Parting is such a sweet sorrow. In the case of Johnny Damon and the New York Yankees, it's a sad, bitter end to a successful career in the Bronx.
Both sides tried to put the best face on the situation although they were also quick to point fingers at each other. But it's sad for everyone when a successful collaboration comes to an end. Although his defensive skills were on the decline, Damon proved to be the perfect number 2 hitter behind Yankee Captain Derek Jeter. He could still engage in gritty at-bats and change games on the bases, as he did in Game 4 of the World Series last year against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Both sides are at fault here. Ultimately, Damon has to take the blame for not coming off his contract demands before the Yankees started looking elsewhere. Damon's comments that he didn't want to start a trend of older players taking less money is ludicrous. It's quite common for players to get smaller deals during the last few years of their careers. That's sounds like agent Scott Boras filling his head, but it's up to the player to take control in these situations so they don't end up out of a job.
Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner, all of sudden concerned with a budget after years of out-of-control spending, could have been more flexible in not initially demanding Damon take a 50% paycut after the year he had or offering more than the $2 million they stuck to at the end. I don't believe for a second they could not have met Damon and Boras halfway when a few million was all that stood between them and the continuation of Damon's productive career in the Bronx.
Both sides tried to put the best face on the situation although they were also quick to point fingers at each other. But it's sad for everyone when a successful collaboration comes to an end. Although his defensive skills were on the decline, Damon proved to be the perfect number 2 hitter behind Yankee Captain Derek Jeter. He could still engage in gritty at-bats and change games on the bases, as he did in Game 4 of the World Series last year against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Both sides are at fault here. Ultimately, Damon has to take the blame for not coming off his contract demands before the Yankees started looking elsewhere. Damon's comments that he didn't want to start a trend of older players taking less money is ludicrous. It's quite common for players to get smaller deals during the last few years of their careers. That's sounds like agent Scott Boras filling his head, but it's up to the player to take control in these situations so they don't end up out of a job.
Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner, all of sudden concerned with a budget after years of out-of-control spending, could have been more flexible in not initially demanding Damon take a 50% paycut after the year he had or offering more than the $2 million they stuck to at the end. I don't believe for a second they could not have met Damon and Boras halfway when a few million was all that stood between them and the continuation of Damon's productive career in the Bronx.
Very sad indeed =(
Thanks to Ken N and Mattingly23 via Wikipedia for the photo.
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