3:20pm: Damon says he's "not going," according to MLB.com's Jason Beck.
2:45pm: Damon spoke to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe on his way to the ballpark today, saying he's still leaning toward staying with the Tigers. However, he would change his mind if the Tigers tell him they plan to reduce his playing time in favor of younger players.
9:05am: Johnny Damon, the Red Sox, and Tigers have until 1:30pm eastern time on Wednesday to decide whether Damon will rejoin his old team, reports WEEI's Alex Speier. The two clubs would have to reach an agreement, and Damon would have to approve it.
Damon was ready to go to the Yankees or Rays, reports Tom Gage of the Detroit News, but the Red Sox had first dibs. MLB Network's Peter Gammons tweets that the Tigers explained to Damon that the Red Sox claimed Damon because they want him, not as a blocking move. Gammons says the Rays did not even make a claim. Damon told reporters last night he's "definitely leaning" toward staying in Detroit, as he'd like to help young Tigers players develop and wants to return in 2011. He left the door open on his decision, as he needs to talk to GM Dave Dombrowski about what would be in the team's best long-term interest.
I think Damon will approve the trade or claim, if the teams can reach an agreement. It can't be measured, but Damon might agree that an extra $1.8MM is better for the Tigers' future than one month of his mentoring. I agree with ESPN's Buster Olney that Damon will be mostly embraced by Red Sox fans. Finally, Damon is a competitive player and Boston's 21% chance of reaching the playoffs sure beats Detroit's 0.36% shot.
Let's hear your prediction: will Damon accept a trade to Boston? Click here to make your pick and here to see the results of the poll.
Damon will definitely not be welcomed back haha. He’s going to stay in detroit anyway
Why wouldn’t Damon be welcomed back? The majority of Sox fans are already excited (same people that booed him…) that he could be. For instance, my girlfriend found out about him possibly coming back and she’s excited. Does she even know what’s going on? No.
This is what happens in Boston.
Johnny Damon is a TRAITOR. THAT is why he won’t be welcomed back!
Oh please. He did what anyone else would have done – He took more money.
I’ll offer you 50 million and someone else offers you 35. You tell me which you would take and then I will call you a traitor afterwards.
I’d take the 35 because I’m a die hard red sox fan!!!
That’s cool. I’ll become a Yankee fan for 50. No questions asked. I could care less what anyone thought about me (besides my family) for that money.
lol dude, I’m not a red sox fan and i’m totally joking..
I’m a die hard Sox fan too, but we’ve all seen what the Sox Office thinks of loyalty from their players (Arroyo, and Lowell for example) it’s a business for the players too.
If he never made that comment vowing never to play for the Yankees I wouldn’t hate the guy but truth is that he’s a liar so screw him.
Like him, I’m leaning towards him staying. Even the positive press about a player wanting to be in Detroit might help us in the FA market.
What does it matter if Damon wants to be a Tiger in 2011? He can just accept the trade and then go to Detroit as a FA?
There are still some ex-teammates like Youk, Wakefield and Ortiz. And I can’t think why he and scrappy guys like Pedroia and Lowrie couldn’t get along.
I believe the problem lies with Boston management. I agree though, he can get along with the players just fine. But Damon has more of a problem with the way they handled his situation in his free agent year.
Imagine if you were asked to pack up and move for one month of work. If the work was potentially the same (in this case a slim shot at the playoffs), would you even bother?
Also – It’s pretty well known that the Sox clubhouse is just not the same as it was during Damon’s first go around. It’s not like he’s going to just fit right in…
They still play the Yankees and the Rays six times a piece. So they are surely still in it.
The Red Sox have a chance…the Tigers do not. Now I don’t think the Red Sox will make the playoffs, but they certainly could.
I don’t know if I really agree with the fact that he’s going to be “mostly embraced.” He won a World Series LAST YEAR with the Yankees and also publicly trashed the Red Sox organization and fanbase recently. I don’t even think its clear yet if the Sox did this to block the Rays & Yanks or if they actually want Damon back so it could be moot.
This was a block move. Damon does not hold any significant statistical advantage over any of the Sox OFer’s. He’s been a DH for the most part and his OF play has been an adventure the last few years. He did recently trash Boston, and after 5 years that was needless.As far as his welcome, do they still tar and feather ‘traitors’ up in Boston?
The tar is heating up as we speak…just stay in Detroit there Johnny boy!
except that neither TB or NY placed a claim.
Except that
A. The Red Sox wouldn’t know this at the time they make the claim
B. The Yankees and Tampa wouldn’t have been able to make the claim after the Red Sox did because the Red Sox held the highest priority
So…
Damon’s decision to go back to Boston has nothing to do with the team or playoffs and everything to do with how he thinks the fans will treat him. In Kansas City, Oakland, and Detroit he was/is just a baseball player. In New York he was news the first few times the Yankees played the Red Sox, but eventually just became another JAG. In Boston though, he was Jesus, he was the Caveman, he was a fan favorite and cult hero. He got to ~rock out~ on stage with Mike Piazza and some band at the 2005 All-star game and people loved it even though he looked like an idiot.
No doubt if he could go back in time he’d take the money with the Yankees again, but a part of me always thought he missed the status he had in Boston. If he thinks there’s a chance the fans will treat him like they did back in 2005, I think he’ll accept the trade.
If he was smart, like I’m sure he is, then fan reaction is the last thing on his mind. The minute he gets into the batter box he’ll get a standing ovation.
Now – Maybe he just doesn’t want to leave Detroit… That’s a much more realistic outlook.
How he gets treated and remembered is probably the ONLY thing on his mind. Like someone said before, he makes the 1.8mm either way, and neither team is probably going to the playoffs. It’s about more than a standing ovation with him when it comes to Boston.
Haha, you made the comment about being the same money/same situation earlier. Well played sir.
Smart??? have you ever heard him speak. I don’t often hear the words smart and Johnny Damon together.
Actually “idiot” comes to mind…
He has a speech impediment.
I know he has overcome a stuttering issue, however actually listen to what he says. He is an egotistical moron. The worst combination possible.
That being said, if he doesn’t think he’d be that same guy, I doubt he’d accept the trade so he could preserve his memory of how ~awesome~ he was back in the day. One thing I’ve learned from watching Damon is that he’s got an ego. Not in a Bonds/Clemens/LBJ/Favre kind of way, but the dude loves himself and he loves to be loved.
I’m not sure if I see that or not. You might be right.
I just don’t think personal legacy is Damon’s MO….
You’re correct about his ego. When in NY last week,on his first at-bat he was given a very nice ovation by the NY fans and proceeded to milk it shamelessly. It wasn’t like the fans went nuts or anything, but he stepped out the box and doffed his cap and actually waited until the applause died down to hit. If he does sign with the Red Sox he should not expect that greeting again.
Has EVERYTHING to do with MONEY and his EGO.
The only reason the Red Sox claimed him is because the Yankees and Rays were on Damon’s list of teams that he would accept a trade to, and the Red Sox weren’t. This was just to make sure neither of them got Damon. The Sox need reinforcements, but not Johnny Damon.
Yankees Suck!
damon is a descent player he fouls off pitches he has a good eye he has speed and some power. i dont know much about the red sox but i think damon would be an upgrade over there other outfielders
There’s no way the RED SOX would know about his “non trade” list before the claim.
They definitely wanted to keep him away from both but also figured the $1.8 mil was worth the extra body in the OF & the publicity that will/has come with this.
IF Damon comes back, it will be a media bonanza for at least the first 2 weeks and if they make any headway toward a playoff spot…even better.
Don’t forget, the RED SOX have the longest sell-out streak in the history of baseball they need to think about too and that is currently in danger.
In reality, any bad blood is between the Sox front office and Boras…. not with Johnny. Don’t forget that Boras kept Sox thinking that there was a 6 yr/75 mil deal on the table for Damon before he signed with the Yanks for just a couple mil more than what the Sox were already offering.
Most people jumped on Damon for going to the Yanks…. any soreness should be directed at Boras for the way he misled the Sox.
In my mind, the Red Sox only want to get Damon for the following two reasons.
1) The Yankees and Rays are on Damon’s list of teams he would accept a trade to, and the Red Sox aren’t. They just claimed Damon so neither NY or Tampa could get him.
2) Damon returning would give some Sox fans a reason to still go to games in September when Boston’s pretty much done. I can see the ads now:
“Come see the 2004 ALCS hero Johnny Damon this Sunday at Fenway and get a free Johnny Damon bobblehead!”
So, the Red Sox really don’t want Damon. Its just so their AL East contenders didn’t get him before they could.
When does Fenway EVER do things like bobblehead nights? Have you ever been there? I’m assuming you haven’t.
The Red Sox don’t do fan give-aways, or is it just no bobbleheads?
If it’s the former, that’s really messed up.
They never do fan give-aways. At least not anymore.
What’s the need? They’re selling out all the time.
Your homerism is showing through. Like bkmvincent said, Fenway NEVER does anything like “Bobblehead” night…also, Sox are only 5.5 games back with 12 games left against the Yanks/Rays…they’re far from out of it…in fact, given the way the 3 teams are playing at the moment & their remaining schedules…I’d say the Yankees should be worried about being the odd man out of the AL east
Considering that the yanks rotation has become pretty shakey behind CC, and the fact that the yankees still have 2 series left with the jays who seem to play them tough always, you might be right.
Yankees remaining games- Road-Toronto – White Sox- Texas- Tampa- Baltimore-Toronto
Home- Oakland- Toronto-Baltimore-Tampa (4) -Boston
Red Sox Remaining games- Road-Tampa-Baltimore-Oakland- Seattle-Yankees-White Sox
Home- Seattle-White sox-Tampa-Toronto-Baltimore-NYY
Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend Red Sox fans saying Fenway gives out bobble-heads. I didn’t know they meant so much to you. Please forgive me.
And, I don’t think the Sox are out of it yet. I was just saying if they were. And yes, they are on the Yankees’ tail. Happy now Red Sox fans? Did I make your day better?
Why does everyone keep thinking I’m a red sox fan? Do you not see Snider as my pic :S
Looks like Jesus, acts like Judas, throws like Mary…a BoSawx reunion would be just plain blasphemy.
Can i ask something about your screenname? You got the 2 best positional players but why westbrook? should be carpenter or wainwright ha but i liked your post
My previous screen name was PujolsHollidayLudwick, as in the batting order after the Redbirds traded for Holliday. After Ludwick was traded, in protest to how much of a glaring hole it put in our lineup, I changed it to the player who we traded for. Now my name makes about as much sense as the trade.
Ah okay makes more since now,
I sure hope he blocks it, we don’t really want him back anyway, he’d take playing time from someone who wants to be here.
1) The Red Sox claimed him because they are desperate for hitters. Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youk, and Cameron all out. This would give them a little help. The Yanks don’t want or need Johnny. The Rays may want his bat, but they wouldn’t take on the dough and really don’t need him.
2) The Red Sox still have a 21% chance at the playoffs? Really? With all the injuries they have to all the key players and positions and they still have that high a percentage. Get real.
1) no
B) yes
21% is a statistical fact. Facts don’t take into consideration things like your opinion.
Lol…Yankee fans arguing against mathematical facts. Too funny. For the record, the reason it is at 21% is due to how they’ve played with the injuries. Without injuries this year it would be damn near 100%, and the Red Sox would be probably 10 games up…yeah that’s sour grapes, yeah injuries happen, but this Red Sox team could’ve been better than 04 and 07, so I’m going to bitch about it until next April.
so im guessing damon plays left and then macdonald and kalish share center if this were to go through.i think it would deffy be intresting to see damon back in boston,mixed reactions from the crowd.he played really well as a yankee every year for us.always got on base and never really complained to his team or manager.
“Damon told reporters last night he’s “definitely leaning” toward staying in Detroit, as he’d like to help young Tigers players develop and wants to return in 2011.”
Damon wants to help young Tiger players develop what exactly? Bad Hygiene??
“What we had in Boston — I stress had, from 2002 to 2005 — we had a special bunch of guys,” Damon said. “And after the 2004 season, guys started leaving. And in 2005, how (Mark) Bellhorn left, how Alan Embree left, how Kevin Millar was being treated there. That’s something that sticks with you. It was a totally new team.
Johnny Damon
What exactly is he talking about? Bellhorn was worthless, Embree was just ok, and Millar was still being trewated like a God in Boston (as far as I know). What does he mean?
Bellhorn really did get the short end of the stick, he was the huge part of 2004 that no one ever talks about. Personally I believe he was more valuable in the WS than Manny was. The problem in 2005 was he could never adjust back to batting 9th. Embree in 2005 had forgotten how to pitch, good business to get rid of him, if your bullpen can’t hack it say goodbye. I’m not sure how Millar was mistreated… because he was platooned with a better defender and actually better hitter in Olerud? I remember fans still delighted in the fact that he was simply there being funny.
Damon really wants his cake and eat it too. Basically he’s accusing Boston fans of being disloyal without admitted he left Boston for the money.
I give all the credit in the world to Bellhorn for his role in the ’04 run. But even before that, he was just an ok journeyman. His career high in average is .261, and that was when he was in Chicago. After his atrocious numbers in ’05 with Boston, the Yankees signed him as a utility man, and he didn’t get much playing time, but only put up half decent numbers. After the yanks, he bounced around (yet again) to San Diego, to Cincy, to Colorado, to free agency, and anywhere else that I can’t think of. As it stands now, he should just go to the beer leagues, he’d be alright there.
How is he accusing the fans of anything? All I heard was, “The front office jerked people around! I’m still bitter!”
//Bellhorn was worthless, Embree was just ok, and Millar was still being trewated like a God in Boston (as far as I know).//
And? He’s not allowed to be upset over how the FO treated his teammates?
I think Damon is full of garbage. How can he say he’d like to stay in Detroit and help to develop the younger talent, and in the same breath say he would accept a trade to NY or Tampa? Is his ego that fragile that a little razzing from Boston Fans about becoming a “turn-coat” would keep him away from the town that made him a star? Let Detroit keep him.
Maybe he’s just trying to make the return even more dramatic?
Its baseball politics. He (and majority of other players) says what that teams fans and or FO want to hear, even if he doesn’t believe in what he is saying.
This is a bizarre soap opera. The Sox have no shame by putting in a claim on this goof. He sold them out for bigger yankee money, he should stay in Detroit. I can’t see how Sox fans would want him back—besides I think they are still going to have a real tricky time getting the Wild Card, so why spend the extra money?
There could be mass suicide in Boston. The Red Sox claim Damon & Manny. They make the playoffs then get swept in the first round. To end the scenario both become free agents and leave again for a real contender
I think its like making a deal with the devil. He had no problam abandoning us. We didnt need him then and we dont need him now!!! I cant stand him he looks like a monkey, and hes a jerk!
Don’t you mean like making a deal with the anti-Christ?
Stay in Detroit Benedict Arnold – we don’t want you in Boston!!!
We don’t want him in Detroit either. Send him back to KC for all I care.
What are the Boston fans going to whine about when baseball gets a commisioner that has a set and installs a salarycap so all teams are equal. Then Boston (and NY) will have to make decisions on players and the salaries and not throw money to block players. If this league was equal then NY & Boston would be ablre to compete with teams that know how to judge talent and not just buy the expensive players. GROW A SET BUD
Well first of all if a comish installs a salary cap making all teams equal my bet is you’ll have more pissed off new yorkers, especially yanks fans. Second, they’ll never put in a salary cap that makes “all teams equal,” baseball is played under Capitalism not some bs Communist rules.
Bud or any other commissioner can’t do anything until the MLBPA gets less power. Stop kidding yourself and say if Bud wasn’t there there would be a cap because there wouldn’t be.
Last time I checked, the best Red Sox players are making cheap money and all their underperformers are getting paid big bucks, so I think the Red Sox would be alright. I love how you just include NY and Boston though, as if the Chicago, LA, all the other big market teams don’t spend about the same as the Red Sox do. Yeah the Yankees salary is crazy high, but all the other big market teams are relatively close. Just stop bitching.
That just goes to show that Theo can’t even pick overpriced players. But all the cheap players doing good aren’t good enoughto keep up with nyy. Typical big market fan who says to stop bitching. Because your team can afford to throw money around on projects you don’t think it sucks to be from most of the country with small market teams. Even when small mkt team wins it doesn’t last for long because they can’t compete with big boys and keep their players. What is Tampa going to do with Crawford and Pena FA this winter. They can’t afford either one of them without letting rest of team fall apart. So the rich swoop in and overpay the players. Remember how pissed everybody in Boston were when Aroid didn’t come to Boston and went to NY instead. How would you like it to happen all the time?
Salary caps breed mediocrity, not parity.
So the NFL,NBA and NHL must be screwed up. If a teams front office is good then they will win spending the same as the losing clubs. Lakers, Celtics vs Clippers Knicks. Patroits, Indy vs Browns, Lions. It’s all in front office personnal to find good players without breaking the bank. I grew up right outside of Boston and I love it that the red sox are losing. Now if only the nyy would go away. Hopefully aroid is thru for the season. Let’s go PATS.
Salary cap or no salary cap, a bad front office will ruin any franchise (Pirates, Clippers, Lions). I couldn’t find the data from 2009-2010, but for the 2008-2009 NBA Season, the Knicks had the highest payroll with $97M, Heat with the lowest at $50M. You still have the top team spending nearly twice as much as the lowest. In the NFL, it’s the same situation. 2009 NY Giants – $137M, STL Rams – $62M. I’m not arguing that these highest spending teams were the best because I agree with you 100% that it takes a good front office to win, not money. However, salary caps are communist. MLB is free market. The Yankees ownership would just pocket more money with a salary cap since they couldn’t have a $200M payroll, but the revenue stream would be the same.
why does itmatter. red sox season is over, damon is just a distraction, it is of no import
Not over.
It is good to dream. The only problem is the reality still awaits you upon your waking. Thus, the end of the red Sox season is before us all. It is only a matter of accepting the reaLITY OF IT.
It is all about money. If he says he doesn’t want to come to Boston than the Sox have to give him incentive to drop his no trade clause. That is why guys have team specific no trade clauses in the first place.
If he says he’s not coming to Boston and the Tigers pull him back . . . he’s not coming to Boston no matter how much money the Red Sox wave at him.
I don’t care about the sox but he is a rat and should be treated as such. Hes clearly just scared of getting booed a little. What a pathetic ego maniac.
Why does he (Damon) have a choice in this matter? A wavier claim is not necessarily a trade; if the Tigers just let him go why would a no-trade clause be in effect? Am I misinterpreting waiver claims?
OK, I just read this:
mlbtraderumors.com/2009/06/trading-in-august.html
and in the comments this question is asked and answered:
Q: “If a player with a no trade clause or 10/5 rights is claimed can they be handed over with no say in where they go since its not a trade.”
A: “No. He can force a revocation of waivers, in effect.”
In his no-trade he also has a provision to block waiver claims.
Alot of No-Trades have that provision, not all, but all the ones Boras clients have most likely do.
Damon left the red sox for the simple reason that the yankees offered more money so how could anybody justifiably think he isnt still about the money? If any team offers him more money than the Tigers he is gone anyway but it doe
s sound like he realizes his playing days are pretty much over so he is trying to secure a coaching job. The red sox simply were not willing to overpay for his services so he decided to take his bat and his ball and go home. I hope he re-signs with the Yankees.
my butt is fine tyvm.
Personally I don’t wish to know anything about your butt.
darn
To be honest with you, not many Red Sox fans are mad that he left for the money. Although most won’t admit it, there’s two reasons for RSN to be mad at him:
1) Although he left for the money (common in sports), he took the money from the Yankees, our archrival. How do you think Yankee fans would feel if Boston offered Jeter more money than the Yankees this winter (not saying it will happen) and he left for Boston?
2) When asked about his upcoming free agency in 2005, Damon was asked if he would go the Yankees. His reply was “No.” Then, he left for the Yankees, the exact team he said he wouldn’t sign with. How much would that hurt if your team’s star player did that?
first, damon does not equal jeter.
second, the sox FO decided they didn’t really want damon back… what was he supposed to do? take less money just to make sure he didn’t upset fans of an organization that let him walk?
and i mean take less money with a third team… assuming there was no reasonable sox offer on the table at all.
So if the yankees offered Jeter 15mil and the sox offered him 20mil and he took the 20mil it would be a different situation because it is Jeter?
um… i don’t know. i just think it’s kinda unfair to compare jeter and his ties to the yankees to damon and his ties to the sox. i was in boston for caveman’s whole tenure and obviously he was loved, but it’s not the same. he was never THE guy, he wasn’t the captain or the homegrown boy wonder or anything like that. he was a ballsy, gutsy and talented played on a very talented team that won a championship for an organization and city that badly needed it.
plus you imply that the sox and yanks both made reasonable offers to damon which didn’t happen. the sox lowballed him and the yanks didn’t. it’d be like the yankees offering 8 mil for two years to jeter and the sox comign back with 4 years and 14 per or something like that
I think it’s a very small segement of RED SOX fans who are truely still “hurt” by Damon’s choice to go to the Yankees, at this point.
If you’re not a RED SOX or Yankee fan it might be tough to understand the way the rivalry plays.
I absolutely HATE the F’n Yankees…the baseball team and the guys on the field.
But as people I don’t even know them and I can’t really hate them…except for A-Rod.
Anyway, If you’re a RED SOX who comes back to town as a Yankee you’re going to get booed. PERIOD! the same applies in the Bronx (See: David Wells & David Cone).
It doesn’t matter what you did, you’ll get booed. But if he had come back as a TIGER he would have gotten that standing ovation he deserved for what he did as a RED SOX. It’s pretty simple, and really not that personal…it’s the FUN part of being a fan enjoying the rivalry.
Some took it more personally because Damon said he’d “never” play for the Yankees…and then DID. And he did it right after he left the RED SOX…had he gone elsewhere first it wouldn’t have been so egregious.
But that’s over with now.
Hopefully he comes back, gets his well deserved standing ovation and helps teh SOX to a playoff run.
We’ll see by 1:30PM tomorrow I guess.
Johnny: Hello?
Jim: Hey Johnny, its Jim Leyland
Johnny: Hey Jim, what’s going on?
Jim: I’m going to reduce your playing time in favor of younger players.
Johnny: That’s what I needed to know!
This is the first time all season I’m actually rooting for Don Kelly to play over Johnny Damon. Please reduce Damon’s playing time.
Your a wierd person to want Johnny Damon to have less playing time then, who, Don Kelly are you serious!!??!! Kelly is a good defender and thats it. No where near Damon’s batting statistics. You are a real weirdo if you think that Kelly a professional AAAA player is better then Damon even at his age. You ARE CRAZY!!
“Damon spoke to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe on his way to the ballpark today, saying he’s still leaning toward staying with the Tigers. However, he would change his mind if the Tigers tell him they plan to reduce his playing time in favor of younger players.”
^^The only reason I’d want to see Kelly play over Damon. No way Kelly is better than Damon, but at this point in the Tigers’ season, they’re done. If that’s what it takes to get rid of Damon and save some money, then so be it.
Seems like a moot point now that Damon says he’s staying.
Don Kelly? Really?
The only reason I was ever mad was because I had 6 year old crying on my shoulder when I told her that her first crush was no longer in Boston. Yes, I’m well aware that’s not a good reason either.
Really it just comes down to the emotions of the rivalry. Certain players defined an age of the franchise that a lot of us have been around for a while. I’ve been a Sox fan for over 20 years, not counting family and my own ego it makes it the longest emotional attachment I’ve ever had to something. Same thing can be said for many yanks fans, Cubs fans, Cards fans, Mets fans, Dodgers fans, and pretty much any of the older franchises especially if you were born into a family that had been following the team for a couple of generations. In essence Damon leaving Boston for more money in New York is a lot like any bad break up, an emotional connection is severed. Say hell froze over and Jeter in the offseason signed with Boston, he’d be the single most hated man in new york. Again, emotional connection.
That said I realize any game is ultimately about winning. I really would have no problem seeing Damon patrol the outfield temporarily for Boston if it gives us a better shot at the playoffs.
That is a pretty good reason for not wanting to see him leave on a personal note, but you really can’t blame Epstein for not wanting to overpay for the veterans like he has, same with martinez and Millar. Just figured their usefulness was over for cash/time cost and Ells/Youk were ready. It does sort of help him keep the payroll manageable and it really was Damon/Boras that started that silly media negativity crap anyway..
Well I was hoping I was implying it was about principle by comparing it to a break up. With Martinez, he went to the Mets. A team that while we had some bad blood with in 1986, didn’t really care about now. Millar went to to Orioles, again we didn’t care… in fact some of us were happy enough that it meant we’d see him more often than if he had went to say the AL Central or NL. With Damon… he went to the yanks. He went with a team (disregarding the fact they gave him the most money) that we as fans see as rivals. That’s what I mean by comparing it to a break up… an emotional severance.
Great news.
Even though the tigers are just about out of it, they picked now as a time for them to start to show signs of life, signs of becoming the team they were before the all star break. Can they win this thing without Ordonez (who is most likely going to not make it back in time), probably not. But try telling them that. If there is a hope of making a run, they need damon’s bat to do it, with Ordonez out. If Ordonez was coming back in a week, I think they would have reduced his playing time. It would have been nice to save 1.8 million, but again, that’s a drop in the bucket compared to what is coming off in November.
Oh well, at least the Tigers get to keep their mentor around for a while. IMO, I think Damon is doing a better job motivating this team than Leyland. If Damon likes Detroit that much, maybe the Tigers should offer him a coaching role with the team at some point down the road when he calls it quits.
Once a dumbass always a dumbass if he dosnt come back. Why would anyone want to stay with the Tigers? Come on they havent won in how long???????????????
1984…26 years. There are quite a few other teams that haven’t won in the span either.
They should have won in 2006 if their pitchers learned how to field.
Please don’t remind me.
because they can’t compete on same level
Opp, I clicked the “like” button by mistake. I don’t like your statement.
Kind of like how people say Dombrowski is doing a terrible job because he has 0 division titles when he has had payroll in the upper leves of the league for 3 years. Well, what people forget is that he also took a team to the WS and in two yeras was within 1 game of winning a division title. Oh and he took a 119 loss team and made them into a team that has had legit shots of winning the AL central and making the playoffs on a yearly basis. I know its listed as “0 division titles” but 06 and 09 were pretty darn close if you ask me. He just needs to learn to hire a manager who knows how to win in the second half.
Dombrowski IS a terrible GM.
how so?
You are exactly right! Why would anyone go to teams like the Cubs, Orioles, Indians, etc. either? I mean, come on, the Mets haven’t won the World Series since ’86 and they still sign players. Why would anyone want to go there!!!!
I wouldn’t call anyone a dumbass considering you authored that statement.
and now boston fans (whether they wanted him back or not) will really give damon the “treatment” when he’s back @ fenway.
I think the Tigers should tell him they have $1.8 million less towards re-signing him now.
Damon will not be a mentor to anyone. Scott Boras is his agent which means he will not be back with the Tigers unless he gets a raise. Damon is a very nice guy, does charity work and to a man, Yankees players have only good things to say about him. But Johnny Damon has Scott Boras for an agent, and Boras will not allow him to take a pay cut under any circumstances. Right now Damon is saying all the right things about next year, but do not believe it. Come 2011, Damon will expect a raise or he will look elsewhere. He did it in Boston, miscalculated badly in NY and signed with the Tigers as a last resort. Damon turned down a 2 yr deal for 14MM thinking that Boras would get him more, and wound up getting 1 yr at 8MM. You can be sure Boras will tell him he can get a better deal somewhere else if Detroit doesn’t pony up to his demands.
On another note, I’m disappointed that he didn’t go back to Boston. I would have been priceless to see the fan reaction.
Dang… was too good to be true.
I hope neither the Tigers Management nor Mr. Damon think he will have a job here next year. He did a fine job this year, but a singles hitting DH is not what they need for next year. With Ordonez, Inge, Damon and Laird all being FA’s, a good portion of the starting 9 needs filling. The most needed part will be power hitting to protect Miguel Cabrera. With little depth in the farm, free agency provides the most likely option. Other than Beltre, there is no power available at 3B. C is barren unless you consider Victor Martinez a catcher for the long term. OF has limited offerings: Jason Werth, who has only 2 years of solid production, and will be overpriced, Maglio Ordonez, who will cost less dollars and fewer years (and we know he fits), and Carl Crawford, who would provide needed speed and a gold glove to spacious Comerica National Park, but would probably be a table setter.
DH offers the only real option for finding someone who could protect Cabrera. With the likes of David Ortiz, Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Lance Berkman, Derek Lee, Manny Ramirez, Vlad Guerrero and Jim Thome available, Johnny Damon just doesn’t fit. Will Rhymes (or Crawford) can fill the two hole, and provide more speed then Damon did this year. Put some speed in front of Miggy and some protection behind, and more fastballs will be going over the fence.
I hope his decision isn’t based on believing he has a future in Detroit. (At least not as a starting player.)
Doesn’t Damon’s ex-wife and kids live in the Boston area? He’s gonna stay away if they do.
how do i say this………..uhhhhhh…………..denied!
This is fantastic, not only do the Red Sox not get Damon, but the Rays don’t either. He’s so clutch in the postseason I would not like to see him face the Yanks in October. Also, no way Manny is going to the AL East either so win win win. Thanks Theo and Johnny.