Yankees' Series Shifter Johnny Damon Still Seeking Job

Hideki Matsui, the MVP of the 2009 World Series for the New York Yankees, has moved on, signing with the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent.

That is the kind of move you can make as possibly the game's best desginated hitter.

But what about the guy who changed the series on one heads up play in Game 4 of the 2009 World Series?

Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz had just hit the game-tieing home run off Joba Chamberlain and Citizens Bank Park was rocking, sensing a series tying win in the bottom of the ninth.

But then it happened. I know the details, but the names of the particulars have faded, save Feliz, Johnny Damon and Brad Lidge.

So, with all apologies, I will let Wikipedia tell the details:

In game 4 of the 2009 World Series Damon contributed a memorable play that sparked a three-run rally with two outs in the 9th and the eventual Yankee win.

Facing closer Brad Lidge and a 1-2 count, Damon fouled off pitch after pitch and worked the count full, until singling.

Damon then stole second on Lidge's first pitch to Mark Teixeira , and upon realizing that third base was not covered because of the unusual shift the Phillies had employed on Teixeira, promptly stole third on the same play.

A rattled Lidge then hit Teixeira with a pitch before surrendering the go-ahead game winning RBI to Alex Rodriguez .

My friends and me were texting in anticipation after the Feliz home run and it went something like this:

"Oh, yeah, Pedro!!!!

"Uh, uh, Lidge is coming in the game."

I was licking my chops seeing Phil Coke warming up.

"Things go better with Coke," I text to a friend.

But it seemed like before Rodriguez even got to the plate, Coke sat down and Mariano Rivera got up.

The Yankees could smell blood. And they were right.

But it was all set up by Damon's heads up play.

There were two outs in the inning, when Damon stole second, popped up and headed to a vacant third base.

The Phillies employed the shift on Teixeria as third baseman Pedro Feliz covered second.

When Damon popped up and looked at Feliz, he could see Feliz's momentum shifting toward first base.

He knew Feliz could not catch him, even if the two ran evenly.

A baseball move.

It was heads up. With a man at third, first was now open and Rodriguez was coming to bat. Lidge could no longer throw his slider in the dirt, for fear of the runner scoring from third.

The runs were all set up by Damon's single, which followed with the "double steal."

The Yankees won the game to take a 3-1 series lead, lost Game 5 and closed it out in New York in Game 6.

Yet, Damon, at 36, is without a job. A rumored deal with the Detroit Tigers is not going to happen at least for now.

Melvin Mora, last of the Baltimore Orieles and around the same age as Damon is a .278 career hitter. Damon is a .288 career hitter.

Mora recently signed a deal with the Colorado Rockies.

I have read that Damon might want too much money, yet was willing to take a cut to resign with the Yankees.

And son, I am here to tell you, that move that Damon made, taking third with two outs, well, you just don't teach that to a player.

It is instincts.

Moreover, baseball is becoming a game of the haves and have nots.

I can't believe that Damon is a have not.

He will get a job at least by midseason.

I am just surprised that this veteran outfielder, a gem of a baseball player, is still without a job.