04/24/24
August 24, 2010
Johnny Damon Claimed by Red Sox: Now that he's been claimed by the Boston Red Sox on waivers, Johnny Damon is deciding whether to waive his no-trade clause and make a deal to move or stay with the Detroit Tigers. "This is probably as tough of a decision for me as it was to leave Boston for New York," said Damon. The teams have 48 hours after the claim to make a deal.
Boston don't really want either of these two players considering how they both left that organization. I think it's just a way of screwing them over in the long run like a vindictive ex.
posted by BornIcon at 04:33 PM on August 24, 2010
Not happening. I've never understood Sox fans hating on Damon. I'd prefer he didn't go directly to the Yankes, but it's a business and you go where they pay you.
posted by yerfatma at 04:54 PM on August 24, 2010
Glad to see he's staying. I'll be glad if he re-signs after this season, also...at a significant discount...
posted by MeatSaber at 05:19 PM on August 24, 2010
I think it's just a way of screwing them over in the long run like a vindictive ex.
Except that claiming Damon doesn't screw him over. He'd said that he'd happily return to Detroit next year even if he was traded to another team at the waiver deadline.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:43 PM on August 24, 2010
Except that claiming Damon doesn't screw him over
It was in a way considering Boston prevented Damon from joining the Rays or resigning with the Yankees.
He'd said that he'd happily return to Detroit
But is Detroit happy that they are stuck with Damon?
posted by BornIcon at 07:31 AM on August 25, 2010
And just to bring things full circle, Dan Shaugnessy uses this as a chance to insult Damon.
posted by yerfatma at 08:26 AM on August 25, 2010
A more complete round-up of all things Damon.
posted by yerfatma at 10:49 AM on August 25, 2010
But is Detroit happy that they are stuck with Damon?
They wouldn't have received anything worthwhile for him anyway.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:18 PM on August 25, 2010
I, as much as anyone, appreciate what Damon did on the field. I would have stood and cheered his first game back at Fenway had I been there. That said, I find it a little strange to keep reading that this was a simple case of the red sox not paying Damon, and I find it quite easy to see why Damon isn't liked by man Red Sox fans.
We can start with the quote:
"There's no way I can play for the Yankees, but I know they're going to come after me hard. It's definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It's not what I need."- Johnny Damon, May 1, 2005
We can also start with the fact that this wasn't a simple case of Damon getting an offer from the Yankees and the Red Sox not matching it. He never gave the Red Sox a chance to match it. From all indications, he wanted to be a Yankee. This was documented by Seth McNookin in his book and was online but isn't any longer. The title was:
Johnny Damon's dishonest decamping to the Yankees
I've always thought Damon's view was that if being a star in Boston was great, being a star in NY would be even better.
Once Damon became a Yankee he immediately started preaching about what it meant to be a Yankee, and only recently said playing in New York was more special than anywhere else (paraphrasing, not exact quote).
It seems amazing to me that Damon doesn't understand why he was booed, and yet, he seems genuinely hurt. But I have a hunch. Damon isn't a bright guy. Great on the field instincts. Off the field, not the brightest bulb.
I think Damon decided that this was a perfect time to get back at the Red Sox, and I don't think Damon wants to jeopardize his standing as a Yankee (I also don't believe the Red Sox had any real interest in Damon).
With Damon, the simplest explanation is the safest. I don't think Detroit or helping out the youngsters or whatever BS Damon is pushing had anything to do with it. The Tigers are dead in the water.
I thought Chad Finn nailed it.
posted by justgary at 02:24 PM on August 26, 2010
And just to bring things full circle, Dan Shaugnessy uses this as a chance to insult Damon.
I didn't get that. Seemed to me Shaughnessy was chiding the Red Sox front office and the fans for booing ('childish sox fans got what they deserved').
Shaughnessy thinks the Sox made a mistake in letting him go. And yet it was the Red Sox that won another WS soon after Damon left, and it was not until his last year with the Yankees, after they spent over 200 million on free agents, that he won one with NY.
Damon was a terrible center fielder when he left boston, and by the end of his time in NY he couldn't even play center; he was in left field. Much of that time Manny was in left for boston. Damon wasn't going to take Damon's place.
Shaughnessy:
In his final year of the contract, he hit .282 with 24 homers and 82 RBIs. Think Boston could have used that? It's better than the sorry numbers posted by J.D. ($14 million per year) Drew.
J.D. Drew OPS+
2007: 105
2008: 137
2009: 133
2010: 113
Johnny Damon OPS+
2007: 96
2008: 118
2009: 126
2010: 104
Let's not even start on Damon's arm.
Dan Shaughnessy is an idiot.
posted by justgary at 02:38 PM on August 26, 2010
Maybe they can reunite him with Manny. From what I've read, it looks like a move to block the Rays & Yankees, though the Sox could use an outfielder. Or two.