Johnny Damon, New York Yankee

Enough time has passed, so I should probably post once again! I have been meaning to for a while now. Anyway...

The big news is that Johnny Damon, probably the biggest name on the free agent market this offseason, is now officially a New York Yankee. Without a doubt, a shot was heard 'round the world in Red Sox Nation. Upon briefly checking out their MLB forum, there was plenty of disgust to go around, since he signed with THE rival team. So when his first at bat in Fenway rolls around next year, I'm sure the boos will outweigh the cheers. Cheers coming from the people who are nice enough to thank him for his service as a Red Sock. Cheers Orlando Cabrera received plenty of, as a member of a non rival team.

Personally I would have preferred seeing him go to another team, but it really doesn't make a difference to me, as I am not a hardcore Red Sox fan. And he was my favourite Red Sock, due to his quirky personality (not his hair, heck no! Which is now much better clean cut, even if that was in recent years his identity), also his batting stance is quite similar to mine. One quote of his which stuck, was "I'm gaining weight the right way: drinking beer". Although I rarely drink, it is good to know some aren't using 'roids. Damon had been alleged, but when he was on Conan he said he was fully grown into a mans body by age 15, or thereabouts. This I believe also was in his book.

So these days are definitely not like those of yesteryear, where money wasn't as big an issue. I'm sure it was even going back many decades, but not in the same way as today at all. I'm one hundred percent sure Red Sox fans would have preferred to see him as a Dodger, even if that was just no more than a rumour, or anywhere else for that matter. I remember hearing at some point in the 2005 season how someone said George Steinbrenner likes Johnny Damon, so it comes as no surprise. I believe now the Yankees will have a better shot at a WS title, however, more likely, the Blue Jays, and Orioles, maybe even the Devil Rays (!!!) will have a better shot at the wildcard in 2006.

Further Reading:

Yanks Add Centerpiece in Damon (New York Times - December 21)

Damon jumps to Yankees (Boston Globe - December 21)

It's Damon's Turn at Center of a Yankees Myth (New York Times - December 27)

Johnny Damon at Wikipedia

The first two are New York Times, and Boston Globe articles announcing the trade, as being official, next is a good read about NYY centerfielders. Finally Johnny Damon's article at Wikipedia. If it is needed to register to view either of the first three articles, I recommend BugMeNot

My next post in the upcoming days will be about former Expos that are no longer in Washington. Most recently of note, Brad Wilkerson.

Marlins will explore relocation/Everything must go!

Explore they will. And that comes as no surprise to Montreal Expos fans who have gone through that process, and had to deal with it. Jeffrey Loria and David Samson, the ones who essentially made Montreal a lame duck team (among others) are at it again in So. Florida! Now Marlins fans know what we went through! The way it looks now is that they will stick around in Dolphins Stadium until the end of the 2007 season when their lease expires, or 2010 at the very longest when their series of leases expires. But it sounds more likely the former. So, unless a stadium deal gets finalised, looks like they will become the Las Vegas Gamblers, or the Portland Western Meadowlarks. East Rutherford, N.J., Puerto Rico, and also Monterrey, Mexico are also interested. That makes five, and David Samson says seven cities, counting South Florida, have expressed interest in building a new stadium for the team.

Had Loria not let the lease expire on the downtown Montreal lot where a new stadium was going to be built, this is where Vlad should have been hitting homers. Instead condos are going up. Talk about an eyesore!

So as it is, it sounds like the Expos all over again, but wait, there's more! A mere day after it was announced that the Marlins would explore relocation, even though it was unofficial prior to that, as they needed a new stadium, Carlos Delgado is shipped to the Mets for three no name players (1B Mike Jacobs, RHP Yusmeiro Petit and INF Grant Psomas). Reason: Marlins are financially strapped. The day after that, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota are sent to the Red Sox for four no name players (SS Hanley Ramirez, RHP Anibal Sanchez, RHP Harvey Garcia, and RHP Jesus Delgado). Reason for Lowell: his future with the team depended on a new ballpark, he apparently understands Loria's predicament in a low revenue generating stadium.

Next up, Luis Castillo is off to the Twins for RHP Travis Bowyer and RHP Scott Tyler. And finally... Paul Lo Duca is off to the Mets for RHP Gaby Hernandez and another pitcher to be named later. Reason: "The Marlins continued their salary purge." Juan Pierre is expected to be traded by the end of the Winter Meetings. So obviously they are loading up for the future (a future elsewhere?), with young players. Not counting Juan Pierre, that is 4949 games of experience traded away for a whopping 40 in return!

So with all those star players gone, I imagine they'll make the money back with loads of people heading out to the ballpark to see the young players! Seriously though, the Marlins fire sale is very reminiscent of the Expos over the years, and also after the Marlins won the World Series in 1997. It will also be interesting to see what the 2006 New York Mets payroll will be. Possibly creeping close to the Red Sox for second on that list. I'm not even going to try and bother doing the math on that! Anyway, maybe the Next Year is Now Mets should have been the Next Year is Next Year Mets. Meaning, maybe 2006 will give them a better shot at the postseason. I can tell you one team that won't be in it, yes, you guessed it, the Florida Marlins. NL East is now officialy four teams!

This just in David Samson paid a visit to San Antonio. He is also expected to visit Las Vegas, Portland, oh and a few other cities he did not disclose. That was fast!