Damon Article

[pesky6]

Makes me hate him even more:


DAMON TO BOSOX:
I'M NOT WASHED UP

By MICHAEL MORRISSEY
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PRIZE CATCH: Johnny Damon catches a football during a morning workout at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando. The Yankee center fielder is working out with Tom Shaw, a speed and conditioning coach.
Photo: AP

January 19, 2006 -- Johnny Damon was known as a heartbreaker in New England. Reportedly, his own heart is shattered by Boston's botched negotiations.
The 32-year-old former Red Sox fan favorite and new Yankee center fielder is intent on proving he's not over the hill after signing a four-year, $52 million contract.

Damon, who was working out at Disney's sports complex in the Orlando area, told the Miami Herald, "I want to show the Red Sox that they made a mistake and the rest of baseball that I'm not old — I'm not washed up."

After the Red Sox lowballed him with a four-year, $40 million offer, Damon turned to the dark (navy) side of the blood rivalry. Not only is he set for life, he told the paper, but so is his brother's family.

He's not laughing all the way to the bank, though.

"It kind of broke my heart, because my heart and soul was there [in Boston]," Damon said. "And I tried to the last minute, but they just thought I was bluffing.

"I think they felt like I was washed up because I was playing hurt all year last season, and they knew it."

Privately, the Red Sox front office was not surprised by Damon's comments, which were similar to the ones he made last month.

The Red Sox believe he's still a good player and have no doubt he'll have a strong season, but they maintain they couldn't budge any higher during negotiations.

The Yankees continue to be linked to Bengie Molina, but they aren't interested in the former Angels catcher, sources told The Post yesterday.

A major-league official and another industry source confirmed the Bombers are not bidding for the free-agent backstop, who is reportedly entertaining interest from Toronto and the Dodgers. Earlier this week, another report tied Molina with the Yanks.

Earlier this winter, there were rumblings the Yankees were interested in trading Jorge Posada, whose 2007 option year of $12 million reportedly will vest if he starts 81 games behind the plate.

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[KCGHOST]

Damon is a Scott Bora$$ client. Whoever offers the most money gets the player. When a players signs with Bora$$ he is telling his own team that the only factor is money. It's not loyalty, or respect, or love. And when a guy tells you that upfront you have to respect it. I rather deal with the truth than the usual "I just love it here" crap.

[Mattingly]

If Damon had anything to say, instead of trying to prove the Boston FO wrong, he would simply play his best for his current team.

Since they have yet to replace him, I'd think that the fans would be more worried about that, tho I'm certainly not faulting pesky6 for having posted that article.

[pesky6]

If Damon had anything to say, instead of trying to prove the Boston FO wrong, he would simply play his best for his current team.

Since they have yet to replace him, I'd think that the fans would be more worried about that, tho I'm certainly not faulting pesky6 for having posted that article.

Easy for you to say. Two things I forgot to point out is that it is erroneous to say that 4 years/$40M was a low-ball offer. Not for a guy who claimed he wanted to stay. The other thing is that I was expecting an article like this--how else is he going to save face?

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Just like Matt I think you are right. I really don't think that he could not make both ends meet with $ 12 million less...

[SoxSon]

I do think this line is a bit puzzling:
""It kind of broke my heart, because my heart and soul was there [in Boston]," Damon said. "And I tried to the last minute, but they just thought I was bluffing."

Anyone else sensing some contradiction there?

[VTSoxFan]

His heart will be broken even more when he realizes what his turning away from Boston has accomplished. His losses will sting more than his gains will have the power to soothe.

It's such a shame. I liked him. I still do like him, though I don't like his new uniform and I can't wish for his success. He had it made here, but it wasn't enough. He had a legend, and now he just has... money.

[Mattingly]

Easy for you to say. Two things I forgot to point out is that it is erroneous to say that 4 years/$40M was a low-ball offer. Not for a guy who claimed he wanted to stay. The other thing is that I was expecting an article like this--how else is he going to save face?

Actually, it's *NOT* easy for me to say, since I'm walking on a very delicate issue here, and Johnny Damon has now signed with the team I'm rooting for.

Players and FO personnel will often disagree--sometimes strongly--on a players' worth at the time of their free agency. As I'd mentioned somewhere in other threads in this forum, I believed that $44-46m should've been enough to get him to return. As I'd also mentioned, if the Yanks (or if another team's free agents were involved, also the Red Sox) are talking deal, then that in of itself may increase a player's market value.

As to saving face, I don't think he has to do anything athletically, as far as I'm concerned. Instead, he should try coming clean and explaining to the Boston fans why he left them, and why he chose the Yankees. If he were to say that he'd left because he felt that his market value were higher than what was offered by Boston, that may be more honest to some. I couldn't guarantee you that some members of RSN may still consider him a traitor or similar (likely stronger) terms, but his coming clean wouldn't have anything to do with proving the Boston FO wrong.

[Mattingly]

I do think this line is a bit puzzling:
""It kind of broke my heart, because my heart and soul was there [in Boston]," Damon said. "And I tried to the last minute, but they just thought I was bluffing."

Anyone else sensing some contradiction there?

Sounds like someone not honest enough to say that "I wanted more money", and not smart enough to bluff.

I'll take him as a player, but as a person, you must take what you get if you're asking for someone to play a certain position. The "choir boy" thing isn't always available.

His behavior towards his ex-wife, I'm still not too crazy about. Lots of baggage, enough to barely get past customs at an airport, but he's still gotta play.

[Evangelion]

You know, I still find it funny when a person say 10 millions dollars each year for four years is low balling, as the writer of the article said. Granted, Damon received much more from New York, but I'm still disgust that these players receive as much money as they do in baseball. It's absolutely ridiculous.

Regardless what we think. A difference of 12 million dollars is a big difference, which I doubt any of us would turn down. If it was a difference between 1-4 million, then I could see a player turning it down. People are still fault Damon for taking 12 million more dollars? I know just about every person would. Honestly, people that say they won't, I question if they really would if it was presented to them.

Still, Damon need to stop talking and go out and play. Fact remain he jump ship to the Red Sox fans' hated team; the Yankees. Damon should understand he's brand a traitor, regardless what he says. This isn't like the Red Sox throwing Boggs in the garbage, which they did. Red Sox offer a legit deal to Damon. They wanted him to stay, but they were going to pay an absurd amount of money for him to stay. He decide to leave. I don't think he sold out, but the fact remain he left and he's a Yankee. Am I suppose to like him or any other Red Sox fan? He had the choice to come back and choose not to. He was pushed out like Clemens and Boggs. He had the choice and decide to go to New York.

8-6 million difference is still strenching it, Mattingly. A million of two is a difference I can see being changed, but 6 to 8? Not sure Damon would went for that. 48? The difference being 4 million? I think he could make due with that. Again, voiced my opinion on these absurd contracts, so not really going to get into. No player worth this type of money.