You Talk Too Much

You're the instigator, the orator of the town
You're the worst when you converse, just a big mouth clown

I've already established how I feel about Johnny Damon switching to pinstripes, and we've beaten the horse all over this site about hometown discounts (accepted or not) and about treachery (real or perceived).  Johnny's a Yankee, and many of us Sox fans are, perhaps surprisingly to some, cool with that. So it's with great trepidation that I make this post, because it might be mistakenly interpreted as a return to the relatively dead issue about whether Johnny made a good move.  That's not the subject of this post.  Rather, I bring Damon into this because he's constantly popping up in columns about the Sox, opining about his own hurt feelings.  And now he's moved on to speaking on behalf of others who have spoken for themselves.  I specifically cite today's piece in the New York Times on Manny's return to Florida - in this case he's the guy people are going to for what I find to be undignified speculations about a supposed friend and player still toiling for his former employer.  Sayeth Johnny, regarding Manny:

"He thought for sure he was going to be gone," Damon said Tuesday. "Unfortunately for him, he's not. He's been there for five years. He just wants a change. He knows how good he is. It's just an unfortunate situation."

Now, I don't know what is really in Manny's head (not much, I presume).  But all of his comments yesterday seemed reasonable, if at times cryptic or deferential to his agent, with regards to his status in Boston and his position on the team and in baseball.  Nothing he said hinted at "an unfortunate situation", and not to be too naive about it, I don't think there is an unfortunate situation here at all.  This is actually a testament to Manny and his truly bizarre personality.  Manny has played through strange moments, through the Carl Everett era, through World Series celebrations, through trade speculation, through manager reprimands, after watching great friends move on (Pedro), after ownership's attempts to move him in blockbuster trades, after being placed on unconditional waivers, and he's always performed at a Hall of Fame level.  He's a psychological freak.  Damon's comments strike me as impolitic and slightly meddlesome, verging on the flat-out unsportsmanlike.  He'd be better served to ignore the microphones, however difficult that might be. This isn't a Sox-Yankees thing, necessarily, or even just a Damon thing, but rather a question of when a player, any player, should stop discussing the inner workings and day-to-day political issues of his former team or teammates, specifically when they've already spoken for themselves.

Comments

[rk]

His comments were equally far-ranging and omnipresent in the Sox clubhouse, but they were benign to the Sox for the most part. He toed the Sox line, said the right things about never being able to play for the Yankees, etc etc.

I think he's the ultimate employee.

Whoever's signing the checks is the viewpoint he's going to take. He's a big personality and will offer his opinion at any time, even/especially when people don't want it. But reporters always want it, particularly in New York and Boston. Once Manny's in camp for a few weeks and the questions die down and New York's obsession with Boston dies down a tad, the Yankees beat reporters will start asking him about other Yankee players:

Matsui? "I dunno, I mean, like, I keep trying to, you know, shoot the shit with him and try to be friendly, but he just doesn't seem to *get* me."

Jeter? "He's the captain, and that's a really important role to play, a role I could certainly see myself in at some point. What? I took his leadoff spot, nothing's permanent."

Unit? "He didn't really seem to like the whoopie cushion prank I pulled on him, but I think the expletives were just him ragging on me like a new teammate. And that gun's fake, right? They don't let people carry firearms into the clubhouse, do they?"

A-Rod? "He let me try some of his lip gloss, and I'll let you in on a secret - it's blueberry flavored."

Sheffield? "He told me that if I ever ran into him in the outfield he'd hit me into next week. I didn't appreciate that, so I stole some of his insulin syringes when he wasn't looking."

Torre? "Wonder if I can call him 'The Mister' like I call Jeter 'The Captain'. That'd be awesome."

Bernie? "I asked him about doing some backup vocals for his next album, but he said we should just talk baseball, then he got all quiet. Wonder if he's mad I took his spot on the field."

[YF]

SF: I agree that it would be politic for JD to mind his business, and when prompted about Manny, step away from the mic. If he's truly a friend of the slugger, comments suggesting he's unhappy in his role aren't doing his buddy much of a favor. They just make his life more difficult, extending an obviously uncomfortable issue. Certainly it's annoying that the press can't find anything more interesting to write about. (Bring on the WBC!)

As for the idea that nothing he said hinted at an "unfortunate situation," I'd say you'd have to read between the lines a bit. Manny refuses to kill the issue with a simple statement like, "I love Boston and I want to finish my career as a Red Sox.Durgan Park 4EVA!" He's fully within his rights not to do so, and there's no question that he continues to put up HoF numbers, but if he really wanted this issue to die, at least for the moment, he could do a lot more to kill it.

[lp]

Two points:

Manny did (and maybe still does) want out of Boston. He’s stated such. Moreover, Ortiz has also made pessimistic statements about Manny’s status and future with the team. You sound like Bush on Iraq when you assert that there’s no “unfortunate situation at all.” The friction is obvious. At every opportunity, every winter, the Red Sox try to deal him. The unconditional waivers stunts are the ultimate slap across the face to any ballplayer, especially to one who has contributed so much on the field. And they are designed to be a slap, that’s what makes it so childish and insulting. You and I both know that the last thing that Lucky and Theo wanted would be for some other team to claim him. Luckily for RSN, Manny is so talented that his numbers are unaffected by Boston BS. However, I do feel that his bizarre behavior is, in part, fueled by the crap that’s thrown his way from his bosses and the media. It’s a vicious circle. The more bizarre he acts, the more criticism comes his way for stuff outside of the lines, and vice-versa.

And as stated in a comment above, Damon is going to be the team spokesman wherever he lands. And in the process, he’s inevitably going to offer opinions on the inner workings of those he knows. It was annoying as hell when he’d shoot his mouth off about the Yankees. I was like, ‘How can this guy know what’s going on in NY when he’s out on the field playing elsewhere at the same time that the Yankees are playing? Does he TIVO every Yankee game?’ So, unless you lodged complaints when he was flacking for the Sox, don’t do it now. It’s blatantly partisan. I seriously doubt that if he were playing for the Reds or the Royals you would care THIS much.

rk, you make an excellent point that most sports fans overlook. Players usually only respond to questions posed. It’s not like Damon, Sheffield or Bonds will call a press conference just to get stuff of their chests.

[SF]

I think I should clarify. What I mean by "no unfortunate situation" is that though Manny may still want out, his desires to leave never seem to affect his performance. In that way, this is not a crisis.

[SF]

I think I should clarify. What I mean by "no unfortunate situation" is that though Manny may still want out, his desires to leave never seem to affect his performance. In that way, this is not a crisis.

[Anthony]

Fully agree with a lot of your points. I was a fan of Johnny when he was here, I do not fault him for leaving for the money. I just don't get why he wont just go and do his thing on the field - why is he always attacking the Sox in the press. You don't here Tito of John Henry or Theo even mentioning Johnny, so why does he keep talking about the Sox and their players. If Manny has decided to suck it up and play for the SOX this year, then Damon really has no business messing with that. At this point Damon is just another Yankee to us, we want to see him fail miserably.

[Adam]

Johnny Damon is god

[bill]

Johnny Damon chose the correct title for his book, "Idiot". Johnny should take his Yankee money and keep his "Big" mouth shut!!!

[adam]

Damon is not an "idiot." He switched over to play the best position in sports with the best team...

[Hudson]

Manny handled his return (and all the media hoopla about it) with dignity.

Damon comes off as a bitter kibbitzer and buttinkski. He should ask a New Yorker if he doesn't know the meaning of the words.

[colin]

It all comes down to the fact that Damon is insecure. He can't stop living in the past. This whole sherade he is putting on is clearly a way for him to try to win over the Yankee fans. It would have been much easier to take the high road and say, "you know what I got screwed by the Sox, but I am going to move on and do my best to help the Yankee organization win a championship." Instead we have to pick up the newspaper every morning and read some more BS that Johnny is spitting out. I am so sick of hearing the name Johnny Damon and I can't wait to boo that whiney little bastard when he comes to Fenway. Be a man Johnny and SHUT UP.

[Hudson]

Dignity *and* humor, I should have said.

[rick l]

I think they should all shut the )#@% up and do what they are soooooo overpaid to do!

[miles]

Best team that hasn't won for how long?

[Alex Garcia]

Its one thing, if you don't want to play anymore for 1 organization, that's fine. But when you leave to go and play for a rival, and you still have to comment about your last employer, even after its been months that you signed away to that other team, people are going to start wondering if you ever really wanted to leave. Listen Johnny Damon, your gone from Boston (thank GOD), and your playing for the Yankees, look to the furture, instead of trying to relive the GOOD OLD DAYS, the reason your still commenting on the RED SOX is probably because your starting to wake up and realize how much of a mistake you did by signing to them...Good Luck, I really hope you break a leg, but stop talking about the RED SOX, because Johnny, beleive it or not, when your first trip to the BEAN comes later in the season, prepare yourself for a rude awaking..........

[JM]

New Englander who transplanted to Georgia...I got a copy of "Idiot" put under my Christmas tree by a Yankees fan. I read it. Damon is conceited. Team player? Nah...Wouldn't shave. Can't want for him an Sheffield to get into it. Read his book-- gives no one else credit during his childhood. And his first failed marriage? Yeah, totally her fault. And his World Series chronicle--- bs...all about Damon. Good player? Yeah, he was. But with the weak glove he had, Coco will be more than enough. Kudos to Theo for talking about Damon with dignity. Not me.

[Lockland]

There are a few irrational Red Sox fans that are mad at JD, but I don't know any of them.

I am glad JD is gone; it now looks like the plan to replace him with Coco was in the works for a long time, so I don't think JD is mad about his decision because I now think he understands that it wasn't his decision.

We have a better CF in Boston now and he could also end up being a better bat, only time will tell.

That's got to sting JD and that is the reason I think he's acting like a child.

[john]

Who cares what Johnny says? Who cares what Sheff says? They're baseball players, not pundits.

Some baseball players say interesting or intelligent things. Some just sound like idiots. But they're getting paid to play, and I look forward to seeing Johnny roaming center field at Yankee Stadium.

[JB44]

So let me get this straight Johnny -

The Red Sox are making a big mistake by getting rid of the "Idiots" and the "carefree" goofballs in the clubhouse...

,,,but it's "unfortunate" that Manny hasn't been traded by the Red Sox. That makes sense.

Thanks for everything Johnny, but do us a favor and stick to the Yankees issues.

[Joe]

Let's see how Damon likes NY when he has a bad 1/2 of the first season like he is known for. If one switches companies,one likes company to make sure you did the right thing.

[Andy]

Johnny, we can't even miss you. You continuously try and bring up Red Sox past. I used to be a HUGE Damon fan and I am of his talents, but after reading "Idiot" and listening to this pointless Red Sox banter, two things strike me. 1) you're going to kill your Yankee relationships is you're stuck in the past with the Red Sox and 2) You're continously destroying your legacy in Boston. Good luck, Johnny. Maybe you should take another add out in the paper.

[Lockland]

I also can't wait to see how Yankee fans react to JD playing when he's not looking for a his last big contract.

Good luck with that.

[redsox]

I'm a Coco fan...quiet, good and doesn't talk about the Indians...maybe you can learn something from him Johnny

[Jay]

Am I the only one that just wants Johnny to shut up?! I mean seriously how jealous could Johnny be that he was not wanted by a team that he loved..Move on Johnny just like the sox did..Trust me as a sox fan we are glad to get rid of him so just shut up him about the sox...

[bosox]

johnny cant quit talking about the sox. he wishes he was still wearing the uniform that made him famous.

[D.S.]

Johnny Damon will succumb to the Curse of
A-Rod. By June 1, he'll be on the 30-Day DL with a massive lingering shoulder problem and will suck the rest of the season. Enjoy it, Yankee fans. Another aging,overpaid player for you to bitch about.

[JO]

Good luck with this guy. He's never seen a mic that he didn't like and never has anything intelligent to say. I was glad that he left Boston because his act is old. Yanks fans will regret this signing in the 3rd and 4th years of his contract. I don't blame him for taking the cash and going to NYC but enough already. Your extra 12m should ease the pain of being unwanted. If I was a Yanks fan I would be pissed that our marque signing of the offseason is obsessed with his old team.

[GK]

When discussing Johnny, let's keep in mind here folks that this is a guy who held a press conference to get his hair cut.

This isn't about Manny and this isn't about the Sox. This is about Johnny - plain and simple. He wants the attention and spotlight wherever he goes. He will keep talking about any and everything as long as the cameras are rolling and the reporters are writing.

After his shtick starts to get old in NY and there aren't that many beat writers hanging around the locker before gametime, be certain that he will reinvent himself yet again (maybe bald with a cranium tattoo) to draw attention back to the most important thing - himself.

The curious thing will be how he reacts as it becomes more clear that those skills are diminishing and the piranha in the NY press come biting instead of smiling. What are Johnny Paychecks comments going to be when he has to crowhop five times and have Matsui slide over from left to be his extra cutoff man to get the ball in to 2nd base as Coco Crisp is rounding first and going for two?

[lee]

Yankee Fans,
JD is yours now. Tell him to shut up and worry about himself, not Manny.
I think he would prefer to be with the Red Sox right now vs. the stuffy Yankee club.

[NickYF]

so what you're saying, sox fans, is that Johnny's going to get booed at Fenway.

[Matt]

The point here is not whether or not Manny wants to be in Boston or if he's in an unfortunate situation. The point is that Damon really needs to focus on being a Yankee and stop blatantly betraying the fact that, while his body is in pinstripes, his heart is still in Fenway Park. He should focus on his new job.

[JM]

Johnny wanted the big stage and big cash. It's less about the money than the big stage. First day on the job bragging about how him being leadoff will bring the Chokees a title? What I am looking forward to most is Damon and Sheffield getting into it. And then they both walk out to the Fenway outfield side by side with thunderous boos. Gonna be great.

[GK]

Cheered during his first intro for what he meant to the team and the Sox Nation when he was here.

Booed as he comes up to his first at bat (and every time thereafter) because he is a Yank. And you gotta boo the Yanks.

[JB44]

By the way, I'm sure Manny (who clearly stated he doesn't want to talk about the trade stuff) really appreciates Johnny trying to stir up more "Manny-trade" crap.

Johnny must be finding things difficult, since he only has 2 people in the Yankee organization he can relate to. Giambi and Mark Phillipi.

[D.S.]

Johnny disrespected by Sox $40 million offer and now he can't stop crying about it? Anyone who can't make $40 million last the rest of his life really IS an idiot!

[John C]

Damon will get a one game pass when he returns to Fenway but will then get booed like Clemens.

He seems to be seeking some sort of validation for his decision to leave the 2004 World Series Champion Red Sox. It happens often when someone leaves a job. Mature people move along to the new venture while immature people need to bash the place they left so they can reinforce the decision they made to leave. Damon is a toddler.

Go Sox.

[Lockland]

I will never boo one of The 25, but the other fans will boo him relentlessly, I promise that.

[PDM]

This IS all about Damon. I'm amazed at the reaction to the "Idiot"'s pontifications. Johnny Damon has got to be one of the biggest dopes ever to put on a baseball uniform. Usually ballplayers who are as stupid as he is have learned over the years that they shouldn't be opening their traps lest their Wonderlic scores be discovered. But not Damon. Johnny is such a moron that he actually believes he should have an opinion on everything and that what he says is of any value. If you remember, he didn't say too much during the first few years of his tenure with the Sox and when he did say something it was short and to the point (or as close as he could get to it). He was operating under the "lessons learned" MO I described above. But after the hair started growing (caused by a hit on the head, BTW) and he started looking more like a rock star than the cro-magnon man that he in fact is, you couldn't shut him up. I think it all culminated one Sunday night after the Sox won the Series and the Pats were on ESPN. Suzie whats-her-face was interviewing idiot-boy on the sidelines during a break. I don't know what the question was, but it was specific to a certain subject. Well motor-mouth went off on some tangent where no man had gone before and when he had finally purged himself of all his witless-ness, Suzie didn't say anything. She just gave him a funny look. Doughbrain actually shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "Sorry, I'm mentally retarded, what do you expect".

Frankly, not that we are better off without him, but it will be fun watching the Damon in Pinstripes era evolve. I'm wondering how long it will take for George, Joe, or one of his new teammates to finally give the poor bastard the lobotomy he deserves.

[Colin]

As soon as Damon figures out to put a sentence together that makes sense...then I'll listen to what he has to say.

[YaNkEeH8Er]

Damon is a bum!! In 2 years, he will be in the same boat as Bernie Williams.

[adam]

You guys are saying all of this shit about how JD can't let go of the Red Sox...you guys can't let go of him...look how much bitching you guys have done of him up above. He isn't moving on because all he hears is Boston bitching..perusual.

[adam]

and by the way...JD has a leadoff double and a single so far in his first Spring Training game.

[SF]

JD has a leadoff double and a single so far in his first Spring Training game.

Which means he's still hitting .000!!!

[josh]

"You guys are saying all of this shit about how JD can't let go of the Red Sox...you guys can't let go of him...look how much bitching you guys have done of him up above. He isn't moving on because all he hears is Boston bitching..perusual."

Yeah, Boston fans are the ones who paused during a NY Post interview...about the Boston clubhouse...to take a text message from Kevin Millar lamenting the destruction of the...Boston clubhouse. And we definately took out full-page ads in two newspapers when talk had already turned to Crisp and future CF possibilities...yeah this whole thing is all Boston fans being unable to let go. Trust me, we're over it.

[adam]

hence this big blog about him...suuuuure

[josh]

This blog is entitled "Yanksfan vs Soxfan." What the hell do you expect? When news breaks about either team, or when one player continues to talk about another team, clearly there's going to be some discussion. Anyone bashing Damon for continually talking about the Red Sox does so for a similar reason people are upset at Frank Thomas...it's time to shut up and concern yourself with the team that's paying you. And after you've finished the customary "I'm so happy to be here, I'm optomistic about our future" that you usually see, (BJ Ryan, Burnett, Overbay, for other AL East examples) you stop talking to the media until there's something new and pertinent to comment about. Like the start of the regular season, for example.

[Chad]

Just a quick thought on how those at Damon's first game back at Fenway should be received. Everyone expects the booing. Wouldn't it be much more fun if those at the game did the old tribute to high school basketball abd broke out a newspaper when Damon gets introduced to the plate. Something tells me that I completely silent ballpark with no one paying attentions would send a louder (and much funnier) message than a chorus of boos.
Ok, there is it, now someone start the movement

[adam]

well when a reporter asks Damon how Manny feels about being in Boston and surely Damon has spoken with him...is he supposed to lie? Damon has always been honest (ARod called him the most open person he has ever met) so was he supposed to lie to the NY media when he could answer the question truthfully? think about it...

[Hans]

Folks, unfortunately I live in TX now but I hope the booing is deafening whenever Damon comes to Fenway. This guy is a cheeseball and gives new meaning to the word, "sleazy".

[mr davis]

Isn't it obvious Damon is backtracking? Remember when he said something like, "Manny called me and told me to sign with the Yankees...", and now, to Johnny's disbelief, Manny is still with the Sox. It sounds like panic-talk to me. The kind of, dear-God-what-have-I-done speak when any Frankensteinian inventor realizes the monster he's created.

"But Manny said - sniffle, sniffle - he told me he just wanted to... but I thought..."

Then again, maybe Johnny just wants to incite rivalry. Maybe Manny will come out and say, "hey Johnny, you're full of [expletive deleted]. Why don't you go [expletive deleted] yourself and leave the game to those of us that aren't speaking nervously with babbling hints of false confidence..." You get the idea. Of course, Manny could never speak so fluidly in English, but the point is... eh, The Coco era has begun.

[ELAINE B.MANZO]

U KNOW JOHNNY CASH, 5 YEARS, MAYBE MANNY W/ HAVE LIKED CHANGE... HE MAY STILL BE IN BOSTON "BUT" CHANGE HE SHALL HAVE W/ NEW TEAM-MATES. MANNY CAME BACK W/ SOMETHING I'V NOT EVER SEEN IN HIM, "A TOUCH OF CLASS". LOVED THE WAY HE HANDLE THE MEDIA! THE NATION LOVES MANNY & WE WELCOME HIM BACK. I WONDER MR. CASH, WILL U BE WELCOMED BACK???? PLEASE MOVE ON & TAKE THE TIME GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NEW TEAM-MATES. I'M SURE MANNY W/DO THE SAME, MAYBE A BETTER TEAM W/O U RUNNING AROUND PLAYING "GOD". THANKS FOR THE 4 GREAT YEARS JOHNNY B/ "PINSTRIPES" U ARE NOW...MOVE ON & SPEND THOSE $$$, BE HAPPY. WENOWHAVE COCO & VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

[adam]

yeah goodluck when you finally realize that Coco Crisp is overrated. He had one good year...big deal...he's going to buckle under pressure faster than you can say "Coco."

Open and honest are just nice words for "I want attention." He could have just said that it's not his place to speculate about another player on another team's mindset, which is the responsible, professional answer to give. We loved him for his soundbites and weirdness, but that's because it typically involved matters of HIS team. Even when he made the occasional inflammatory statement about the Yanks, (I don't remember any, really, but I'm sure he made them) they weren't baseless speculation, just motivation and bulletin board fodder. That's different from offering some sort of running commentary on another team or player's personal business.

Plus think of it this way: If you were in the Yankees' clubhouse and all a new teammate talked about was his old team, wouldn't that sort of piss you off? Especially if there's even the slightest hint of his longing for the old clubhouse? I would imagine that'd sort of bad for chemistry, would it not?

[josh]

Open and honest are just nice words for "I want attention." He could have just said that it's not his place to speculate about another player on another team's mindset, which is the responsible, professional answer to give. We loved him for his soundbites and weirdness, but that's because it typically involved matters of HIS team. Even when he made the occasional inflammatory statement about the Yanks, (I don't remember any, really, but I'm sure he made them) they weren't baseless speculation, just motivation and bulletin board fodder. That's different from offering some sort of running commentary on another team or player's personal business.

Plus think of it this way: If you were in the Yankees' clubhouse and all a new teammate talked about was his old team, wouldn't that sort of piss you off? Especially if there's even the slightest hint of his longing for the old clubhouse? I would imagine that'd sort of bad for chemistry, would it not?

Sorry...forgot to sign it before...

[josh]

Every projection I've seen have Damon and Crisp fairly equal going into this season...and over the 3 following years, Crisp's supposed to be a much better player. As for his mindset, if you can find one article or reputable source that thinks Coco can't handle himself in Boston, I'd love to see it. So far, and I read just about everything I can find, everyone who knows him thinks he'll do great.

[Sox Fan in VT]

The more Damon talks, spouting this sort of nonsense, the more pathetic he looks. The Red Sox (and the majority of the fans) have all moved on, ready to begin the Coco Crisp Era. But Johnny just can't let it go. It'd be sad if it weren't so damn annoying.

How can we miss him if he won't go away?

[Nick]

An open letter to Johnny Damon from Red Sox fans. Thanks for the memories Johnny. You were quite a hero to many Red Sox fans. But now you might as well be dead. At best you will get a standing ovation your first at bat, after that however you will be tormented by the Sox fans how once loved you much like a bitter divorce. You cashed in on your last big contract and will end your career where many over-paid underachiever have landed over the past few years as the Yankees continue to try and buy a championship. But you have forgotten one thing, the curse has been reversed. Can you say 2000 + 86=2086. WOW, how many millions will be wasted between now and then.

[CB]

Johnny Damon can be the team spokesman all he wants. Someone should remind him though that he doesn't play for the Red Sox anymore. If he wants to give state of the team updates, he should check his hat and remind himself what team he plays for now.

That said, he didn't say anything of real interest when he played here, I can't see that changing now.

[John R.]

First of all the only " cancer " spreading like wildfire in any clubhouse is Gary " The Steroid Pyscho" Sheffield. With is current venom shooting tirade this month, He will rip what's left of this bootleg "Torre Chemistry' to pieces. and as for Manny no matter how many novenas were said hoping he would leave, expect to see him in you nightmares.

[Nick]

Personally...I feel like I've moved on from the shock of him going to the Yankees (As a Sox fan) I don't view him as a traitor. After he left that ad in the Boston Globe...he should have just started his new beginning with the Yankees. But I don't know why he continues to bring up stuff about the Sox. He's a Yankee now. I think it's time to have moved on by now. I've seen him talk more about Boston than I have about the Yankees. I really wonder what team is in his heart. Humans do the same thing after they break up with their girlfriend. They say things that they don't mean but do it anyways to help themselves.

[DF]

It IS crazy, I used to have a full-fledged respect for the guy, the same respect I have for any of the 2004 season. I was initially upset when he left for the dark side, but then I read his book. Trust me, I didn't buy the dang thing, I checked it out at the library. That man is such a tool, it's unbelievable. Whoever stated up above that this isn't even about Manny, it's about Johnny...is 110% correct. I'm all set, glad he's gone, ready to move on, and feeling pretty darned good about this season! Although, the part of me that doesn't want to move on until he shuts his dang mouth reeeaaaally hopes that that shoulder flairs up, he ends up on the DL, and we have to see that enormous face (how BIG does his face look without any facial hair, he's like Chicken Little for Petey's sake) sitting the bench.

Love the idea about the newspapers when he walsk out at Fenway, by the way. Unfortunately, I think Sox fans are too passionate to keep our mouths shut and just sit there for that. :)

[Joshua Day]

Damon's attitude since leaving the Red Sox is one of the major reasons I am not terribly disturbed over losing him. Sure, it would have been nice to have kept him in Boston, and I was surprised when he left but right after he opened his big mouth and at present I just dismiss him. Yes, he will tow the employer's line and that's sad. There's a difference between self confidence and being outright cocky. Damon is cocky.

[JW]

The way Johnny Damon talks about the Sox he must think he is their player rep. I think that deep in Dohnny's head he may of realized that he made a mistake. He got away with a lot of things in Boston (ie: his dead throwing arm). The reason the fans liked him so much in Boston was for his personality. We will see how long it takes the Yankee fans to start booing him when his throws to the infield or home plate do not make it. Then Torre will have to make a decision, play Damon or Williams.

[Steve M]

Johnny Damon seems like he likes to shot of his mouth alot and stir up trouble. I'll save my words and my windpipe for when he arives back at Fenway this May. Boooooooooooooooooooo booooooooooooooooooo
Im being nice now! Wait till 35,000 let you know what they think. Wear earplugs you bum!! Gald you are gone anyways, Coco had almost 10 years on you. I know you will break down this year and then you will have to hear it from Big George. Have fun, LOL ....

[Nate]

Apparently there is still some pent-up anger associated with JD. Good. Embrace the hate. The Evil Empire pays no attention. Boo louder when he and the rest of the Yanks show up and crush the house of cards in Boston. Oh and JD, keep talkin'.

[Bas]

I use my old Damon jearsey as a jizz rag

[mike reeves]

nate,how do you accomplish that with no pitching????

[mike reeves]

seriously,
i loved damon when he was here and i love the way he plays the game...but stating he can finally afford to take care of his brother with the 52 mil.was a sad attempt to make him seem not so money hungrey...i would've bought my brother a house with the original contract signed with the sox four years ago.i guess 30 mil isn't enough to share huh john.

[bill]

I, a die hard Yankees fan, never wanted Damon. I always thought he was overrated. Even though he got smart and realized that the Red Sox suck I still have my doubts about him and won't stop until he puts his money where his mouth is.

[Pauly From the Bronx]

JD likes boys.

[Pauly From the Bronx]

"I, a die hard Yankees fan, never wanted Damon. I always thought he was overrated. Even though he got smart and realized that the Red Sox suck I still have my doubts about him and won't stop until he puts his money where his mouth is."

no, he got 3 more million dollars a year....

[Nate]

You mean the same "no pitching" that we used last year? Trust me, they'll find a way. They always do.
Here's a shocker, JD talks out of his ass. He got his degree in Public Speaking at Blowhard U. The more you SF bitch and moan about him the more cheesedick reporters will actually think this is a story.
Manny is a soap opera. The Susan Lucci of baseball. Don't deny it.

[Joe Perkowski]

I am a Yankee fan, but I think he should stick
to "No comment" when asked about the Red Sox.

But, the guy says what he feels, just like "The Mouth" Schilling.

[paul]

Blah, Blah, Blah....people with millions of dollars have nothing better to do than talk...I, personally, think Damon came say whatever....No matter what hesays, it will never erase the memory of that game seven grand slam in the ALCS...Talk away, I still have the memories..

[Vik]

The best team? Year 2000 -- the last time y'all won a world series. Us Rhode Islanders are in a pickle with more Yankee fans that I'd like to be around, but life goes on. Johnny wants to fuel a fire that's already in ashes. He's a moron/idiot that just needs to shut his mouth. And the Yankee fans need to accept that you will need 2 cut off men to reach the infield now. Crisp is many years younger, and seems like a more literate guy than lisp talkin Johnny. Don't get me wrong, I loved it when he was here because of his passion and great leadoff abilities...but now he's a Yankee and by default I do not like any Yankee player. The only Yankee I do like is Joe Torre because he is probably one of the best managers in the history of the game.

Johhny sucks at life

[YaNkeEh8tEr]

I hate most Yankees, past and present, but there are 2 that I have the utmost respect for. Mariano Rivera, and Bernie Williams. They are absolute class acts. When Rivera got the fake standing "O" in Boston during player introductions last year, he took it like a man, smiled and waved to the crowd. Do you think Shef would have been so gracious?

[Nick]

I heard that the Yankees re-signed Bernie Williams to be Damon's cut off man not a DH.

[Yankees Suck]

What's better paying $210MM and losing in the first round or paying $180MM and not making the playoffs at all! Pitching will be a disaster this year. I see them losing alot of games 17-15.

[David]

johnny damon seems way too impressed with himself. Although he got the big bucks (because of papa steinbrenner) that he couldn't turn down, he really didn't get what he wanted: to stay with the Red Sox. Now, his meddlesome insecurity is growing way thin. You ain't gonna get that standing "O" you so desperately crave in Fenway the way you're behaving johnny boy!

The Red Sox are going to be just fine with Coco johnny. The fact that you know it is what bothers you the most

[walein]

SF & YF you guys better get out there and start selling those "Johnny Sux" and "No He Doesn't" shirts now!

[mike newell]

johnny damon can suck my balls...

thats all i have to say goodbye now

[walein]

I don't think that's a very good t-shirt Mike. However, maybe "Mike Newell daydreams about...by Johnny Damon"?

[Domenic]

Ok, one thing that we must look at is the fact that the Red Sox have seemed to accomplish another magnificent move. They have switched a thirty something for a twenty something year old center fielder with more mobility a better arm(not that it's hard to do that), as much if not more potential at the plate with just as many RBI's, more homers, and an average at .300. Hats off to Theo for scoping out the young talent and actually being able to make a move when it seemed all was doomed. Now if only we can get rid of the other cancer on the team(I.E. David Wells) than the Sox will be in the running for another title. Love to see how Johnny does when he doesn't have 41 games in a stadium suited for him(50 points higher average and better numbers at fenway) and he lacks a sold out stadium screaming his name everynight. Good luck with the glitz and glamour of N.Y.

[Jay Na]

Damon has got to be the most annoying and talkative Yankee ever. His self serving and sabotaging ways kind of remind me of Newman in "Seinfeld".

Manny CAN take care of himself. He doesn't need anybody else to mess up his mind. He certainly should know that not a single team put in a claim for him when the Red Sox put him on unconditional waivers a couple of years ago. They all could have had him if they were only willing to pay his salaries! Nobody did. So educate us how is Manny improving his "unfortunate situation" by going to a team that did not want him back then for a price of nothing?

[Nate]

I find it great that you all think Coco is a legit CFer.
And I could've sworn that teams in baseball play 81 home games (41 is hockey, which says a lot).
And Tha Bronx has plenty of people in the stands. Unless JD cares more about sellouts than actual attendance he'll probably be ok. Nice attempt though Domenic!

[Ryan]

I'm a sox fan from Vancouver Canada and the only thing id like to say here is a bosox fan is a true baseball fan. 95% of yankee fans are just posers because rappers and celebs wear the yankee hat so they think its cool to do the same. AND they all just jump on the bandwagon when the yanks are winning. Ask any person you see wearing a yankee hat(outside of NY) if they can name the yankees starting line up and I bet ya they can only name one or 2 players. Hell I wouldnt be surprised if they even name Clemens. But anywhere else in the world you see someone wearing a bosox hat and 95% of the time they can not only name the starting line up for this upcoming season but they can name ya last season, the 04 championship season, hell they could probably even name the yankees starting line up in each game of the alcs in which the biggest choke in sports history happend(just thought id throw that in =}).

theres my lil rant just felt like venting.

go sox!

[walein]

Well done. Very scientific. The statistical analysis was the most impressive and formidable of all the evidence.

[harvey]

Johnny Damon has always been overrated, and now he is over paid. He is a .290 SINGLES hitter, since his collision with Jackson his defensive skills have deteriorated, and he has always had a bad arm, plus he is 32...52 million for that..people forget that in the 2004 series against the Yankees, Johnny D was 3 for 29 until game 7. Even game 7 Ortiz homered early making it 2-0 setting the tone. Damon "finally" chipped in shut up Johnny

[steve]

this is response to YF.

Yankee fans obsession with boston? that is the funniest thing i ever heard. whos the ones always critising us. evil empire. who made that up. yankee fans dont bother with unhappy sox fans. you won the world series 2 years ago and still dont appreciate it. you rahter sit and wonder what the yankees do and how its unfair lol. its funny. the difference between us is we havnt won in 5 years. to us that FEELS LIKE 86 years lol. but it wont take us another 86 years to win HAHAHAH.

[Shirl]

Let's just say....Johnny is not the brightest bulb. Why so must time wasted talking about him....We have the BEST players on the Sox...ORTIZ! Manny! Jason! Coco! Gsbe! And the list goes on. Let's talk about them. WAY too much energy spent on DingDongDamon! Bye Johnny...have a nice life with Mangan in N.Y. Thanks for all you did for the Red Sox and GOOD BYE!

[Gator]

Johnny Damon is a sell-out and will be greeted in his first at bat at Fenway in pinstripes like he should be with a rain of boos....

[steve]

you guys are so sad. dont care about the guy who got you the world series win. without him you wouldnt have won.

[yanks AKA A LOT OF WORLD SERIES WINS]

cocoa crisp should be an upgrade huh LOL

[me]

good luck finding a bosox fan outside of boston. lol. oh and by the way. how many fake redsox fans came out after they finally won a world series. dont talk when you dont know what your talking about. your all just jealous that ya man left. and manny will be gone soon. and so will ortiz since he will be worth about 15 million a year after his 2mil contract is up. bye bye boston lol

[Domenic]

Wow, gotta love the guy who nitpicks the comments. My bad on the 41 games error but truthfully speakin Nate you gotta check all the other stats that you couldn't counter point but good job anyway. Just another Yankee fan who needs to find some type of solice. Anyway realistically speakin when you are talking about Johnny Damon, yes, numbers do matter and the amount of fanfare going on around him matters. New York is notorious for it's "I don't care I'm just here because I can be attitude". Boston actually watches the game of baseball. All year round we stay a fan, you people come out of the woodwork around mid-september or early October. Once again Good Luck Johnny finding some attention after all your feeble attempts to belittle the Red Sox are seen as just that "feeble". Thanks Nate for the comment but next time look for something better to pick on other than a game stat mishap. Yankee loser.

Buckle under the pressure?

You mean like Vazquez, Pavano, and a good 50% of Cashman's other high-priced gambles?

[Hudson]

Buckle under the pressure?

You mean like Vazquez, Pavano, and a good 50% of Cashman's other high-priced gambles?

[SF]

"good luck finding a bosox fan outside of boston".

As one of the hosts of this site, the Red Sox half, it might be worth pointing out that I live in, of all places, New York City.

[beth]

finally the pressure is off curt schilling!

:)