As Red Sox Nation sits down on their collective couches hoping for an implosion in the Bronx, we continue to look at Johnny Damon with wonder.  Here is a 35 year old outfielder that has had a physical metamorphosis only equalled to classic rocker Jim Morrison. Finishing the regular season with a .282 batting average, 24 home runs and 82 r.b.i. he was one of the quiet leaders as the Yankees brought in three high priced free agents(C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeria).  Now don't get me wrong he has had his ups and downs in the post season. Still with that never say die attitude he sent a message to The Phillies with a 9 pitch at bat against Brad Lidge serving a single into the outfield with 2-outs in game 4 of the World Series. A few pitches later stealing second base and making the play of The World Series taking third base when no one was covering. Heads up baseball that will wake up a team.  After five games Damon is on the short list of M.V.P. candidates for the series. Look at the .382 batting average but more importantly it's the way he never goes down quietly while at the plate. He has mastered fouling off pitches with two strikes as well as Red Sox great Wade Boggs.  That skill clearly got into the head of Phillies closer Brad Lidge, throwing a fast ball when his best pitch is the curve or split fingered pitch.  With all the press on the Bronx Bombers high priced free agents I am not shocked the only two players batting over .300 for the series are Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter.  They come to play when the games mean the most.  With the Red Sox looking for an outfielder if and when Jason Bay leaves the Sox, would you take a flier on a 35 year old Johnny Damon? At that age it would have to be for short years however he is the one Red Sox star their front office let go that did have value for the length of his contract after he left.

Comments (8)

Matt O'Donnell said:

	... With the Monster he could play in a little in left and actually throw the ball into the infield on one hop.
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November 04, 2009 | url
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Clyde Lovett said:

No Thanks. He's not that great. Plus ... It would be a very bitter pill for Red Sox Nation to swallow to see him in a Red Sox uniform again. It takes 2 to tango - the front office may have "let him go" but likewise he did not stay. One of the most charactered players of 2004, he found it ok to go into the molded-cookie cutter of the Yankee organization. He made that bed now he can sleep in it. If this were 2004 post season I would rally for him to stay. I wish that things had played out differently back then. I wish he remained in Boston and he had developed his "exotic character" with talent development in parallel. But now, given the history, I think he would upset the people who ultimately pay the bills, the fans and won't bring talent enough to compensate. He's had a good World Series. Maybe this is his Swan Song. This fan says, "No thanks."

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November 04, 2009
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Craigga said:

	NO! I dont want him back! I actually covered that a bit in my post today about why Sox fans have a vested interest in the series.
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SoxMeRed said:

	OMG "With the Red Sox looking for an outfielder if and when Jason Bay leaves the Sox, would you take a flier on a 35 year old Johnny Damon?" Why would you even think such a thing? There are far better players to be had. The Red Sox are looking towards Garret Anderson and Matt Holliday. The Jason Bay offer was a bye bye under offer.
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Matt O'Donnell said:

	... I for one would prefer to have Damon over Anderson but the Sox NEED to get Bay or Holliday for next season. Thanks for getting some debate started here Bill, nice to have you on Fenway West.
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Red Sox Sonoma (aka Sonoma Dave) said:

... Yes, he's still playing well. Even if Theo and Damon could agree to terms (big if), I would think that most fans would not want him back and let the FO know about it big time. I know Theo doesn't give a RA about want the fans think when we play armchair GM, but think about this. This is a guy who in May said how much he loves playing in Boston, I love the fans here, yadda, yadda. Then 2 seconds after King George unzips his wallet, zoom! Demon bolts to the evil empire. That's like sayin' "Oh honey I won't come in your mouth. Oops."

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Red Sox Sonoma (aka Sonoma Dave) said:

	... And another big welcome to the club to you, too!
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Strully said:

	... Great player that he is, and great postseason that he's having, it'd still be a helluva slap-in-the-face to return to the Red Sox. BayBay, or Anderson, or Halliday, or anyone else, are welcome over there in LF. Not Damon.
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