As another year draws to an end, the holiday season is grasping people from all over. The rush to give gifts and the wait to receive them is foremost on the mind of many. The fact that a person may not deserve a gift or there maybe little love between giver and recipient is of little consequence. If potential giver is likely to be recipient of another giver, then potential giver becomes giver. Across the country neighbors and co-workers who are very low on gift giving lists will receive gifts anyway. This passage of presents mixed with a pinch of “love” often smells worse than old eggnog. It is for this very reason that Johnny Damon’s decision to sign with the New York Yankees instead of the Boston Red Sox represents a simpler spirit of Christmas. Damon chose the Yankees and the Red Sox got what they deserved. A year removed from winning their first world title in 86 years and the Red Sox organization apparently feels that those responsible for this accomplishment are expendable. Team president Larry Lucchino’s power struggle with general manager Theo Epstein, forced Epstein out the door. Apparently the organization’s take was Epstein needed to put the ball club ahead of personal status and monetary concerns. After initiating the moves that brought Boston its long-sought-after World Series win, Epstein thought otherwise. Thus the Red Sox organization is weaker as two of Epstein’s assistants are filling his shoes serving as co-general managers.
Add to this the loss of Edgar Renteria and the potential loss of Many Ramirez and Boston looks even more unstable. Unlike the Red Sox, the Yankees have once again done all it could to be the envy of every club in baseball. Already possessing a roster that was the majors’ most talented, New York took steps to stay ahead of the competition. Re-signing outfielder Hideki Matsui to a long-term contract was painless. As was giving premium dollar to setup man Kyle Farnsworth. It is quite obvious that when it comes to the health of the organization, the Yankees are in a better position than the Red Sox. If a free agent from another team chose New York over Boston, the signing would barely get a second look. Since Damon left the Red Sox to join the rival Yankees, he is a traitor. No, feeling the spirit of Christmas’ past he is giving both teams what they deserve.
He is also is doing what is in his heart. So the Yankees are in 52 million parts of his heart. That does not matter. Money meant something to Damon. The Red Sox eventually found this out and failed to act on pleasing their all-star outfielder. Damon may have given them a false sense of security, stating that he would never go to the Yankees, not even for the money. At that time he still had that pseudo love for Boston, for those Red Sox fans. As those grandiose feelings he thought was in his heart did not manifest themselves, a better chance at winning, money, and whatever else a ballplayer values ultimately settled in his brain. Damon was not about to give himself to Boston on the cheap just because it would have been a great symbolic gesture. Damon gave himself to a team in which not only his signing was meaningful to them, but it was meaningful to him also.
Do not feel sorry for the Red Sox. They are not Tiny Tim and the Yankees are not Ebenezer Scrooge. This is more like Ebenezer Scrooge versus Scrooge McDuck. Boston’s payroll may not be as high as the Yankees, but it has been larger than any other big league team. Both clubs are the only teams to be hit with the luxury tax. Damon saw the true picture of both teams and made his choice in this battle of the elite. He chose to give to the team that worked harder for his services. Never mind the other team tried to win him over with sentimentality, he did what felt right to him. As gifts are about to exchange this year let the lesson of Johnny Damon and holidays past sink in. Give from the heart to those in the heart.
One reply on “Yankee Acquisition Brings Back Christmas of Yesterday”
I really hope he’s not a bust I don’t like him very much to begin with since he went to Boston a few years back, so he’s going to need to do a lot to get on my good side. I used to love him when he was younger and with the Royals and A’s and I really wished the Yanks would have snagged him when the Sox did. But that was when he was YOUNG.