The Red Sox have won two rings in the last four years. Two rings thanks in large part to Mr. Manny Ramirez. Maybe people have gotten complacent. Maybe people are resting on their laurels. Maybe people have forgotten. Forgotten how miserable those 1918 chants actually were. How they made us feel. Made us feel a lot more miserable than Manny’s current rumblings, I can tell you that.
Maybe they forgot. Forgot Manny won MVP of the World Series. The first World Series Championship in eighty-six years. Maybe they forgot last year his walk-off three-run bomb run in Game Two of the ALDS against the California Angels. Maybe they forgot he leads everybody all-time in postseason home runs. Manny has incredible numbers. Ridiculous numbers. Hall of Fame numbers. As the kids like to say these days, he sure can rake. All this guy does is rake. Sox winning, Manny rakes. Sox losing, Manny rakes. Big games, Manny rakes. Small games, Manny rakes. Business bad? #### you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? #### you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning, huh? #### you, pay me. That’s Manny. I haven’t forgotten. An elephant never forgets. I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.
Some look at Manny’s antics and flippantly remark, “Manny thinks he’s bigger that the game.” Know this sports fans, Manny is the hardest working man in show business. He’s the first one in the weight room. He’s the first one at the ballpark. He’s endlessly watching film. He works tirelessly at his craft. Manny talking about the off-season: “I know this might sound funny, but I play baseball. Me and Varitek play in the training field. Can’t get our minds off of it.” So pack up your criticisms. Pack up your lollygag the ball around the outfield. Pack up your lollygag your way down to first. Just pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile. Smile at the best right handed hitter you ever did see. The most important Red Sox of all time.
Public Acknowledgements: Goodfellas, Dr. Seuss, Bull Durham and George Asaf
JQP, great piece, It's so funny (not to generalize) but Boston fans are so fickle...next year they will want Garnett gone and call him overpaid if he doesnt produce. People talk carp about Manny, but hey, the high five after a wall catch and throwing someone out? He's just that good, if you don't like his arrogance too bad. He obviously works hard, you do not retain the consistency of talent that he does by being lazy. Personally I am a Marlins fan and I can only hope we get him. Marlins are also rumored to be trading for Bengie Molina, and they were apparently aftter Pudge...it would appear for once that we are serious about making a run at this thing...we're not just content to be in it till mid August...Im excited about that.
genius: thanks. the red sox have a window of oppurtunity right now to grab a copupla more rings. no manny. no rings. no shirt. no shoes. no dice! if you do land him you will be a happy happy man.
I am not such a fan of this either. The Pirates management claimed they wanted to keep Bay as part of their future plans, and now are looking to shop him all over. I have heard the Pirates getting Jeremy Hermeida back with prospects. I do agree the Pirates need to rebuild their minor league system in the worst way, but they also have to have something to build on the major league level.
But as far as Manny goes, crazy personality, but the guy flat out produces, and has proven that he is worth the headaches come crunch time. I think it would be a big mistake to send that type of bat away and significantly weaken the middle of your lineup.
buckles: no knock on bay, but geez, this manny freaking ramirez we're talking about. i'd rather have bay that hermedia though. bay is still in the prime of his career. i'm not sold on hermidia's consistency yet.
Well, it sounds like the deal is dead... for now. Honestly though, if the Sox would have been able to get Bay plus some of Florida's talent, I would have done it. Let's face it, Manny can hit... but he doesn't hustle. He doesn't lead. He just causes problems. He's pricey. More often than not, he's a cancer.
C'mon JQ, you can't tell me you want to stay on the "Manny Train" another two 20+ million dollar seasons?
JoshQ
Ahhh ! The Manny saga continues and it's almost as unbearable as the Favre saga. WTF have we done to deserve this all ?
Does this mean that Brett's already auditioning for Manny's spot on the Red Sox ? Afterall Manny did declare that he'd prefer a trade to Green Bay ?
They do wanna gimme no respect I tell 'em go f#-#k 'emselves. You know I's just Manny being Manny.
If the Sox hierarchy aren't going to come to their senses then they deserve everything that's happening within their environment. Isn't there anyone there with some balls to sit the guy down and say .....'Manny look we need you know'. Afterall massage his ego and once the season is over take it from there.
justan' aka tophatal .........
Last edited by justanotherfan on July 31st at 12:15 PM.
JoshQ
The best way to sooth Manny's ego is to get him all liquored up with a few hookers in tow. And then that ought to do it. Either that or get him to beat the shiznick out of one of the equipment guys. I'm sure that if not his pockets then team'll be able to afford the judgement that'd be levied against them both in the end.
It's just Manny being Manny afterall !
Now why would I want to have sex with a baseball player ? Especially a Red Sox player !......Alyssa Milano. How many has been with over the course of her life thus far ?
justan' aka tophatal .........
Last edited by justanotherfan on July 31st at 2:24 PM.
Josh,
My condolences on Manny...it does illustrate be careful what you don't wish for it may come true...I understand Epstein's thinking if they weren't going to exercise the option and getting Bay was the best deal on the table. The Phillies were only in with Geoff Jenkins if that helps...the other side of the coin is the Dodge'ems stockpiling old outfielders...maybe I should add this to my worse trades list now and skip waiting until it blows up in the BoSox face come the playoffs...especially if they meet the Dodgers in the Series and Manny plates a couple...
Calling all fellow Yankee fans. It's time for us to express our respect for the Red Sox organization for putting the team, the fans and the sport ahead of their own ambitions. Getting rid of Manny was the RIGHT thing to do so I applaud the Red Sox. We still want to defeat Boston but I admire their principles. Bravo for baseball.
JoshQ
I've no doubt that you're crying into your Sam Adams at this moment in time. But one way or another it's now time to bite the bullet. Ramirez to the Dodgers doesn't quite have that ring to it.
...................
Nor does the sound of ladies and gentleman Jason Bay of the Boston Red Sox.
In the long run this may well work out for the best.
Aw,cut the ####!,"Manny is the hardest working man in show business".You make a mockery of the greatest players,like Wagner,Traynor,Clemente,Ruth,Gehrig .These men played the game for the game and worked jobs in the off season.Yes Ruth got big bucks in his day,but baseball was in trouble after the 1919 season and he kept the game popular.If Ramirez was never in baseball he probably be a bank robber!
Hi JoshQ, even though we disagree, it's not for any of the reasons you mention in your piece. Manny is a great postseason hitter; agreed. Manny is a great hitter, period; agreed.
The problem is, after this latest ugly situation, Manny was going to be gone following this season. Therefore, if the Sox wanted to get anything for him, they had to trade him now. Jason Bay represents the best available and I think the Sox did a good job to get him.
Plus, they save significant cash and will (hopefully) use it to upgrade, maybe a lights-out setup guy, maybe another starter, who knows?
Bay put up similar numbers to Manny this year and in 2006... and in a lineup that has nowhere near the protection that Manny had. I'll be looking forward to weeks down the road where you're writing the "Jason Bay - the Beantown Machine" post. I give you permission to use that title, as long as you mention me too. =)
As a so-so Dodgers fan, I'm LMAO! Manny will be happy here- there are a lot of egos here in LA, so one more won;t get noticed. But bigger news, the Angels just tagged the Yanks today. 28 days to college football!
BosDONE just broke up the modern day Ruth / Gehrig.
Bay is decent, but he's not even in Manny's zip code. Manny coming to the plate instills fear in opposing pitchers.
After playing second fiddle to the Angels for the last 10 years, it's nice to see the Dodgers get a bat and actually have some hope at making the playoffs.
The Yankees must be doing backflips.
This may end up as "The Curse of the Mambino",
setting off another 86 year drought for beantown.
I don't think Bay will be able to handle the pressure of playing in Boston, but I could be wrong. The Sox gave up a lot of talent to only end up with Bay as a result. I would be disappointed too. Luckily, my team is terrible and I can't stand the Red Sox. I do have some love for fellow Oregonian and OSU alum, Jacoby Ellsbury though.
Oops!
Ok, I've been anti-clown, er, Manny all season.
The buffoon would have been traded long ago if he couldn't hit.
Can't run, walk or crawl.
Fielding, blech.
Was the final straw something we don't know.
My guess is that he became a clubhouse pariah and the team closed ranks and their mouths.
Short term it's a step back for Boston.
Boston fans didn't deserve Manny, they deserved better.
josh - I hate to say, but I agree with the BoSox on this one for many reasons.
First, they've got 2 rings with (because of?) Manny. It doesn't hurt as much with that to fall back on.
Second, what would they get by keeping him through 2008? No players and a guy who might feel like looking at 3 pitches down the middle in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7.
Third, Bay is not a bad player and to me seems like the kind of guy who can be a regular Joe in their lineup with pretty good productivity - especially at home. It seems like at their best they play with guys like him, he's almost a perfect fit.
Finally, while they lost a superstar. Now they have $12M(?) or whatever Manny - Bay = in salary to fill another need.
Would they have beaten the Halos this season with him? I doubt it, and I'd take the Cubs over them at this point. Harden is lights out and he will be the MVP of the WS. Write it down - wait, I just did.
The Dodgers FINALLY got the big bat they sorely needed. Now if they can designate Andruw Jones for assignment it'll REALLY be good! I can hardly wait for ManRam's Dodger debut Friday night!
Here's the Dodgers' lineup that can win in the postseason:
CF Kemp
RF Ethier
C Martin
LF Ramirez
1B Loney
2B Kent
SS Garciaparra
3B Blake
P Lowe, Billingsley, Kershaw, Kuroda, Johnson (although I'd like to see Park as a spot starter). I'm not optimistic on either Penny or Schmidt returning. Schmidt's shoulder is shot, and Penny suffered a setback in rehab.
Guys here's one way I know that the Dodgers'll profit from this. It'll help Andruw Jones in knowing how to hit a baseball instead of swinging the bat as if he's trying to beat the s##t out of a pinata. 'cause he sure as hell can't hit a damn pitch as if his life depended on it !
Swing 'n' a miss again
Watch out peoples in Boston I's coming back for you. I's just Manny being Manny.
JoshQ
I know what Epstein and Lucchino were thinking . But this move could come back to haunt the franchise in the immediate future and way beyond that.
And if they should fail to make the playoffs then the blame'll rest squarely on their shoulders !
So Josh you're ready for Manny in pinstripes right? I mean you realize he's signing with the Yanks next season don't you?
At least they got Bay, have to like 4 times on base both runs including the winner just a little bit. I thought that ball was gone and the stadium was going to explode.
josh q. public. For the public, by The Public. Irreverent sports opinion from a Bostonian in New York. The one blog to read, when you’re reading more than one. Good to the last drop!
