February 23, 2006
What's up with Manny?
By Sloan
. . . It's the question that comes at the approach of spring every year.
March 1st is not the date spring training starts for the Red Sox, or the date players have to report. It is, however, the day that Manny Ramirez has decided to show up -- a full month after Trot Nixon was seen working out in Fort Myers. But don't worry, it's all OK with the Red Sox.
It seems that, more and more, Manny does what he wants, when he wants. Why shouldn't he? All he needs to do is show a face and he gets his $20 million. He doesn't even need to swing a bat, which he proved that last year. But this year is different, not because he "demanded" a trade, took it back, and "demanded" it again. That happens every year, about two-three times to be exact.
What is different this year, is the Sox need Manny Ramirez more than ever.
While the Sox focused on pitching and defense, the question marks lie within the offense: Will Mark Loretta become one of the best offensive 2nd basemen, much like he was a few years back? Will Mike Lowell use the Green Monster to his advantage, or will he bat .236 again? Will Trot stay healthy? Can Coco leadoff? All the weight is, at least for now, put on Manny and Ortiz' shoulders. But will Manny be around to take the weight?
According to the Red Sox, Manny has been given the permission to report March 1st. He will now miss the World Baseball Classic, in which he planned to represent the Dominican team. But the good news is he will now be at Fort Myers for "his" entire spring training (just the games, which start March 2nd). But is this really Manny's way to lash out at the Red Sox for not trading him? Or is this just Manny being Manny?
Most (if not all) of Manny's teammates say he is of good intensions, it's not always Manny being Manny, he just doesn't take the time to stick up for himself (heard the same thing about Nomar). According to the Red Sox, Manny is, in fact, in Florida. He is working with his trainer for a little while longer to "bulk up". Evidently, Manny has great expectations for himself this year, and wants to be in the MVP race. MVP for the Red Sox? Who knows?
Far be it from me to sound like I am sticking up for manny...but...
When are players actually supposed to report to spring training? You know, the date collectively bargained for? If he's not happy, he may not want to be there until he has to. The Sox are spinning it as though they are all one big happy family- most teams would do the same. It seems that both Manny and the Red Sox would be better off without each other.
According to this blog by Chris Snow, of the Boston Globe,( boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases ), "Red Sox owner John W. Henry confirmed today that Manny Ramirez, ... , will not play in the World Baseball Classic."
So it appears the rumors were true, and the Sox will have Manny all of March, instead of having him leave a day after he arrives.
I don't know what it is about Manny, but I have no problem with him exhibiting such obvious YLB, (Yankee Like Behavior). But his career stats of; 435 HR, .599 SLG, .314 BA, and 1414 RBI, probably do something to sway my opinion. Although I do admit I'd enjoy seeing him in pinstripes.
— Of course I'm referring to Met Blue pinstripes.
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Manny is a running joke every season. He is the main reason why I continue to hate the Bosux with such fervor. (Well, Schill the Shrill, The Hamburglar, and the Qu##r Eye gang don't help the cause either.) It's funny how every Sox fan just says it's Manny being Manny. I say it's Manny being an asshole. King Albert is a far better player for the money both offensively and defensively. You can keep the fat, no-fielding, loudmouthed jackass.
I don't see how manny is behaving even remotely Yankee-like. ALL of the Yankee stars are at spring training, and none are demanding to be traded. How many Red Sox players want out now?
Two want out...Manny and Wells.
Wells will probably get traded. It's not because of the Sox organization, it's because he wants to be near his home.
I thought Foulke also wanted out.
Meanwhile, back in Tampa, the Yankees are having their own issues of tranquility.
Gary Sheffield is frustrated, angry and upset over Television reports about his meeting earlier this week with Cashman. Will the Yankees pick up the option year of his contract and pay him $13 million to stay a Yankee through 2007? Cashman told him, We' love to, but on our time table. "The way it looked on TV, it made me look like I was 2 years old," he cried before putting the pacifier back in his mouth.
Sheffield may not be asking to leave, yet, but he's got more than stretching and working our on his mind. -- An AP story today wrote this:
"I don't want anybody to take my kindness as a weakness," Sheffield said. "Like I said before, this is where I want to be, but don't test me. It never was a done deal. It was a possibility. I'm happy about that. But there's two sides to that. On one side, I trust you, but don't play me. I don't care who it is, if it's the Boss, if it's him, don't play me. There are plenty of other teams out there that want my services ... that's the bottom line."
Yeah, I posted that about three hours ago.
Cheers,
Jack Jablin
The thing is, the Yankees could get by better without Sheffield than the Sox could without Ramirez. If that isn't the case, then the Red Sox would would have dealt the ingrate by now.
The Sox need Manny Ramirez more than they ever have. His $20 million a year sound very suiting this year. And I don't think the Sox can live without him. How can they replace that bat? Make a trade? For who?! Unless we get a Puljous for Manny deal, Manny cannot go anywhere.
-This is probablly not true, though I have heard it a few time.- Evidently the reason Manny wanted out of Boston, was not nessicarily because of the media. From what I heard (rumour), is that Manny's wife was have an affair with a man in Boston. And Manny wanted out of town. He was packing it all up and leaving. But from what I heard, most of that has been patched up and he no longer wants to leave. As I said before, this was a rumour, and only Manny knows what he wants, and why he wants it.
As for the whole "Manny being Manny', well, he himself said it the best-
"This is the place I want to be man. It's great man. They love me here man. This is the place to be. 'Manny being Manny,' he's great man... we've been through a lot, this is the place for me,
I'm just happy to be here... I'm back!"
That was after Manny kept taking himself out of the line up and finally came in and had the game winning hit. Manny being Manny, isn't just a term we use to shake him off, or laugh at what he does or says. It's more of an explanation, it's him doing what he does, and that sometimes, is just some crazy things. Like Sheffy being himself, unable to keep his mouth shut. What do people say then? Oh, it's just Gary Sheffield, talking agian, who cares. Or, here he goes again. Well it's the same thing with Ramirez, here we go again. Except with him, it's a little more drastic, but the outcome is always the same.
The ball is really in the Red Sox court (I believe) when it comes to trading Manny Ramirez. He says what he wants when he wants, with out thinking it through. He could go to Denver and like the mountains and suddenly say he wants to be traded to Colorado, with out thinking what that really means. And then after he realizes it he takes it back (it takes him about an off-season to think).
In baseball, you have players that can talk and play (Pedro, Clemens), and players that can only play. Manny doesn't know how to talk. Schilling and Damon don't know when to stop talking. Sheffield doesn't always word things right. All they can do is play, and let's concentrate on that, not their mouths.
Sloan,
You make Ramirez sound like a complete moron. As far as the rumor you heard, I don't believe it for a second. I heard something similar regarding Andy Pettite, except that he was the one having an affair in NY. From what I understand, Andy is a very religious man, and I always thought that rumor was rubbish. Funny how the people who make this crap up can't even be creative.
I am not saying he is a moron, I am simply saying he doesn't always think things through. Sometimes he is reckless with what he says, and there is a reason for it. From what I believe he doesn't always think about what he is going ot say or has already said.
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