Johnny Damon returns to the Bronx :How will the fans welcome him?

It was the bottom of the third inning and the Yankees were leading the Phillies 2-1 in game 6 of the 2009 World Series. Derek Jeter had just singled to give the Yanks a runner on first with one out, Johnny Damon came up to face Pedro Martinez for his second at bat of the game. Damon worked the count full before drawing a walk to give the Yankees runners on first a second. Damon would move to second once Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch. Following an Alex Rodriguez strike out Hideki Matsui singled to center scoring Jeter and Damon to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead. The bombers would tack on three more runs, and win the World Series but that walk and run scored by Johnny Damon would be his last inning wearing the pinstripes in a game. Damon was forced to leave the game after that inning with a strained calf.

After becoming one of the few players to win a World Series with the Yankees and the Red Sox, Damon became a free agent. Represented by Scott Boras, Damon was looking for a four year deal. Damon had come off one of his best offensive seasons of his career, but age and poor defensive skills had the Brian Cashman and the Yanks looking for a shorter deal. Both sides couldn't come to an agreement, and Brian Cashman took it upon himself to go out in the meantime and get DH Nick Johnson. Johnny, then came back to the Yanks and said he would take a smaller deal to stay in the Bronx but it was too late.

So the question is what will the reception be like for Johnny Damon ? Earlier this season Hideki Matsui came back and received a huge ovation during the ring ceremony. Matsui also received a warm reception each time he came up to the plate, each game he played at the stadium. So will Damon receive the same ?

Lets remember that Hideki Matsui had played with the Yankees since 2003, had a huge game 6 of the World Series and was named MVP of the series and had wanted to come back to the Yankees in 2010 but the Yanks had no interest in signing him. Damon on the other hand had been a Red Sox prior to coming to the Bronx, and became greedy when negotiating with the Yanks this past off season.

But when it comes down to it, I feel Damon should and will get a nice hand from the crowd. Even though he may not have left on the best terms, when it comes down to it he accomplished what he was brought in to do. Damon won a championship, helped lighten the mood in the clubhouse and was productive during his four years in pinstripes. When the Yanks signed Damon to a four year $52 million deal, many around baseball felt it would be a good deal in the first two years, but his production would have dropped off during the final two. But Damon proved the critics wrong and during those four years his worst offensive stats were hitting .270, 12,63,.351 all of those stats coming in 2007 when Damon was battling depression symptoms, out of shape and thinking of retiring. Other then Damon losing a step in center field, and being forced to move to left field, Damon was worth every dollar of his contract especially when you think of all the clutch hits he had gotten over the years.

 The Yankees have used Damon's bat at times, this is possibly why they went out and got Lance Berkman. Of course looking back on it, many Yankee fans wish the bombers had signed Damon instead of Nick Johnson, who struggled when he was healthy and then did what he does best, got hurt. This season Damon has put up solid numbers but nothing compared to last season. The new Yankee Stadium is perfect for Damon's swing, and that is what helped him have such a great season in 2009. But Brett Gardner is younger and has done a great job playing left field (although they have comparable throwing arms ) and reminds me of Damon at times with the way he fouls off tough pitches.

When Damon steps up to the plate for the first time at Yankee Stadium wearing a Detroit Tigers uniform expect to hear cheers. I know when I'm at the game Wednesday I will cheer for him, but then again I cheered for Matsui and even Jose Molina (What can I say I think hes a great catcher ). Its doubtful but following this season Damon's deal with Detroit is over, and if the Yanks need a DH and someone who could occasionally play left field I think they will know where to turn.

My favorite Johnny Damon moment : The two stolen bases, on the same play in game four of the 2009 World Series. The Yankees were tied with the Phillies in the top of the ninth when Damon went to steal second base. After making it successfully to second Damon stood up and began to run towards third. I immediately began to scream and think what is he doing ! But with Mark Teixiera up, the Phillies had put on a lefty shift, so nobody was covering third base. Damon made it to third base easily and would eventually score the go ahead run for the Yankees on an Alex Rodriguez double.