Johnny Gone

soo Damon’s done…Speaking for myself, I am totally bummed…He has proven what a big time player he is when he’s healthy...This ring was not his first go around; we all remember the other one..The big stage doesn't scare him and his clubhouse leadership is very underrated...And besides, he’s a cool guy...what a darn shame...but once again, an agent’s ego, club stupidity, and and player greediness all conspired to screw things up...there is a spin from every side of this disaster - Damon’s demands being too high, other clubs' interest, Yankees on a budget (yeah right), etc, etc.  The bottom line is that everyone acted like morons. The bar was set for Damon when the Angels signed Abreu for $19 million for two years - not bad and certainly appropriate.  Damon's best bet was still the American League, 'cause no one is giving him three years @ $39 million to play outfield in the NL.   Knowing how fragile he is didn't stop his agent Scott Boras, and unfortunately Damon, from playing Russian Roulette with the Yankees.  The Yankees said they wanted him back and made him a $20 million offer for two years, with a club option.  Damon said he would take now... Duh.  But the Yankees squeezed him, now, with $14 million offer for two years.  C-YA...The Yankees say they can’t afford it, which besides that being total jargon, says that for the sake of another $4 million over two years ($18 million for two years instead of 20), they are willing to lose a really great piece of their championship team.  So every one came to the same negotiating point, when push came to shove, but by then things were screwed up and ego’s were hurt and Johnny’s gone...What a shame...Oh and by the way, in my opinion, the Yankees have definitely downgraded, not upgraded - Damon/Hideki Matsui...52 HR...172 RBI...vs...Curtis Granderson/Nick Johnson 38 HR...133 RBI.   Let’s see, Damon and Matsui for Granderson and Johnson - not too good a trade, is it?  And I thought the Yankees wanted to keep the DH spot open?  For Posada, A-rod, etc.   Otherwise, why didn't they just re-sign Hideki?…Sometimes the Yankees are blind, too.  The Yankees still need another starting pitcher, but they didn't want to spend on John Lackey so the Boston Red Sox closed the gap and they are not done - be sure of that...Oh well, such is life and we all have our own realities.  And 2009 was truly magical and very special, and should last awhile…But if the Yankees are done tweaking and are really waiting for the free agent class of 2010 to spend some more money, it may be a tough October…