MLB - Sports Rumors

Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:37 am EDT

Steinbrenner: 'Damon is not Branch Rickey'

By Joe Zedalis

Johnny Damon

Getty Images

Do your own jobs, and stop worrying about Joba. That was Hank Steinbrenner's strongly worded message Friday for Johnny Damon or any other veteran Yankee who wants to see Joba Chamberlain switched back to the bullpen according to the New York Daily News.

"I love Johnny Damon as a player and a person, and he's really doing the job right now. But let's be honest here, he's not Branch Rickey," Steinbrenner told the Daily News in a telephone interview before Friday night's game against the Royals, referring to the legendary baseball executive. "Johnny is a player, and as players, they all need to let the brain trust do the thinking and do the talking. The players just need to play and to worry about winning games."

Damon made the point in the Daily News earlier this week that the Yankees have a better chance to win more often with Chamberlain remaining in his lights-out setup role, instead of being converted back into a starter during the season. Damon and the Yankees were annoyed by The News' "It's Bull" headline on Thursday's back page, but the always-honest outfielder simply was vocalizing the concerns of several players and fans in the ongoing Joba debate.

Source: New York Daily NewsNew Window

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71 Comments

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  1. josh h
    1. Posted by josh h Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:05 pm EDT

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    Steinbrenner is no Branch Rickey himself. "Let the brain trust do the thinking".....laughable....it's not his keen baseball knowledge that got him his job. He's nothing more than a silver spooner.
  2. Jessica
    2. Posted by Jessica Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    "I knew Branch Rickey and Hank Steinbrenner is no Branch Rickey." --- Dan Quayle
  3. jamiew1011
    3. Posted by jamiew1011 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    I'm as big of a Joba fan as there is. I'm from Lincoln NE and have watched Joba since he was young. I know he is capable of being a lights out pitcher, either as a starter or a setup man. I think Damon could be right about his assessment. However, if you look at the Yankees starting rotation, what other choice do they have? I guess time will tell.
  4. Thomasdu77y
    4. Posted by Thomasdu77y Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    What a circus!
  5. baseballguru34
    5. Posted by baseballguru34 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Who cares they are in last place. Tampa Bay is going to be a better team for years to come. I hear chants of "rebuilding year" and "2000".
  6. zubee
    6. Posted by zubee Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:49 pm EDT

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    Yes, Damon is no Branch Rickey and Hank certainly is no Papa Steinbrenner, with the exception of exhaling a lot of hot air. He is right about one thing though, he should let the GM do his job without any interference.
  7. The Real Deal
    7. Posted by The Real Deal Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    Somehow "Hank Steinbrenner" and "brain trust" don't seem to go together. lol
  8. Rynomite
    8. Posted by Rynomite Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    Make him a starter next year. He's gonna give them 4-6 ineffective starts with 60-90 pitches each and abuse their bullpen. When he can pitch 7 innings we'll see. I'm all for Joba being a starter, but stretch him out during spring training.
  9. stewie
    9. Posted by stewie Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:31 pm EDT

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    to Hanky boy Damon is entitled to his opinion ! What he forgot about baseball you didn t even learn yet. we know you have enough money to buy a hospital, but that wouldn t make you a brain surgeon. all we need from you is to put up the cash nothing more , nothing less. leave the baseball to the people who know it. You couldn t be a good pimple on your dads backside.
  10. Connor F
    10. Posted by Connor F Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    the bronx zoo is back!
  11. stolen again......lame
    11. Posted by stolen again......lame Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Hank is the face of the Yankees. The buck stops with him. He is their leader.
  12. Bryan F
    12. Posted by Bryan F Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    Hank Steinbrenner: Grand Prize Winner of the Genetic Lottery
  13. Older_than_Moses_Shaq
    13. Posted by Older_than_Moses_Shaq Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    I was going to comment then I considered the source.
  14. roadglide
    14. Posted by roadglide Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:49 pm EDT

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    im sure glad they got joe girardi instead of the baltimore lolllllll
  15. David P
    15. Posted by David P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Since when did Hank know anything about baseball? Has ever been a scout, or GM?
  16. Travis P
    16. Posted by Travis P Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    If I'm not mistaken Johnny Damon is a "Baseball Player," not some guy who hit the genetic lottery, I not only trust Damon's opinon more than Hank's , this time I agree with him, as good as Joba is and could possibly be as a starter, he is already that good as a set up man, Hank needs to stop trying to quick fix. Joba has more involvement with winning games if he can pitch every other day or so VS every five to six. Hank, leave the baseball decisions up to the people who know what the right move is, and stop trying to be like the old man . . . Old man Steinbrenner needs to slap the boy around a little!
  17. Jab
    17. Posted by Jab Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    doesn't matter whether damon is right. once you take steinbrenner's money you're just his little dancing monkey in pinstripes.
  18. ken
    18. Posted by ken Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    hank, your not gene autry, stop with the nonsense of bashing your player, i wonder if jeter or arod had made the statement if you would have thrown them under the bus, hank you are like that saying, children should be seen and not heard.making comments about your players wont help things, it just makes things worse, didnt you learne from daddy and billy or billy and reggie?
  19. RiskyBusiness
    19. Posted by RiskyBusiness Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    No good thought has ever come from a brain trust.
  20. ken
    20. Posted by ken Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    isnt hank getting brain trust confused with trust fund????silverspoon slacker
  21. pg
    21. Posted by pg Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:50 pm EDT

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    Silly Johnny Damon wants to win ballgames this year and get out of last place. Obviously Hank's vast experience running a baseball team trumps Damon's insight.
    Shut up and count daddy's money, Hank.
  22. Trailer
    22. Posted by Trailer Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    6-6... that does that job.
  23. jd 1
    23. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    Hank, is just like pop, say things to get the back page of the News and Post. Bashers eat it up like cake, sells newpapers, and keeps the Yanks in the news, and helps sell merchadise, real stupid. LMAO What a bunch of dopes.
  24. Connor F
    24. Posted by Connor F Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    eh George Steinbrenner knew nothing about baseball when he got his job and he built 2 dynasties. Maybe Hank will figure out what he's doing, if not we always have Hal and Cashman.
  25. jd 1
    25. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    connor,George bought the team for 10 mill, its worth 1.5 billion now. Very stupid Guy.

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