Rays get Manny and Damon, Blue Jay dump Wells. What move effects the bombers more?

Manny: Its OK Johnny we will be teammates
 again in 2011

It wasn't long ago that Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon were causing destruction at Yankee Stadium, actually it may have been longer then I have realized. It will have been 6 years since Damon and Manny were Red Sox teammates, that ended when Damon jumped to the right side of the rivalry and became a Yankee. But the pair of 2004 World Champions, will be reunited this season with the Tampa Bay Rays. Damon was able to squeeze $5.25 Million from the Rays while Manny will take just $2 million, a far cry from his $18+ Million salary last season.

While the Rays were adding offense in Damon and Manny, the Blue Jays were trading away 31 home runs and 88 RBI's. At first though I was surprised at how the Jays would want to trade away that offense, especially since trading Shaun Marcum arguably there second best pitcher has hurt the rotation. But when you look at the fact that the Jays were able to receive Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera in return and didn't have to pay a penny of the $86 million remaining of Wells deal. This is a move that may not come to hurt the Yankees at the moment, in fact it may help the Yankees since losing Wells is a big hit to the Jays offense, but this deal will be freeing up alot of cash for the Jays. Juan Rivera will be in the final season of his contract, so his numbers come of the books after the year, and Mike Napoli fits the need at catcher. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Jays add a big free agent next winter.

So long Jorge, sorry for hitting .307/28/104 against you
guys, over the course of my career (161 games against).

Ramirez and Damon only had a combined 18 home runs and 93 RBI last season, a decent number for a single player, but not two combined. The Rays are looking for offense, having lost Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford this off season (along with practically the entire bullpen). Manny and Damon will help the Rays on offense but both are over 37 years old  and a shell of what they use to be. Also take into account the fact that neither can play defense anymore, makes them a pair of DH's or liabilities in the field. So while the Rays newest members may be Yankee killers in the past, the move doesn't really hurt the Yankees, since facing Damon/Ramirez in 2011 is better then facing Crawford/Pena in 2011. On the other hand the Jays trading away Vernon Wells weakens them in the short run, but may hurt the entire AL East in the long run, as their pitchers begin to mature they will have lots of $ to spend during free agency to improve the team.

Yankee Stadium Experience 8/18 Yanks vs Tigers

8/18 tix with Jorge and Mo on them.

It was time to head back up to the Bronx, this time to see former Yankee Johnny Damon and the Tigers. I had on my Yankees Damon jersey and was looking forward to seeing him during batting practice in left field. Once I got to the stadium, it was drizzling and Damon was shagging fly balls in center field. Damon would eventually head in to take his turn hitting but by that time security had kicked all the fans out of the field level that didn't belong.

So it was up to my seats in the bleachers, I had noticed it a few times but in the bleachers behind section 237/238 area there is a sign that says "Advanced ticket kiosk", yet no kiosk is in sight  only hot dog and beer vendor.

Wholly Guacamole nachos for $8.50

Since my friend and I had some time to kill before the game we grabbed nachos from Wholly Guacamole. For $8.50 they gave you a fair amount of nachos along with as many toppings as you want. In other stadium news I also saw somebody actually buy a shirt and program from the souvenir stand located below my seats. For most of the season, it seemed as if nobody even would look at the small stand but i guess tonight was their lucky night. I'll never understand paying $30 for a player tee when if you go to modells you can get them for $18.

The line ups were announced and Damon got a warm reception, nothing Matsui like but still a nice cheer, Damon was 1-3 with a stolen base. It was Jeremy Bonderman who was once suppose to be a star against Dustin Moseley. The Yanks got a quick lead on back to back homers by Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano, but not before Brett Gardner was hit by a pitch. The Gardner hit by pitch was something I had expected after Monday when he slid hard into second to try and break up a double play, Carlos Guillen was hurt on the play and has missed the past few games.

Moseley was so-so for his five innings he was in the game, he did give up two bombs to Miguel Cabrera (who had hit a ball 15 rows up in the left field bleachers during batting practice and left a dent on the bench). But the Yanks offense woke up, even Ramiro Pena joined the cause with a RBI triple (who needs A-Rod !). Curtis Granderson also would add a homer against his former team. Granderson seems ready to break out of his season long slump, although he did strike out against a lefty with the bases loaded later in the game.

For this game I was sitting in my bleacher seats in 235, at the start of the game even with the Yanks offense putting some runs on the board the crowd really didn't seem into the game. By the fifth with the Yanks holding a 7-4 lead the bleachers got a bit rowdier. It started with a fight a few sections over between two girls, both being ejected. Thought out the game I heard a few Detroit sucks chants and the ol' A-hole chant (not exactly that way but you should get the point).

As the Yankees pounded away at the Tigers holding a 9-4 lead in the eighth, the Yanks called Chad Gaudin in. Gaudin hit the first batter Miguel Cabrera and then proceeded to load the bases. A grand slam would have lead to the lead cut to one, but apparently to some it didn't matter. The people in section 235 were to busy trying to start the wave. The wave starters kept trying and started to get off the wave a few times, and since 235 of the bleachers is right below, yet next to the main section. One fan was trying to convince the wave starters to start the wave towards the main section, while leaning over the railing I made sure to tell him to jump. The Yanks managed to get out of the inning by only allowing one run, and for myself I was lucky that the fans finally stopped trying to do the wave.

This is not the same sign, but you get the point

The Yankees would nail down the 9-5 victory by bringing in the great Mariano Rivera to finish it. Through out the game I had noticed that the security at the stadium now holds small stop signs at the top of each section. On the sign it reads to please be curtious and wait until the end of the at bat to go to your seat. It is a great idea since it can get really annoying with people walking up and down sections, but the bleacher guards didn't have any sign. I guess the figure that for the fans paying the cheapest tickets, it doesn't matter if they get bothered with people moving around all game.

Overall it was one of the rowdier games of the season, even though it wasn't against an opponent that the Yanks have had a long history with. It should be noted that this was the bombers first win that I had attended since June, I had been on a three game losing streak. The final from the Bronx : Yankees 9 Tigers 5

Next probable game September 1st vs the Oakland A's.

Oh, and one last note, when Jorge Posada comes up I am all for the hip,hip Jorge chants. But if nobody is responding please do not continue to yell it. It just seems silly when a fan keeps yelling hip hip.

Some Pictures from the game :

Looks like this places has closed down, it was right across from the old stadium.

Over cast Yankee Stadium.

View from left field during batting practice.

What was once a tray of nachos is now empty. Nice Yankees logo at the bottom.

The shop that I never see anyone buy stuff from until tonight.

The crowd early in the game.

May have been a quiet crowd at the start but once the camera guy comes around people wake up and try and get on the big screen.

The people in my row kept moving over and eventually this is what my size of my seat turned into.

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.

Sunday Preview : A.J Burnett vs Josh Beckett

It seems that every time the Yanks and Sox get together, A.J Burnett and Josh Beckett face off. Well once again tonight on ESPN sunday night baseball the two former Marlin teammates will face each other at the stadium. Its always a good match up on paper but when its game time it turns into a slug fest. Burnett was brought to the Bronx for many reasons, one was for his dominance over the Red Sox. Well since coming to the Bronx, Burnett has had his struggles with the Sox. The same could be said about Josh Beckett, the pitcher that dominated the Yanks in the 2003 World Series. Outside of the 2003 World Series, Beckett has had his struggles against the bombers, although his record is 9-6 he has an ERA of 5.95.  So with that all said lets take a look at what tonight's game could be like, from past times that Burnett and Beckett have faced off.

April 25,2009 Fenway Park

It would be the first time that A.J Burnett would face the Red Sox wearing the pinstripes. The Yankees jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first off Beckett and didn't stop their, tacking on 4 more runs, giving Burnett a 6-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth is when Burnett would run into some trouble giving up 5 runs, and then gave up another three in the bottom of the fifth. That would be all for A.J for the day and he would leave with a line of 5 innings pitched , 8 hits, 3 walks and 8 earned runs. Lucky for A.J although he blew a 6-0 lead the Yanks would get him off the hook with a 2 run homer by Johnny Damon off Josh Beckett. Beckett would also only pitch 5 innings and gave up 8 earned runs. The Yankees managed to let this game slip away from them when the bullpen blew up just as bad as Burnett. The final was Boston 16 New York 11.

June 9, 2009 Fenway Park

The Yanks had been rolling high heading into Fenway winning 6 out of their last 8 games and managed to find themselves going into the game in first with a one game lead over the Red Sox. A.J Burnett was unable to keep the momentum going just 2.2 innings and getting knocked around for 5 runs (3 ER, 2 runs scored due to a A-Rod error). Burnett's main issue was command, walking five batters. Beckett on the other hand had no issue with command giving up just two walks and while striking out eight. Beckett had the advantage on this one and pitched like it was the 2003 World Series giving up just one hit. The final score from Fenway Park ,Boston 7 New York 0

August 7, 2009 Yankee Stadium

A year ago yesterday Burnett and Beckett faced off in a classic pitchers dual in the Bronx. Burnett pitched 7.2 scoreless innings while only allowing a single hit. Josh Beckett was also matching zero's pitching seven innings, giving up just four hits and zero runs. Many Yankees fans remember this game because the game would go on for 15 innings ! Finally the bombers prevailed when Alex Rodriguez hit a 2 run home run off Junichi Tazawa to deep left field. The final Yankees 2 Red Sox 0

August 8 , 2010 Yankee Stadium

So tonight's game could go either way. We have seen the pair toss up zero's, but also get roughed up. Some players that each pitcher has to watch out for tonight.

A.J Burnett has struggled against : Marco Scutaro is hitting .316, and David Ortiz has 3 home runs and 8 RBI

Josh Beckett has struggled against : Robinson Cano .341,3 HR, 10 RBI , Derek Jeter .314 2 HR , 4 RBI and Alex Rodriguez .279 2 HR 10 RBI.