MLB

How will Jacoby Ellsbury handle Boston’s boos? Ask Johnny Damon

BOSTON — Johnny Damon didn’t tip off Jacoby Ellsbury about returning to Fenway Park as a Yankee when they talked briefly recently at Yankee Stadium.

Yet the former Red Sox believes the booing Ellsbury is going to get Tuesday night when he steps into the batter’s box won’t affect him.

“It’s going to be great for Ellsbury to go back,’’ Damon said by phone Monday. “The fact that almost everybody will be booing will make it easier. That would be tougher on certain individuals, but the good thing about him is that he plays hard.’’

Like Damon did in 2006, Ellsbury changed caps in the fiercest rivalry in sports.

When Damon returned to Fenway Park as a Yankee, he expected the boos from people who didn’t understand the business side of baseball or that the Red Sox wanted Coco Crisp to play center and were looking at Ellsbury down the road.

So, Damon tipped his helmet to the crowd as an ice-breaker.

“I knew all the fans weren’t booing,’’ Damon recalled. “I did a lot of things there. I brought a different attitude to the clubhouse and helped with a championship. To those who were booing, the hell with them.’’

Johnny Damon
Ellsbury, who signed a seven-year deal worth $153 million with the Yankees after helping the Red Sox win the 2013 World Series, hasn’t stayed up nights wondering what the reaction will be.

“We will see what happens when the time comes,” Ellsbury said. “You can’t think about what they are going to do. In this game, you can only focus on what you can do. You can’t worry about the other stuff you can’t control. I gave the organization everything I had for a third of my life.’’

Just because Damon heard boos and some cheers doesn’t have Ellsbury expecting the same treatment.

“Every situation is different, the one I think of is Johnny who came back,’’ Ellsbury said. “You look at Nomar [Garciaparra], but every situation is different. It’s not going to be the same. Look at Yuke [Kevin Youkilis]. I am not going to think about it too much, it’s out of my hands.’’

Yet Ellsbury isn’t walking into New England’s living room thinking it’s Oakland, Seattle or Kansas City.

“I am definitely aware of it,’’ Ellsbury said of the bitter rivalry. “I have seen how passionate [Red Sox fans] are, but I am not going to think about it too much.’’

Ellsbury got a primer when the Red Sox were in The Bronx for four games from April 10 to 13 and he went 5-for-14 (.357) to help the Yankees take three of four from the defending World Series champions.


A bullpen that has been very good gets stronger Tuesday night when David Robertson is expected to return from the disabled list. Robertson hasn’t pitched since April 6 due to a strained left groin.

Robertson’s return moves Shawn Kelley from the closer’s role to the setup job. David Phelps and Adam Warren provide flexibility, but in the wake of Cesar Cabral’s meltdown against the Rays, Matt Thornton is the lone lefty in the pen.

Following Sunday’s game against the Rays, the Yankees sent Bryan Mitchell to Double-A Trenton. Mitchell was called up Sunday and didn’t pitch. Monday the Yankees optioned right-hander Matt Daley to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Daley was designated for assignment Sunday after giving up six runs (four earned) and five hits in 1 ¹/₃ innings Saturday night in a 16-1 beating.


Ivan Nova was scheduled to see Yankees team doctor Chris Ahmad on Monday. An MRI exam on Nova’s right elbow Friday night revealed a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament. Surgery is a strong possibility, but the Yankees didn’t release the results of the Ahmad exam.


The Yankees have several options to replace Nova in the rotation, but after Vidal Nuno blanked the Rays across five innings Sunday, he is the favorite to face the Angels on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.


Brett Gardner has joined the Taylor Hooton Foundation as part of its advisory board, which consists of active big league players. The Hooton Foundation is involved in the fight against appearance- and performance-enhancing drug use by youths.