Johnny Damon switches sides, joins Yankees
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Johnny Damon proved to be the ignitor at the top of the Boston Red Sox lineup. He routinely got on base to set up the big sluggers Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. He perfectly filled the role of a leadoff hitter. In Red Sox Nation, he will forever be remembered for being a part of Boston's curse-breaking, World Series championship team of 2004. His grand slam in the second inning against the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS put the finishing touches on Boston's improbable comeback from down three games to none, setting up the just as improbable sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
But 2006 will see another side, and another face of Johnny Damon, when he dons the Yankees' pinstripes. Gone is his long hair and beard, in favor of the Yankees' clean-cut look. But New York hopes Damon is still the same spring board he was for Boston in 2004.
Likewise, Carl Yastrzemski never became a Yankee. Jim Rice never became a Yankee. Even Pumpsie Green never became a Yankee (although he did finish up as a Met).
OK, so Wade Boggs and Roger Clemens did in fact take George Steinbrenner's extremely negotiable dollar bills. So it does happen. But that doesn't mean there isn't something very weird about the sight of Johnny Damon in his pinstripes this spring."
Feb. 28, 2006
Damon joins The Machinists 
Johnny Damon: "I thought the first day was awesome. It's great to see a lot of the fans accept me as being a Yankee. You feel proud because you know what you've done over your career and you know what your reputation is, and they know what I can bring to New York."
Jason Giambi: "Everybody sees Johnny Damon for long hair and the beard, but he's a great, great teammate. He's fun to play with. He'll be fun for this team. I think they'll really enjoy having Johnny around."
Feb. 23, 2006
Steinbrenner all but guarantees Yanks WS victory
Jim Caple: "No, the problem is not that Damon left the Red Sox. The problem is he signed with a team that's all wrong for him.
The problem is the dress code.
Sure, Damon was clean-cut before he joined the Red Sox. But this isn't just about the hair. It's about personality and spirit and being yourself instead of being forced into corporate pinstripes that don't suit you. Some players are meant for New York (Jeter) and some players aren't (Giambi). Damon is in a bad fit and his career will suffer (although maybe not as much as Bubba Crosby's)."
Dec. 21, 2005
Damon still an idiot
Buster Olney: "Damon is, for now, exactly what the Yankees needed: A center fielder who could hit leadoff. Last year, Damon had 197 hits and 53 walks, including 51 extra-base hits, and now he will bat ahead of three players who might be Hall of Famers, eventually -- Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield. He'll hit ahead of Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano, and give the Yankees improved athleticism at a time when the team is starved for speed."
Dec. 21, 2005
Yankees prove to be Johnny on the spot
Rob Neyer: "(Pedro) Martinez earned his salary in 2005, and (Johnny) Damon will probably earn his salary in 2006. If I were a Red Sox fan, though, I wouldn't be mourning his loss just yet.
In Damon's four years with the Red Sox, he batted .295/.362/.441 (that's batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage) and played excellent defense in center field. That's almost the very definition of great value.
But Damon, like virtually every other Red Sox hitter since the 1930s, has benefited from his home ballpark. In Damon's four seasons at Fenway Park, he's batted .310/.383/.442. Away from Fenway, he's batted .281/.342/.440."
Dec. 21, 2005
The Stadium isn't as friendly as Fenway
