Say it ain't so Johnny

[Sizzlin22]

Personally if he wants 4-5 he's not worth that and I don't want him back. He'll look like Bernie Williams in the field by his fourth year.

[PeskysPole49]

if Johnny goes to the Yanks....i dunno, i just dunno man. Seriously, he is now the face of the Sox. He is. He's the Jeter to the Sox. Serious, all respect will be lost for him if he goes to the Yanks....i know it sounds bad, but really, yeah

[Sizzlin22]

Yeah is sounds bad but welcome to baseball in the 21st century all it is anymore is a buisness except for the few like Trot Nixion and David Ortiz who both gave the Sox discounts to stay but personally I don't believe Damon is one of those players.

[PeskysPole49]

Yeah is sounds bad but welcome to baseball in the 21st century all it is anymore is a buisness except for the few like Trot Nixion and David Ortiz who both gave the Sox discounts to stay but personally I don't believe Damon is one of those players.

as much as i hate to say it, totally true.....Damon may like Boston, but if the Yanks offer, he's so going. That f***er better prove me wrong

[10-27-04]

I don't know where but I've heard talk of him retiring, I'd sure miss him though, not only his glove and talent at the leadoff spot, but I can't imagine losing him in the clubhouse.

[redsox4life]

We need Johnny it would suck ass if he went to the Yankees.

[CajunSox]

I thought I remember hearing him say in an interview that he would not play for the Yanks and would retire before he did that

[Sizzlin22]

I thought I remember hearing him say in an interview that he would not play for the Yanks and would retire before he did that

4-5 years at 70 Million could change that pretty quick.

[JohnnyDug]

The thing is, not that I know Johnny personally, but I would love to think that money can't persuade him. He has extremely close relationships with all his R Sox friends, he details in his book, and probably wouldnt dream of giving that up to be a Yank.

[soxie thefangirl]

I agree with that. Even the other day he said he'd be willing to settle for less years. He bought a house here. He's settled down here, I think.

[Sizzlin22]

You can sell a house just as easily as you can buy one, everyone just needs to learn to be at peace with the fact that he is probably gone next year.

[example1]

I disagree. He shouldn't deserve more money than Varitek, but probably about the same amount. If the Sox win again this year, they'll likely try to do everything they can to retain their core, and Damon is DEFINITELY one of their core. There aren't many players who can do what he does offensively, he plays the Fenway CF very well, and is the best leadoff hitter in baseball. He does exactly what the Sox would want from a leadoff hitter, takes pitches, makes the pitcher work, runs the bases intelligently, and has some pop (especially when absolutely necessary). I'm pretty sure they'll keep him assuming he puts up the numbers he's been putting up all year already.

[Sizzlin22]

and is the best leadoff hitter in baseball

There's a Right Fielder who plays for the Mariners who disagrees with that statement, and a Center Fielder who plays for the Marlins who also disagrees with that. Bottom line is Theo doesn't often overpay for people so if Damon asks for to much he won't resign.

[stocker323]

There's a Right Fielder who plays for the Mariners who disagrees with that statement, and a Center Fielder who plays for the Marlins who also disagrees with that. Bottom line is Theo doesn't often overpay for people so if Damon asks for to much he won't resign.

And there's a person right here, who disagrees with you. Look at their numbers this year and tell me who's better. Yes Ichiro and Pierre are both having down years but right now Damon or Roberts is the best leadoff hitter in the bigs this year.

[example1]

I'll give you Ichiro, maybe. Somehow, I managed to forget about him. But Pierre is NOT better than Damon. Period.

[example1]

R, H, RBI, HR, AVG., SLG., OBP., OPS

 

Ichiro: 45, 86, 26, 5, .304, .345, 421, .766

 

Damon: 51, 94, 41, 3, .338, .387, .468, .855

 

Doesn't look too obvious to me. Especially now that I've seen Ichiro's stats... Damon #1.

[Manny Goes Boom]

Wow, thanks for the stats. I think its pretty obvious...Damon wins, he owns Ichiro in every offensive category except homers

[Zenny]

Some words from Johnny:

I'm going to take my time, call guys like Kevin Millar, Billy Mueller, see where they end up, guys I've enjoyed playing with here. Put a package together, that's how much I care for these guys and how much they care for me. When I'm a free agent, I'll call Kevin and say, `Hey, who wants you?' I'll tell him who wants me and we'll turn another clubhouse inside out.

[soxie thefangirl]

I love that!

[Tek4pres]

I doubt that George Steinbrenner would take too kindly to someone who wants to turn his clubhouse inside out. Especially with the New York papers microscopic examination of every aspect of the player's lives. Boston writers can be tough, but the first time that Damon has a 0-5 day after he's seen out partying at some club, he'll be all over the back page with writer's questioning his commitment to "The Yankee Way." Wells was spare some of this because of his professed love of Ruth. But I can't exactly see it as an environment that Damon would choose.

 

Regarding the Ichiro/Damon debate, I think that listing this year's stats as proof that Damon is better is a bit of a misnomer. Ichiro is better in the field (especially when you compare the arm strength) and probably better on the bases as well. He just does things that no one else in baseball can do. That said, Damon is having an outstanding year and merits much of the praise that he has already received. And I think if you ask the question about which guy you'd rather have in the clubhouse, the choice is obvious.

 

I do hope that they sign Damon to some four year deal which I believe that he will eventually accept. Luchino is especially in tune with the marketability of players (remember the "face of the organization" talk that swirled round the A-Rod trade talks). And right now I don't think you can find a more marketable player in baseball. Damon like Varitek is probably worth more to the Red Sox than he is to any other club because of the lore of the Idiot's clubhouse and the frenzy for Red Sox merchandise. That is, he is will bring a lot more than runs to the organization.

[yankeessuck013]

Damon is waiting for the Red Sox to talk contract extension with him, and the Red Sox are waiting until after this season to do that, a strategy they used last year with Varitek, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. He wants a five- or six-year deal from an East Coast team, but will settle for four with the Red Sox. The reasons he wants such a long deal are to get more World Series rings and to achieve personal goals - the kind that lead to Hall of Fame consideration.

[yankeessuck013]

Knowing how much players lobbied the team to re-sign him last winter, Jason Varitek said he could easily envision the same thing happening with Damon.

-- Hartford Courant

 

 

......I also read on CNNSI that the sox are interested in Baez

[26 to 6]

Knowing how much players lobbied the team to re-sign him last winter, Jason Varitek said he could easily envision the same thing happening with Damon.

-- Hartford Courant

 

 

......I also read on CNNSI that the sox are interested in Baez

everyones interested in Baez

 

what a f***in loser signing in TB 2 offseasons ago, he really coulda cashed in with the Mets or Sox, or the Yankees (but we didnt persue him)

[26 to 6]

I thought I remember hearing him say in an interview that he would not play for the Yanks and would retire before he did that

in the offseason he said he would entertain the idea as a a last resort...but we all know that if George wants him, George will have him...i think it will be a bidding war into February to be honest with you

[Sizzlin22]

And there's a person right here, who disagrees with you. Look at their numbers this year and tell me who's better. Yes Ichiro and Pierre are both having down years but right now Damon or Roberts is the best leadoff hitter in the bigs this year.

Better than Pierre maybe probably better than Ichiro, hell no. Once Ichiro picks it up again he will pass Damon in Average and OBP he also steals bases something Damon does not do. I personally believe Ichiro is the bast all around player in the game.

[26 to 6]

Better than Pierre maybe probably better than Ichiro, hell no. Once Ichiro picks it up again he will pass Damon in Average and OBP he also steals bases something Damon does not do. I personally believe Ichiro is the bast all around player in the game.

agreed...Ichiro is just in a pretty good slump right now...when he gets back to form he'll be great again

 

Ichiro is just an amazing ballplayer with all the advantages he gives himself

[riverside sluggers]

he also steals bases something Damon does not do

 

??? damon does not steal bases, what are you talkin about

[soxie thefangirl]

Yeah I don't know. Damon NEVER steals bases. EVER.

[riverside sluggers]

um hes stolen 7 bases this year

[soxie thefangirl]

Sarcasm.