Yankees put Damon on DL for 1st time in career

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NEW YORK (AP) -- Johnny Damon stood in a corridor outside the NewYork Yankees clubhouse on Sunday afternoon, sounding sullen. He hadjust been put on the disabled list for the first time in his majorleague career after 13 1/2 seasons and 1,927 regular-season games.
"I really don't know what I have to do now," the outfielder saidsoftly. "Every day in my career when I went to the ballpark, Iactually felt like I could get in the game somehow. Even yesterday,I was getting ready to get my shoes on in case I needed to run for(Jason) Giambi or something late. Today there's no way I can get inthis ballgame."
Damon sprained and bruised his left shoulder when he crashed intothe left-field fence trying for a leaping catch against Boston onFriday. While the pain subsided slightly Sunday, the swellingincreased.
"It's disappointing, but I knew the team needed to get anotherbody," Damon said. "We just have to be smart for my sake and theteam's sake. There wasn't much I was going to be able to do."
Damon, hitting .319 at the top of the batting order, hopes toreturn on July 20, when he is eligible to be activated. The34-year-old thinks he should be able to swing a bat before he'sable to throw, but he's not quite sure of what the timetable willbe.
To get an idea, Damon consulted Xavier Nady, who had a similarinjury. Because Yankee Stadium's facility will be unavailableduring the All-Star break, Damon likely will rehab at the Yankees'complex in Tampa, Fla.
"I don't think this is anything long-term," general manager BrianCashman said. "Is it 15 days, 20 days, you know? Is it a little bitlonger? I don't know."
To fill Damon's roster spot, New York recalled outfielder JustinChristian from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. With Hideki Matsui(sore left knee) also on the DL, rookie Brett Gardner will becomethe Yankees' regular left fielder.
"He creates a lot of havoc when he's on the bases. He changes thedefense," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It's constant pressureon pitchers when he's on base, to pay attention to him."
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