Someday I'll compose a list of the guys in baseball I just don't like. There are not that many, but Damon gets to be on that list.

“There’s going to be concern out there this offseason. I still feel like I’m going to be a pretty good commodity. Hopefully the New York Yankees will think that I’m still very important to them,” said Damon. “I would like to at least get two years, but we’ll see what happens. If I need to take a one with an option or a vesting option, then so be it.”

That contract model is close to the one that friend and former Red Sox teammate Jason Varitek ended up signing with Boston this winter. For Damon, that contract negotiation was something of an eye-opener.

“I couldn’t believe that they were letting him walk and try to find a team,” said Damon. “That’s the difference between New York and Boston. … If you’re a part of New York, they’re going to keep you there: (Jorge) Posada, (Derek) Jeter, Mariano (Rivera), it’s the first time in history guys have been on the same team for 15 years.

“It goes to show you something about how the Yankees think, and how many Yankees players have been exclusive with one team. They keep them forever,” Damon continued. “(The Red Sox) were ready to let (Varitek) go. He’s their starting catcher. That’s how the two teams work. You know his days are going to be numbered here. But hopefully not -- he deserves to be here until his career is over.”

Big Idot to the DL

Time to make hay against the Cubs

quote:

Originally posted by El-Ka-Raji:
Someday I'll compose a list of the guys in baseball I just don't like. There are not that many, but Damon gets to be on that list.

Saw him on Tim McCarver's show last Saturday. I guess I could hear him say this. Comes across as one of the good guys. So, I have no problem with Johnny Damon.

Elk,

He's a guy I do not like either along with the Big Idot.

Marlin's Coghlan miffed by fan's home run 'ransom'

"He wasn't the most polite or respectful guy about the whole process," Coghlan said Thursday. "He told me he goes around a lot and catches these balls and holds them for ransom — even though he doesn't say that he does, it seems that way."

"He told me (but it wasn't really what he said)." I do side with Coghlan a bit though, offering the picture and the bat should have been enough for the kid to give the guy his ball back, at least that would have been the non-dickhead thing to do.

quote:

...I christened a new "CUBS SUCK" ball. (For those who do not know, the CUBS SUCK ball is used as the throwback ball when an opposing team hits a home run to me). I keep the real game home run ball and throw back the CUBS SUCK ball.

-

quote:

Originally posted by El-Ka-Bong:
Happy Youngster's response

Asking for stuff from Ramirez on top of what you want from Coghlan and then playing his "oh I only make 50K" schtick with the Marlins? What a tool.

asking for the bat and picture was not out of line. Coghlan could have at least smiled.

Asking for the signed bat from Ramirez was being a dick. Coughlan is a nothing in that dugout, making him beg an vet for a bat is not a good idea and a good thing happyyoungster dropped it.

If its me, the bat and the picture is more than enough. Just because the guy will (might) someday be outrageously rich isn't a good enough reason to drop courtesy. Obviously from the blog, Coghlan comes of as a dick, but I get the feeling that the blog is not to far off based on the article linked earlier.

But I will contradict myself, I didn't have a problem with guys who caught milestone balls auctioning them off to the highest bidder.

That begs the question, who really wants a Chris Coghlan ball or bat anyhow. I wouldnt. It would be useless clutter.


Now, this guy is a ballhawk.. he isnt just some kid. He knew it was the guys 1st home run in the bigs. There is nothing wrong with a little negotiation to get something you want. If he wants a HR bat in return in addition, that sounds fair. It's not like he's asking for season tickets and a happy ending.

just because its not wrong, doesn't mean your not being a dick about it.

for the record, the final price seemed well within reason

The Happy Youngster is a complete tool. He was a dick then renigged on the deal to stiff the player.

warren, you should feel some warm fuzzies over this one:

Statistically, Philadelphia's Ryan Howard and the Brewers' Prince Fielder were the worst-fielding first basemen in the majors last season, with 19 and 17 errors, respectively. Both players lost weight over the winter and the results have been obvious. Entering the weekend, neither Fielder nor Howard had committed an error.

Icon yells VINDICATION over his morning java!

quote:

Originally posted by chickenboy:
warren, you should feel some warm fuzzies over this one:

Statistically, Philadelphia's Ryan Howard and the Brewers' Prince Fielder were the worst-fielding first basemen in the majors last season, with 19 and 17 errors, respectively. Both players lost weight over the winter and the results have been obvious. Entering the weekend, neither Fielder nor Howard had committed an error.

- Nice jinx.

Crew second in the majors in RPI:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/rpi

But...have played the toughest schedule so far.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/...=2009&sortColumn=sos

JJ to the Sox
more Hardy to the Sox
more

Funny reading the different perspectives, particularly how some Sox fans feel they would not have to give up much (Penny and low level prospect ) to get JJ.

I like JJ. I can see he and Braun being the face of the franchise for awhile. Melvin would have to seriously upgrade to make a move I would be content with.

quote:

I like JJ. I can see he and Braun being the face of the franchise for awhile. Melvin would have to seriously upgrade to make a move I would be content with.

Perosnally, I would rather see JJ stay in Milwaukee and play 3B. Will he? he hasn't indicated that he'd be willing to, but you trot out an infield of Fielder, Weeks, Escobar, and JJ- that's pretty exciting. Plus Escobar, if he can prove to be as effective against ML pitching as AAA, could bat leadoff, giving the Brewers a fast 1-2 in Escobar and Weeks, with braun and Fielder following, and JJ raking in the scraps in the 5 hole. I could see that lineup for a long time- plus gamel at the 6, whoever their CF will be 7th, and the C 8th. That's a pretty powerful lineup.

For whatever reason Gamel just seems like a better long-term answer at 3B. Got a feeling Hardy or Escobar are headed to San Diego soon as part of a package for JP.