In 2004 the Red Sox made history and brought a World Series title back to the city of Boston. It was the first the city had seen in 86 years, thanks to a curse caused by trading Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees.
People in the greater Boston area had suffered through Bill Buckner and Aaron Boone, waiting their whole lives for that moment, and after the win much of Red Sox nation claimed they could die happy. The fans bonded around the team nicknamed "the idiots” led by players like caveman look-alike Johnny Damon, David “Big Papi” Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.
As the years pass the faces of the team change and players move on. The fans never forget though and always hold the championship memories close to them.
As Ortiz still remains with the team, Damon and Ramirez have moved on.
Ramirez was traded in a three-team deal to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008, but has been plagued by injuries this season. The Dodgers have questioned his work ethic and are now contemplating putting the left fielder on waivers.
Sources say that if the Dodgers go through with it that the Sox will pick him up immediately. But it most likely would not be the Red Sox but rather the White Sox of Chicago’s Southside.
Chicago was interested in Manny at the trade deadline, but failed to iron out a deal for the 38-year-old. The White Sox could certainly use Manny’s bat as they are still in the AL Central hunt, trailing the Minnesota Twins by four and a half games. He hit .290 last year with 19 home runs and 63 RBI’s in only 104 games.
This leads us to another 2004 hero, Johnny Damon.
Damon was known for his dug out practical jokes, his loose style attitude, his long hair and long beard in Boston. He was one of the key players in the years leading up to 2004.
Damon became a trader in the eyes of the Boston faithful when he signed with the rival New York Yankees in 2006. It was weird to see a much younger clean-shaven Damon in the blue pinstripes. The move was not taken kindly, as fans began wearing anti-Damon gear including t-shirts that said “Johnny Damon: Looks Like Jesus, Acts Like Judas and Throws Like Mary”.
Yesterday the Red Sox claimed the 36-year-old off the waiver wire from Detroit. However, Damon has a clause in his contract that gives him the right to veto a trade to all but eight teams in the league and Boston is not one of those eight.
“My teammates are making this decision easier by saying they want me to stay. My gut and everything else tells me that Detroit's the place for me,” the center fielder told ESPN.
His decision is expected later on in the week.
Boston has been plagued by injuries all year, losing both their centerfielders. But it has also been speculated that Boston might have made the claim simply for the fact that their AL East competitors, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Yankees, might have looked to grab Damon. Boston is trying to catch the Yankees and Rays who they trail by five and a half games in the division. Damon is batting .272 this year with 7 home runs and 41 RBI’s.
Red Sox fans are loyal, but if Damon does wind up back in Boston, how would the locals treat him? It could go both ways, either with open arms or with a showering of boos.
Now we will have to wait until the end of the week to see if the two decide to switch jerseys yet again or finish out the season with their current ball clubs.
