we have damon is a guaranteed 3 or 4 rings in the next 5 years. Why not get real smart and say 5 out of 5. Its not easy to win championships. We may have a studly lineup... and a bloated payroll, but that doesnt mean a damn thing. Chemistry and cohesiveness are what win championships.. oh and one more little thing that the Yanks have been lacking since they went on their superstar signing spree.. HEART. I have a good feelign about this year however. If it doesnt happen this year, I wont ever expect it to again. IF our pitching doesnt perform... we're not going anywhere.. even if we have the best lineup in history.

[Gothamgary]

Redsox fans will continue to pay the entrance fees into fenway. They will continue to invent labels for the yankees(evil empire). They will continue to bolster mediocre players and down their exiled players , A pattern since 1918 with a break in 2004 (overdue). Players are suppose to love playing in boston masochistic , why are they so anxious to leave (ask yourselves).