I'm getting to the point where I expect Manny Ramirez to get a hit every at-bat. In fact, I'm actually disappointed when he doesn't. However, more importantly, I'm wondering whether the Dodgers will give him the five-year contract he and his agent are looking for. I'm also skeptical about the 2008 Dodgers and their role in the NLCS.
Will Manny stay in L.A.? Given the fan reception and his alleged happiness in Southern California, it only seems logical that Frank McCourt will approve of the infamous five-year, $100 million deal.
Can L.A. afford him? Well, let me ask you this. Can birds fly?
The Dodgers, year-in and year-out, have one of the highest fan attendances in baseball. Three million fans a year is not uncommon in the friendly confines of the Ravine.
Manny says he likes it in L.A. I say he couldn't care less about L.A. or Boston or Cleveland. Frankly, all Manny wants is a monster contract and a competitive team. The Dodgers as of late haven't been competitive.
My prediction: The Dodgers and Manny Ramirez will reach a mutual agreement not to do business with each other.
Why would Manny want such a big contract after he was in the middle of an eight-year, $160 million deal in Boston? Oh, and with club options for '09 and '10 (each worth $20 million).
Manny was already one of the highest paid players in the game. It seems odd that a player of Manny's caliber would want to leave Boston. The Red Sox won the World Series a year ago, they have a good manager in Terry Francona, Fenway has a short left field, and Boston's a cool city.
"Manny being Manny" was never for fun. It was his way of letting the Red Sox know his dissatisfaction with the organization.
We can only speculate, however, as to why Manny acted the way he did for so many years. It's hard to understand why he would've pulled his antics in the beginning, but, as far as this year goes, I will bet that the Red Sox told him they weren't going to pick up the options on his contract. That's $40 million Manny would stand to lose. If I was told I wasn't going to get $40 million I'd be pissed too.
So on July 31, 2008, after a trade to the Dodgers, the "Manny Ramirez Era" came to a close after two World Series, four playoff appearances, and great memories.
It's unfortunate that a lot of people criticize Manny's tenure in Boston, because when I watched him play I saw a great player who cared about his team. If he didn't care about his team, then we might as well erase everything he did in the postseason.
Now that the Manny rumors will begin to swirl very soon (since the Phillies will most likely be in the World Series), I feel that it is my duty as an American to question authority and challenge conventional stupidity.
It appears that the owners are skeptical of signing Manny, not because of the cost and his history, but because of his age.
So he's an old man? OK then, let's check him into a retirement home and get him social security. The only problem is Manny won't qualify for social security for another 29 years.
That's right, folks; he's 36. But his skills aren't "36." He moves around extremely well in left field and around the bases, and his hitting is only getting drastically better.
Remember when Barry Bonds turned 36? He stunk after that. How bad was he? Seventy-three homers, two batting titles, and four MVP's. He did all of that on Melba toast and Diet Shasta while using a motorized scooter. That's why his stolen base numbers went down.
The other excuse from these baseball virgins is the economy. The current economy is in the toilet, and it doesn't make sense for most people to spend a great deal of money. The Steinbrenners and their multiple billions of dollars are lying low right now.
I find it strikingly fruity that these owners would use the economy as an excuse to pass up the best hitter in the game. Signing Manny would automatically boost revenues, and, less importantly to these guys, any team with Manny will get better.
I hate to use this argument because it's so cliché, but Manny makes everyone on his team better. Why do you think the Dodgers are fighting for the pennant this year? Jeff Kent? Manny's impact on the Dodgers goes beyond the numbers. That's why he should be the NL MVP.
Manny should have no problem finding his money, because someone will pay. How do I know that? Because he's Manny Ramirez. I also know that Scott Boras is a master salesman and negotiator. All of his clients (including Andruw Jones) are paid well by their employers.
Get ready, Mets fans, because along with your new stadium comes the prize in the box.
What's the prize? Manny Ramirez.
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about 1 month ago
In reality I hope no team offers him a contract when he becomes a free agent. Ramirez gave up on the Red Sox he pretended to be hurt, he didn't hustle, he didn't come through for the team, and when he found out they were more then likely not pick up the two years on his option he acted like a spoiled diva. Manny epitomizes what's wrong with sports today and that it is all about him and not about his team. Honestly I hope he goes to Japan.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for reading my article Steven. I have to criticize your opinion because you mentioned that Manny "didn't come through for the team". His stats in Boston are off the charts and I think you're wrong when you assume that Manny never gave it his best during his time there. So what if he didn't hustle sometimes? Every player gets lazy on occasion. He never did anything to sabotage his team or put them in a losing situation.
from about 1 month ago
Steven, Just about every media outlet has been hammering home the "Manny quit" story. The problem with it is, there's no facts to back it up, just opinions. And these are opinions from people that historically have never really liked Manny. If you take the media out of the equation and just look at the facts; Manny's stats, # of games played, the relationship with him and his teammates...a much different picture emerges. He was putting up MVP like numbers when he left Boston. This "He quit" thing is a joke. It just proves people will believe anything people tell them.
from about 1 month ago
He batted .370 before he left, and played the 2nd most games on the Red Sox. He acted like a spoiled diva because the Red Sox didn't give him $40 million. If I told you I wasn't going to pay you $40 million and you won me a World Series, you would walk out of the door, too.
Don't put Manny on a pedestal. ALL sports players want money. Bobby Valentine is making $2 million in Japan. Doesn't matter where you go.
If you don't like it, stop watching sports, because there are about 20 players who would take a paycut. And Manny had Boras, so stop talking about him unless you are going to mention the agent that gets players the money.
You should go to Japan. I like players who can hit, and make me love the game. Professionalism is arbitrary; all the players I thought had it ( Boggs, Bonds, Clemens, McGwire ) did steroids, beat their wives, or was a cancer to the team. Manny won men two world series, two which my grandfather died never seeing it because our team was too professional. And professionalism 4 decades ago meant not picking up African-Americans.
The game is tainted with money, greed, and jealousy. Just like every career path in this country. You hate Ramirez, well hate America too. Because our country made our people greedy, jealous, and self-centered, not Manny Ramirez.
about 1 month ago
The facts are clear that Manny gave up on the Red Sox because he wasn't going to get what he wanted and that was the contract extension. He hardly ever ran hard in the outfield, never would try to score on a double when he was on first, struck out on pitches her normally would hammer, etc....The dodgers will love him if he does decide to stay and gets the money he wants. If something happens during that time that Manny feels like the Dogers aren't treating him fairly he will go back to the Manny you saw in Boston who didn't play hard every game.
from about 1 month ago
"He hardly ever ran hard in the outfield, never would try to score on a double when he was on first, struck out on pitches her normally would hammer, etc..."
You're living in a fantasy world. I feel like you're arguing with yourself. You want me to believe that Manny is greedy and all about money. Ok, I'll agree with that, he wants his money, don't we all. But at the same time you want me to believe that he's striking out on purpose. Right, I'm sure lowering his batting average during a contract year is on the top of his to-do list.
about 1 month ago
To Nick for your well written and prophetic article, and Bo for your insightful comments, it's so satisfying to know that there are intuitive individuals like yourselves that can reveal the transparency of the “Manny quit myth”. Thank you.
And Steven, time to go on some kind of retreat and discover an “original thought”.
about 1 month ago
Its sad to see people say Manny quit on his team.
Well, say that to Epstein. From now on, if any fan says Manny quit on his team, they have to apologize and then say " So did Epstein".
If you point a finger in one direction and not the other, that means you are partial. And if you are partial, your opinion means squat because it is tainted with a ridiculous vendetta against a player who has won a team Two World series.
I am a die-hard fan, but the Red Sox Nation needs to lose in order to humble themselves again. We need to get back to basics. Winning has gotten to our heads, to the point we can't respect players anymore.
People are now bashing Ortiz. I wonder if that professionalism diatribe the Sox fans have been giving will keep up.
from about 1 month ago
RedSox,
I don't think the Red Sox need to lose in order to learn a valuable lesson. Even with the absence of Manny, assuming everyone else is healthy, Boston's still the team to beat. The Sox lost Beckett, Lowell, Schilling, and Drew and Ortiz haven't been 100%. Theo Epstein made a good move by at least getting a star player (Jason Bay) to replace Manny in LF. The Red Sox organization made a grave mistake, however, by letting Manny walk. Manny is irreplaceable because of his experience and the fact that he's the best hitter in baseball.
about 1 month ago
I'm a huge Manny fan and have a healthy respect for the impact he has one any team he's on. But at the same time, I don't think the 2008 Red Sox are a championship club with or without him. Manny is great but offense can't fix everything. Pitching is the key to winning in the postseason and it hasn't been there all year.
The Manny trade was retarded on so many levels. But one thing that doesn't make sense to me is why they went and got an outfielder. They already had an extra outfielder in Coco Crisp. His bat isn't very impressive, but their lineup still had plenty of offense. What they really needed was relief pitching.
from about 1 month ago
You make very smart points Bo. But I think if Manny had still been on Boston they would've at least won game 2 in TB. Manny could've ended that extra-inning game very easily. Ironically, I went to the NLCS tonight and watched Manny hit his 28th postseason home run. It was awesome, but too late.
Pitching, like you said, is key to winning a championship. That's one of the many reasons why the Rays will probably win the whole thing. The Red Sox are definitely hurting in that department right now. However, I have no doubt that if the Sox kept Manny and the roster was identical to last season, we would be looking at back to back titles for Boston.
I don't agree with your take on the Bay acquisition. Boston needed that extra bat because of the fact Manny left and David Ortiz had a bad wrist. All Epstein did was find a sub for Manny, but he also should've been more active in the pitching market.
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