Phil Coke would like Johnny Damon to 'quit messing around,' join Tigers

I know it. You're sick of the Johnny Damon story. I'm sick of this story. I hazard the guess the media is sick of this story. Yet people keep wanting to read about it ...

So you gotta hand it to Phil Coke for summing up what most Tigers fans are thinking. Quoted by MLB.com's Jason Beck on Thursday, he said:

"I wish I had his number, because I'd be like, 'Hey, man, quit messing around.'"

Yeah. Really. Quit messing around. This is getting a bit tiresome!

But would Coke like to continue his time as Damon's teammate? It sure sounds like it. The two won the 2009 World Series together in New York.

"I mean, I love Johnny. He's an amazing person, on and off the field. It doesn't matter where he's at. He's the same guy. He's a great clubhouse guy. He's a great dude to go hang out with, on and off the field. He's an all-around good guy."

Either that or he's pulling the old "enjoys eating octopi" game, as taught by Damon's agent, Scott Boras.

Aside from that, Johnny Damon Watch 2010 failed to advance any on Thursday.

Free Press writer John Lowe caused some speculation when he wrote on his blog the Tigers are saving a locker for a mystery man. Naturally, all eyes turn to Damon. But Beck wrote on his blog the locker is next to Miguel Cabrera's and could just as easily be saved for Andres Galarraga, who has offered to help Cabrera during spring training battle through alcohol problems.

Some reports say Damon was close to signing with the White Sox. A story in the Daily Herald (of suburban Chicago) thinks Damon is close to signing with the Tigers.

Believe nothing until the man is wearing someone's hat, that's the advice I give you.

Until then, let's all keep hoping our long national nightmare ends soon.