I don’t know.  Usually, absences like the one Damon had are for either: 1) death in the family; 2) court appearance of some sort.  I didn’t hear of anything maybe a divorce? Damon is divorced once already not sure if he remarried; or 3) birth of a child.

I agree – no distractions.  I go into every year wanting the team to take a “no prisoners” approach, no distractions and focus night in and night out.  But in recent years with Torre’s laid back – no personal accountability style, focus tends to go out the window in the second week of the season.

At least Phillip Hughes is impressing. J. Brent Cox, broke his hand – and will not get an opportunity to show anyone what he can do.  Too bad, he showed a little promise last spring.