Johnny Damon is Trying Too Hard

Given half the baseball players out there (it seems) have some sort of facial hair, it's weird to think that it's been more than eight years since Johnny Damon broke tradition and grew out his chin whiskers.

Now, I love Johnny Damon.  It's true.  But, unless he's up for the part of "punky younger brother" on some hackneyed ABC Family sitcom, the 39-year-old might want to see a different stylist.

This past weekend, Damon and his wife Michelle showed up at the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards this past weekend in Las Vegas sporting an unflattering look.

Yuck.  I'm not sure what constitutes a mid-life crisis, but if the unemployed outfielder has taught me anything...it includes the words "faux" and "hawk".

Cleveland Releases Johnny Damon

Five days ago, the Cleveland Indians designated Johnny Damon for assignment.  Thursday, the 38-year-old outfielder was released.

What say you, Twittersphere!

Sweet ass or not, Damon had been struggling this year for the Tribe, hitting just .222 in 64 games. He did manage, however, to inch closer to the 3000 hit plateau.

Dude leaves Cleveland with 2769 base knocks on his resume.

Report: Johnny Damon to Join Cleveland

Sitting just 277 hits from 3000, Johnny Damon is set to continue his march to the milestone as a member of the Cleveland Indians.

Or so tweets FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

The 38-year-old Damon hit .261 with 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases last year for the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Tribe will be the outfielder's fourth team in as many years.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Johnny Damon Supports Former Teammate; Eyes Return to Tampa

I guess this is what happens when boring teams (yes, I said it) make the postseason.

I mean, no disrespect to the four teams still alive, but it seems that without the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox involved...people are scrambling to find news.

The other day, the interwebs were buzzing with news that Jonathan Papelbon was (gasp!) partying in New Orleans with some friends.

And I know what you're thinking...who cares? 

Apparently the Thirty Mile Zone does.  So much so, they asked the Boston closer's former teammate Johnny Damon about it as he walked the streets of Hollywood Tuesday night.

But...his take on the Papelbon (non) controversy isn't what I found interesting.

Watch!

Johnny Damon Makes History

When Johnny Damon hit a walk-off home run in the 10th inning of Thursday night's Tampa Bay Rays-Minnesota Twins game, the 10,042 in attendance probably didn't know that they witnessed history.

How do you ask?

Well...check out this offering from Marc Tompin of the St. Petersburg Times:

Damon became the first major-leaguer to hit walkoff homers for five different teams, having also done the deed for the Royals, Red Sox, Yankees, and Tigers (twice).

I realize I didn't dig up the stat first...but when you bust that out this weekend and tell your friends...please say you saw it here.

Tampa Bay Enlists Damon and Ramirez

Last month, stories started circulating that Johnny Damon was looking to play closer to his Orlando home and sign with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Also part of that story...Gary Sheffield.

Well, here we are, a month later, and the Damon story has come to a close.  According to numerous sources, the 37-year-old outfielder has agreed to a $5.25 million dollar deal (plus incentives) to suit up for the Rays this upcoming season.

And while the Sheffield part of the afore mentioned story didn't pan out...the "Damon to the Rays" headline doesn't end there.

Joining Damon in Tampa Bay...his former Boston Red Sox teammate Manny Ramirez.

That's right.  The Rays, who have been losing players left and right this offseason, opened up the checkbook and inked both Damon and Ramirez.

There's a zillion punchlines to be made here...but I think Jonah Keri summed it up best.

Throw in Kevin Millar, Dave Roberts, and Pedro's little person, and les jeux d'idiots sont fait.

Last season with the Detroit Tigers, Damon hit .271 in 145 games. For his career, he is a .287 hitter and is sixth among active players with 2571 hits...two behind Ramirez and his 2573.

And speaking of Damon's teammate with the 2004 World Champion BoSox...he hit .298 with nine home runs in just 90 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.  With 555 home runs, the 12 time All-Star is third (behind only Alex Rodriguez and Jim Thome) among active players.

Pair of Veterans Look to Join the Rays

In an obvious effort to re-create my 2002 fantasy baseball team, the Tampa Bay Rays are being courted by a couple of veterans.

Yes, similar to the Manny Ramirez-to-the-Blue Jays rumors...free agents (and former New York Yankees teammates) Johnny Damon and Gary Sheffield both said Tuesday night that they'd be interested in signing with the Rays.

This...according to the St. Petersburg Times:

Damon, 37, talked with the Rays last spring before signing with Detroit, but they didn’t have a regular role for him, not with Carl Crawford in leftfield and Pat Burrell at DH. Now the Rays have an opening in leftfield, and Damon - who is looking for a team close to his Orlando home - would like to fill it.

Tampa’s Sheffield, 42, wants to play again after sitting out last season, and very much would like to do so as the DH for his hometown team. Sheffield, who has 509 career homers, said financial terms wouldn’t be an issue: " We can work that out."

Last season with the Tigers, Damon hit .271 in 145 games.  For his career, he is a .287 hitter and is sixth among active players with 2571 hits.

Sheffield sat out all 2010 after not being offered a contract extension by the New York Mets.  He ranks in the top 25 all-time in home runs (509) and RBI (1676) and is the only player in Major League history to hit at least 25 home runs for 6 different teams.

Johnny Damon...Back to BeanTown?

Six weeks ago, the talk here at The Hall of Very Good was whether or not Johnny Damon was a Hall of Fame caliber player.

Today...there is word that he might be heading back to the Boston Red Sox.

Here's the skinny. The current Detroit Tiger outfielder was placed on waivers by the team. Boston, one of the teams from which Damon has no-trade protection, put in a claim for the one-time BeanTown hero.

"At this moment, I'm not sure I want to leave Detroit for (the Red Sox)," Damon said, according to tigers.com. "I enjoy playing here. But obviously, (Red Sox manager) Terry Francona is amazing...it's something that I'm going to have think long and hard over."

Currently, the famous formerly Bearded One is batting .270 for the Tigers, with just seven homers and 40 RBI.

For his career, he is sixth among active players with 2536 hits. Recently Damon surpassed Hall of Famers Joe Morgan and Heinie Manush on the all-time hits list.

He has has until Wednesday to decide whether he would waive his no-trade clause to return to Fenway Park.

Johnny Damon...Hall of Famer?

Alright...don't let the title fool you. Even though I am a huge Johnny Damon fan (it's true), I am not about to reserve him a place in Cooperstown.

But here's the deal...it isn't THAT far fetched to think he might have an outside shot at being enshrined. With a third inning single Tuesday night against the Orioles, the Tigers outfielder reached 2500 hits for his career.


In the 11th...he added to his career total with a walk-off homer.

Should he stay injury-free, 3000 hits (which, to this point, has guaranteed an invitation to the Hall of Fame) is within reach.

Consider this..Damon hasn't had less than 144 hits since his second full year in the bigs (1997) and this season, he is on pace for 148. Should he get to 148, he would end the season with 2573 and put him at 3000 by averaging 143 in three more seasons.

He needs 25 more hits to pass Hall of Famers Joe Morgan and Heinie Manush.

“You play the game long enough and you put yourself in pretty good company,” the 36 year-old Damon said following the game. “We can look at my numbers before I turn 40 and see what kind of career I’ve had.

As it stands right now, he's the 92nd player to reach the 2500 milestone and sits seventh among active players.