Just Jacoby Being Jacoby? Where's the Media Frenzy?

There was an interesting play that took place in the second inning of the Red Sox 7-2 win over the Orioles Tuesday night.

Jacoby Ellsbury swung and hit a bill that lingered behind home plate. Ellsbury stood there, while Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez alertly waited to see if the spin would cause the ball to go fair. It did, and Hernandez tagged out Ellsbury who was still standing in the batter's box.

A mistake by Ellsbury, one from which I am sure he will learn.

I will go out on a limb and say the Boston papers and WEEI (Boston Sports Radio) nitwits will spend zero time talking about this play today. It was fairly irrelevant in the Red Sox 7-2 on Tuesday night.

But if Manny Ramirez had done the same thing, it would be wall to wall coverage. Non-stop talk about Manny, and how he is a cancer on the team, and he never hustles, and how much he is paid.

But Ellsbury did it, and it will not be mentioned. Why? Because of the money Manny makes? Maybe. Because of his history of doing quirky things? Maybe. I have no idea.

All I know is that whether it is Ellsbury not running out this play, or JD Drew missing a few games because of a minor tweak, or Trot Nixon tossing the ball into the stands when there were two outs, there seemed to be two sets of rules for the Boston media—One set for the Red Sox team, one set for Manny.

Look, I am not a Manny apologist. I loved him when he was here, but it was time for him to go. The Red Sox overpaid to get rid of him (figuratively and literally) but they did well to bring back an All Star caliber player like Jason Bay.

If the Sox played the Dodgers tomorrow, I would cheer for Manny when he was announced as the batter. I would think most Red Sox fans, appreciative, of his role in two World Series wins would do the same.

But it just seems to me that Manny was a lightning rod, and the Boston media pounced on him for every little thing. Sometimes, it was justified, like if Manny loafed when running out a ground ball. Other times, it was exaggerated, like when Manny would have a day off in the middle of July.

But what I am getting it is that the Red Sox have seen a lot of great players end their career elsewhere, and leave on less than ideal terms. Manny is just the latest, but when he left, he alluded to Nomar Garciaparra.

There is a lot of scrutiny on every Red Sox player, but it just seems that if you play nice with WEEI and the Globe, the spotlight might just be a little less bright when you make a bonehead play.