Damon rom Red Sox pregame - (Commenting on meeting w/Francona re: comments) "He basically called me a dumbass and told me to keep my mouth shut" I'll hop on the other side of the arguement and say that not only does Damon have a point (that Schilling should be focused on getting back to the Ace of the staff...not becoming a closer), but the Red Sox should and will resign him. He's been extremely consistent and has shown marked improvement over the last two years. If they essentially chose Renteria over Damon, contract-wise, this last year that's a mistake in imo. btw Intern, I say get rid of Damon and go for a guy like Preston Wilson or Bernie Williams Punch yourself for that one. You can choose up high or down low. Bernie Williams isn't playing for any major league team...except the Yankees, they're stuck with him.
I heard that about Rent too, yerfatma, a couple weeks ago I think. It's good to know he's cool with doing that, if it came to that. lbb, far be it for me to help the Yankees ;) but I'm not convinced Damon's nagging shoulder problem isn't something more. He is in a contract year, he's having a fantastic year despite the shoulder, and Boras is his agent. All I am saying is it wouldn't surprise me if it developed into something more... after he signed a new contract (be it with Boston, NY, Detroit, whomever). Purely speculatory, but just my feeling on it. And yes, he'd loose all the perceived "rock star" status if he had to go to NY and shave the beard and lose the hair. Although, that didn't stop Mondesi or Giambi. And about the Wilbur link, he's basically correct. They're bitching. A lot. I don't think it's impeding their on the field work, but regardless its a distraction. Now what Wilbur didn't write, and maybe it wasn't known last night, is that the other real "fight" was Jay Payton flipping out in the dugout Thursday night and yelling at Francona and Brad Mills. He didn't like his playing time, and apparently didn't care for the double switch move either. (To be fair, Payton didn't sign with the Red Sox, he came over in the Dave Roberts trade with SD, and apparently, Payton didn't want to come to Boston, knowing he'd have a backup role.) After the game, Payton went to Francona to talk, and Francona wanted none of it. He told Payton to get his bags off the bus because he wasn't going on the plane with the team. Payton, on his way out, told Don Orsillo that he was being traded and he'd know where in 3 days. Orsillo, on WEEI this afternoon, categorized Payton as a clubhouse "cancer" and he had been complaining the entire season about his playing time. Like it was said, the guy didn't want to be a backup OF to begin with, so you can't fault him for being dissatisfied. Then Francona called Epstein and told him he sent Payton packing and to get the trade going. The next morning, Payton was DFAd. Apparently, they have a trade in place for Payton already, but this forced the matter moreso. Epstein this morning on WEEI was pretty blunt that they weren't going to have any of that kind of attitude from a player and the organization's motto is team before the player, and everyone playing on the Sox should have that same view. Personally, I like that Theo and Francona aren't cowtowing to the players. Yeah, the drama sucks and people are talking who shouldn't be talking. (Damon apparently got yelled at yesterday for it.) This is a lot like last year with the Nomar drama. I am hoping the team rallies together now and Payton's departure is an addition by subtraction, like Nomar's seemed to be. Francona's hands were tied with the ASG selection. It wasn't like past years where Torre loaded up on Yankees, etc. Rules changed. And Schilling can't give you a full 6-7-8 innings yet, so what's the best move? Keep him in Pawtucket for another month until he can, or see if he can fill the glaring bullpen void for a closer? I'm irritated with Damon for talking out of line. Timlin and Arroyo, while both could be great closers, are now doing very well in their respective roles. Keep them there. Why screw up the rotation to have Arroyo close? Why mess with a good thing already, and put Timlin in a different role?
on the Schilling bullpen issue by itself...I don't buy that he's gonna be a closer. That would just be silly. Say he found a groove doing it how could you move him back where he belongs. The media both in and out of Boston has built this one up with all the Eck and Smoltz comparisons...it's just silly.
I agree the media built it up to be the second coming of Christ, but for now, I feel like it could be an okay alternative. Temporarily.
two things: 1) why is it "neck" scarves? are there scarves for so many other body parts now we have to specify "neck"? 2) I have thought long and hard about what Johnny Damon resembles, and come to this conclusion: Johnny Damon resembles a 19th century fur trader just back from the Louisiana territory.
If we seriously got Chad Bradford for Jay Payton (or 1/2 of the Dave Roberts deal), that's ridiculous (in a good way). I don't understand Payton's ass-aching, as he's always been a AAAA player to me. Maybe trading another unhappy Georgia Tech alum will make the difference this year. Yukon, I stand by what I said in our email chain this week: Damon will not be worth what it will take to sign him by 2007/8. The "shown marked improvement over the last two years" should be the give-away: what are the odds he continues an upward trend as he hits 32, 33, 34? Johnny Damon resembles a 19th century fur trader just back from the Louisiana territory. Let's say 17th century French-Canadian; I don't get to say "Coeur De Bois" often enough.
I know about the age thing, Bernie is a prime example. But with all signs pointing at the Sox getting younger and cheaper at 3/4 of the infield is it worth the potential risk? I'm not sure. Obviously that's putting Hanley in that equation as an IF, not a CF.
Renteria just made a serious play. Earning his keep.
1) why is it "neck" scarves? are there scarves for so many other body parts now we have to specify "neck"? Probably for the same reason that you Americans say 'necktie'. I leave any innuendo to someone else's fevered imagination.
yerfatma reminded me of something and that's damon's weak arm. even though he'd be able to get to balls that bernie can't anymore, i'd prefer see someone out there with a respectable arm.
a fight over scarves between Michelle Damon and Shonda Schilling last October. I think the subtext is that rich housewives need something to worry about.
Like it was said, (Payton) didn't want to be a backup OF to begin with, so you can't fault him for being dissatisfied. I can. Obviously, Payton wasn't all that valuable to the Padres if they gave him up for Dave Roberts, and outside from his one stellar year in homer-happy Coors Field, he's been a mediocre player that's never fulfilled the hype. Now he's playing for the defending world champs and he's bitching because his .313 OBP isn't in the line-up every day? I have a wonderful place for him -- it's called Pawtucket.
i'd prefer see someone out there with a respectable arm Honestly, it looks like hell when he throws a ball into the grass 15' in front of 2nd base, but that's an aesthetic thing for the most part: he gets to so many balls he can loft the toss back in because no one's on base.
