WFAN's "Mike and the Mad Dog" play Devil's Advocate

Mike Francessa: "The Yankee fans and the press - who should know better - who have already called off the 2006 AL East pennant race before New Year's Day - are nuts, NUTS! This Damon signing is not going to destroy the Red Sox. Only Damon and his flunky wife think that. The Red Sox administration has been anything but prudent. Do you want to sign Pedro Martinez at 26 to a high contract? Yes. Do you want to do the same thing when he's almost 33. No. Do you sign Johnny Damon to a solid contract at 28? Yes. Do you re-up a weak-armed, overrated player at 32? No. The Yanks ended up signing a player who is another Bernie Williams approaching his mid-thirties! The Yankees DON'T NEED DAMON - they need pitching. Tell me, Dog, which team has improved its pitching staff since last season? The Red Sox!! Beckett scares THE HELL OUT OF ME and Papelbon isn't far behind. I hear that Roger is serious about going to Boston - if that's true - who's in greater shape? In baseball, pitching always wins out."

Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo: "Ah, Damon's signing is absurd. Absurd! And can we remind everyone that the Red Sox have a deep farm system and will not give someone like Kevin Millwood or Brett Tomko a ridiculous contract. They know better. They know better. Let the Buster Olney's of the world bitch and moan but the Red Sox are being smart here. Smart."

Mad Dog Russo: And another thing - Damon couldn't wait to tell us last Memorial Day that he would never ever sign with the Yankess under any circumstances! What a phony. I'll never believe anything that comes out of his mouth. Never.

Francessa: He thinks he's irreplaceable, but he's not. Now Tom Brady is irreplaceable, but Johnny Damon? That's a joke!