The 37-year-old outfielder was scratched from the Tampa Bay lineup on Sunday due to calf tightness, but he didn't say it was due to anything related to him. Nope — it was the turf's fault.
"I woke up at 7 this morning and my right calf felt tight,'' he said, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. "I dont know what it was from. Maybe it's from the turf, I don't know.''
Prior to his first two games as a member of the Rays, Damon had played 87 games at Tropicana Field. He played there at least nine times every year from 2002-09 as a member of the Red Sox and Yankees. He had a rather large data sample if he had any qualms about Tampa's turf, and if he did have real concerns, maybe he wouldn't have signed that $5.25 million contract over the winter.
You could argue that Damon didn't adamantly state that the turf caused his injury, but to even mention it after two games is more than a little ridiculous.
He probably wants to blame the turf for this one, too, right?