Johnny Damon is a Yankee

by Jaime R on Dec 21, 2005 2:06 AM EST in New York Yankees News

The news is startling. Just hours after Johnny Damon declined arbitration with the Red Sox, he signs a 4 year deal for about $52 million with the Yanks.

I have been a Johnny Damon fan since playing against him in little league. He scared the bejeezus out of us batters when he pitched. One of the few 15 year olds with a 80mph fastball. I watched him take our High School team to prominence in Central Florida and followed his career with Oakland, Kansas City and Boston. I cringed in fear everytime he stood in the box against us in the playoffs and now it is such a relief to have him on our side.

Say what you will about his bum shoulder and weak arm, he can tear it up on the basepaths, hit for OBP and some pop, cover an enormous amount of ground in the outfield and is generally fearless. He adds to the fighting spirit of Derek Jeter, Kyle Farnsworth, and Mariano Rivera. I was resigned to Bubba Crosby in center and huffed at the notion of anyone other than Damon out there. I think he is just what we needed. Someone tough, and gritty in the mold of Paul O'Neill who will, like the Terminator, come after you even when his body breaks down. Best of all...this is another wad of spit in the eye of the Red Sox.

This is the Frankenstein line-up Steinbrenner's been wanting for the last few years. There are no holes, even if Bernie played every day at the DH spot. From top to bottom not a weak link. Our defense is tolerable and can be beaten with small ball...sometimes. Sweet Dreams Yankee fans. For every sheep you count is an ulcer developing in Beantown. And John, I hope that's decaf or you'll be getting an ulcer soon too.

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Cool

This is definetly going to be good for us offensively, and probably a wash defensively. It has the added benefit of allowing me to rub it in to the Sox fans in my office that one of their favorites is coming over to the "dark side".

This is way better than getting Nomar, who frankly I need medication to watch with all his obsessive tics.

I really like where our lineup is at and it's great to see the Red Sox in dissarray.

by Greenfuzz on Dec 21, 2005 2:16 AM EST reply actions

Red Sox in disarray

Are they really? I was sure they'd do whatever it took to keep Damon (short of giving him that ridiculous seven year deal), but obviously they didn't want to keep him that badly. So I don't agree with other posts that we've "stuck it to them" by signing Damon. Maybe they're working on an upgrade through a trade. If they get Vernon Wells or somebody on that scale, I'll hurl. In the meantime, Damon is definitely an upgrade for us as a hitter, but I would have preferred Bubba on defense.

by Yankee Fanne on Dec 21, 2005 11:38 AM EST up reply actions