Big up to Johnny Damon for his consistent hitting. As I said over at Surviving Grady, Johnny is a ROCK STAR. And frankly, given the Boston media sometimes, we need players who’re rock stars. The script was all ready and written: man spends too much time in the spotlight, forgets how to play, and Damon just tore it up. He’s hitting, he’s running into walls… okay, he’s still got a noodle arm but we’ve always known that.
I don’t get why quiet people who do their job daily are necessarily any more “professional” than people like Damon. While you need a mix of players around to balance the team, do I really want all the players I watch to just punch the clock, play the game, and punch out without panache?
I wonder whether it’s the famed Calvinist streak of New England at play? One that says hard work will get its rewards, and, implicitly, grasshoppers who spend their time looking like they’re loafing (key word is looking: actually, even the so-called ‘rigours’ of a book tour probably leaves enough time to work out) will be punished. Sadly, life doesn’t always follow that script. Some players get to live life large, have a smokin’ wife, and still be among the best leadoff men in baseball.
All those thoughts on the media in advance of the “Queer Eye” guys throwing out the first pitch tomorrow. (Who’da thunk it? I know Boston is liberal but there’s bound to be a few yahoos in the stands; I hope things go smoothly… heck, there’s already some backlash, no thanks to D&C on WEEI.) Yeah, Millar was part of the guys getting made over and his play is shite this year, but so was Damon - bad play is probably not due to the media hogging, methinks…