Earlier this year against this club, he played well. It's something that I think was important for him to do after last year. Right now, I think with all of the criticism he's gotten, that's pretty much behind him. He's certainly a big-game guy.

I don't want to say he got used to it, but I think he understood this year, with his reduced role, that this is what he should be concentrating on. That doesn't mean he's not valuable.

I think last year I disconnected with him. I think it's important that George and I talk on a regular basis. And I'm the one that really has to make the call because I'm the one that travels here, travels there. He pretty much stays in one place. I plan on doing that on a regular basis.

Johnny was certainly the face of that ball club. They have a lot of great players, but Johnny Damon was the first guy you had to see every night. I took notice of Johnny Damon long before he got to Boston. I always felt he was a special kid.

Every year, there's going to be someone who's going to be a thorn in your side. This year, it's the Devil Rays. You look at their record lately, and it's not too shabby. They've always had talented people.

It was a masterpiece. He's as good as we've seen him early in the year.