Manny Makes Sense for the Yankees…

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

  Dave Heuschkel from SI.com, talks about why Manny Ramirez makes sense for the Yankees.The organization brought in Sabathia, Burnett, & Teixeira..but some fans don’t want it to stop there. Heuschkel believes that Manny is still one of the best players in the game, and that he would help bring a World Series title to the Yankees. I can’t argue with that, but I don’t think he is the No. 1 priority right now.

    I wonder how badly he wants to become a Yankee….  

Last year he said:

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“He wants to play for the Yankees so he can get at the Red Sox,” a close friend of Ramirez’s told The Post.

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 In 2003 he said:

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Ramirez has always fantasized playing for the Yankees. Back in 2003, he told ESPN’s Joe Morgan that it is “one of my biggest dreams” and “Someday I want to play there.”

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Heuschkel’s reasoning for the Yankees to bring in Manny:

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1. Three-team race.The American League East is no longer a two-team race between the Yankees and Red Sox. The Rays have a better core than those teams and will boast arguably the best starting rotation in baseball with James Shields, Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine and David Price. Heck, those are five reasons right there why the Yankees should add Ramirez to their lineup.

2. He’d be a bargain.The cost of Ramirez would not be prohibitive. The Mets aren’t interested and the Dodgers don’t appear willing to offer more than two years. As long as the Yankees don’t outbid themselves, Ramirez can be had at a reasonable price. He would be worth it because he’ll produce.

3. Private Manny. Ramirez would have more privacy in New York because it isn’t a fishbowl like Boston. Being comfortable would make him very happy. As Johnny Damon once said, a happy Manny is a productive Manny.

4. Manny being a man.Ramirez would listen to Derek Jeter because, well, he’s Derek Jeter and everybody listens to the Yankees captain. The reason Manny acted like a child in Boston was because his managers allowed him to exhibit that type of behavior. Yankees managers aren’t allowed to enable players. 

5. A vibe. Ramirez would generate a buzz whenever he stepped to the plate at Yankee Stadium. But instead of causing fans to sit on the edge of their seats, he would bring them to their feet. In case anyone forgot, he had 37 homers and 121 RBI last season. Only five players in baseball drove in more runs.

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MATTINGLY GOES TO BAT FOR MANNY  /  Formal offer to Varitek

Ben Sheets’ elbow still concerns Rangers