Yankees Off-Season Plans

[Optimist]

I don't think MLB has been notified that Johnny Damon is a Yankee now.

 

http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-1987958dt.jpg

 

http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1998858&cp=2211919&parentPage=family

 

I'm sure plenty of Red Sox fans would love to have this hat? Am I right?!

[RedRuffing15]

whats damons number going to be?

[Optimist]

He's going to keep 18.

[ORS]

I know what a lot of his old jerseys will look like after what this girl displayed at Spring Training.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/kembry/Demon.jpg

[yeszir]

whats damons number going to be?

666

[Pinstripe_Pride]

I know what a lot of his old jerseys will look like after what this girl displayed at Spring Training.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/kembry/Demon.jpg

Thats actually pretty clever.

[riverside sluggers]

Haha

 

myself I recently got a sweatshirt

Front: What Would Judas Do???

Back: Ask Johnny Damon

[Optimist]

I know what a lot of his old jerseys will look like after what this girl displayed at Spring Training.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/kembry/Demon.jpg

 

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

It was only a matter of time:

 

http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2ODg1MjUx

 

Yankees' Sheff is boiling

 

Friday, February 24, 2006

 

By BOB KLAPISCH

SPORTS COLUMNIST

 

 

 

TAMPA, Fla. -- It doesn't take much to stoke the engines of Gary Sheffield's temper, especially lately. The right fielder is stewing about having to wait for the Yankees to pick up his $13 million option for 2007, which is reason enough for those RPMs to run near the red line.

 

 

Sheffield says the Yankees are making a mistake auditioning him. If they need a few months, or even weeks to see if his bat is still quick, the slugger is ready with a countermove. Actually, it's a thinly veiled threat: wait too long, and he's moving on.

 

"If my body feels good I'm playing somewhere, here or somewhere else," Sheffield said. "Either way I'll get my 500 home runs. It's no sweat off my back where it happens."

 

The Yankees think Sheffield will calm down soon enough. The money is coming, they say, even if it takes a month or two. For now, Sheffield is trying to direct his thoughts elsewhere -- like to the World Baseball Classic, which he's watching with a slow satisfaction as the tournament loses one player after another.

 

There's an "I Told You So" expression on Sheffield's face when the conversation turns to the multiple defections. Just this week center fielder Vernon Wells said goodbye to the U.S. squad, which put him on the same list of refugees as Barry Bonds, John Smoltz and Andy Pettitte.

 

The powerhouse Dominican team is also being thinned. Pedro Martinez, the undisputed ace, likely will sit out the first round, and will have a hard time convincing the Mets he'll be 100 percent healthy by the final round on March 18-20.

 

Meanwhile, Manny Ramirez still hasn't reported to camp, which union chief Gene Orza admitted Thursday, "doesn't bode well" for the slugger's participation in the WBC. Ramirez is involved in yet another personal drama that has the Sox wondering about his future in Boston.

 

Ramirez isn't expected in Fort Myers until March 1, which means he won't be playing for the Dominicans -- no small irony, since Ramirez was busy last month giving Alex Rodriguez his blessing to play for the Americans.

 

All of this makes Sheffield look like a prophet, angry or otherwise. He was one of the game's first marquee players to reject the WBC, not even bothering to say he wouldn't be in shape by early March.

 

Instead, Sheffield trashed the tournament's very concept, calling it ill-timed, poorly planned and an otherwise waste of his at-bats.

 

The right fielder now believes he was right all along.

 

"I said what I felt. But like the way it's been my whole career, people said that my ideas were far-fetched," he said. "If that's the case, why do so many of them follow suit?"

 

Of course, not everyone agrees with Sheffield. There are still a large number of players who are enthusiastically representing their country, including teammates Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon and, to a lesser extent A-Rod.

 

The pro-WBC army says history is being made, and that whether you love or hate the tournament, this could be the first and last time a collection of major-leaguers are playing nation against nation.

 

Reason enough to join the fun, yes?

 

Hardly, says Sheffield.

 

"Some of the guys who say they have to be there because it's history or whatever, that tells me they need to be in the spotlight," Sheffield said. "First and last time? You just want to be noticed. To me, that's about ego.

 

"They say that [the WBC] is supposed to be helping baseball in the communities. What I want to know is, how does it help my community?"

 

Clearly, Sheffield doesn't care if the U.S. team prevails, although he dryly said, "They've got [Roger] Clemens, so everyone thinks we're going to win, right?"

 

Actually, the U.S. team has lost enough front-line players to now be considered underdogs to the Dominicans or Venezuelans. That much Damon is willing to concede, pointing out that, "We're going to have our hands full with those Latin teams. They're pretty stacked.

 

"It's a short tournament, though, and anything can happen. Hopefully we get hot at the right time," Damon said.

 

In the meantime, Sheffield will be in Tampa with those Yankees who, for varying reasons, are missing the WBC, including Jorge Posada, Mike Mussina and Randy Johnson, all of whom were blocked by the Yankees' hierarchy.

 

Just as well, says Sheffield, whose only professed allegiance is to George Steinbrenner -- or the contract Steinbrenner signed him to. But Sheffield is still burning at what he perceives as the club's lack of faith in his ability, despite an impassioned plea from senior executives to be patient.

 

Sheffield could have the 2007 option guaranteed by the All-Star break, or even sooner if he hits well in April and May. That's just common sense money management with a 37-year-old player.

 

But don't try explaining that logic to Sheffield, who with open indignation says, "They can't just use me like that, waiting to see what I've got. They should be glad they got me at the [price] they did [three years, $39 million]. There are a lot of players with better contracts."

 

The Yankees don't disagree. All they want is for Sheffield to chill. But for now, that's like asking for a moment of silence at a heavy metal concert. Someone here needs a Plan B.

[Cityofchampions33]

Sheff needs to calm down, it's happened to many players. He takes everything personally, and if the Yankees want to wait andkeep options open (which is smart) he's going to have to elarn to deal with it.

[He Hate Me]

Sheff needs to calm down, it's happened to many players. He takes everything personally, and if the Yankees want to wait andkeep options open (which is smart) he's going to have to elarn to deal with it.

 

I'd call him an idiot, but he does this every year to motivate himself. he has to be angry at someone to play well. It's just how he is

[Cityofchampions33]

yeah, just sometime he takes it over the top. Like when he was dissing us and basically calling our orginazation a mess during the 04 ALCS

[yankeessuck013]

I'm sure plenty of Red Sox fans would love to have this hat? Am I right?!

 

yeah, to burn it.

[schillingouttheks]

yeah, to burn it.

That's just a waste of time and effort.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

That's just a waste of time and effort.

 

And money.

[schillingouttheks]

Forgot that one

 

Anyway, too lazy to see if this has been said already so excuse a repeat, but Sheffield motivates himself by getting angry at people and threatening them. Increase in motivation = increase in playing performance, so it's just how you have to deal with it. The Yanks are used to it, and as long as they get the performance out of Sheff, they'll be able to put up with his outbursts.

 

Also though, Sheff, if you wanna get those 500 HRs, you shouldn't suck at the plate just to piss off the Yanks.

[Optimist]

Dotel thinks he'll be ready by May.

 

I'm liking this signing more and more. He seems like someone very determined to prove himself; hopefully, come May or June, he can.

[yankeessuck013]

I wouldn't guarantee or get too excited that he can come back to form.

 

Was he ever even in form?

[Cityofchampions33]

Dotel was nasty when he was 28, posting a 1.85 ERA in 83 games for Houston. The next two seasons he had sub 3 ERAs and with Oakland saw a whole run added to his ERA, maybe because of the league switch.

[jsinger121]

I think May is pushing it a bit for Dotel. He will more likely be ready in late june or early july. i would be shocked to see him back sooner.

[Cityofchampions33]

Who knows he could pull a Schilling

[jsinger121]

Who knows he could pull a Schilling

 

tommy john surgery is much different than what schilling went through. its your arm that needs to recover not your ankle and your arm is more important than anything. Dotel is be 12 months removed from surgery I believe at the end of the May which then he will likely need some rehab start for probably 3-4 weeks to build up his arm again. there are not too guys who come back from TJS before 12 months. it used to be a 12-18 month injury. now it is 12-13 months.

[26 to 6]

Sheff needs to calm down, it's happened to many players. He takes everything personally, and if the Yankees want to wait andkeep options open (which is smart) he's going to have to elarn to deal with it.

I dont take any of that Sheff stuff seriously, he just needs to grab some attention from time to time. When the season starts and he is out on the field he will be fine. Man's a gamer.

[26 to 6]

Dotel was nasty when he was 28, posting a 1.85 ERA in 83 games for Houston. The next two seasons he had sub 3 ERAs and with Oakland saw a whole run added to his ERA, maybe because of the league switch.

Yea, I fell in love with Dotel when he was in Houston and am expecting big things from him. The sooner the better.

 

And if he doesnt have a good year, no biggie, we didnt put much money or time into him. GREAT signing in my opinion, with what he can provide. And if he doesnt contribute anything its no biggie.

[Optimist]

Torre plans on keeping Pavano in Tampa for an extra week or two.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Not suprising, they only need 4 starters for the first 2 weeks.

[26 to 6]

If they keep him in Tampa for two weeks they might as well put him on the DL and carry an extra position player for that time.

[jsinger121]

along with pavano, sheffield is now having back problems

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2345946

[26 to 6]

This is ridiculous. I dont know if I can handle another year of constant injuries.

[jsinger121]

This is ridiculous. I dont know if I can handle another year of constant injuries.

 

well its not like the yankees are a young team anymore.