Sure I miss his presence in the lineup, but all in all, I'm happy he's gone. Take tonight for example. A 1-1 ball game late, with runners on 1st and 3rd. Jason Bay is at the plate. He hits a ground ball to third. Inning over right? It would be if it was Manny walking briskly down to first. But instead it's Jason Bay, doing what you're supposed to, and runs out the ground ball. Sox take a 1 run lead, and would eventually go onto win 6-2.
    This article is about two things. The unsurprising statement from Manny Ramirez that he would like to sign with the Yankees (all of what 5 days after stating he wants to finish his career in LA as a Dodger), and what this means to the "investigation" launched by the commissioner's office.
First we'll start with the statement, of Manny saying he wants to sing with the Yankees in the off season. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed baseball over the past 15 years. Manny was born in the Dominican Republic but grew up in Washington Heights, overlooking Yankee Stadium. And it is well documented what kind of production he can provide, playing on a field with those dimensions.
    Also, I think we all know, the Yankees have a reputation for paying top dollar for premium free agents.
    So when you consider that Jason Giambi, Andy Pettite, Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina, and Carl Pavano are free agents at the end of the year. And Johnny Damon will be in the last year of his ludicrous deal, newly acquired Xavier Nady has one more year, as well as the uncertainty of Hideki Matsui's health, the Yankees are all but an obvious fit to pay Manny at least the $40 million he is seeking over two years, plus more.
    Let's face it, with the list of above players, the Yankees are a team that can afford to spend big time money, even if it doesn't always pay off. In fact, I will not be the least bit surprised when New York goes out this off season and signs not only Ramirez to a 4 year deal for around $80 million, but also signs other high profile free agents such as Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets. With all that money coming off the books and the opening of a new stadium,(perhaps missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 years) they have even more reason then normal to spend.
    But that's a different story all together, and I'll write about that when the time comes under the title "Told You So"
    The underlying issue here is the fact that Bud Selig has launched an investigation into the departure of Ramirez. Wondering if indeed Manny was purposely (which we all know is the case) under performing in order for the Red Sox to be forced to move him. Keep in mind that Ramirez was "happy in Boston and wanted to finish his career there" that is until he changed agents. An agent named Scott Boras who is by no means an ####, who would not make a cent off of Manny if his two options were picked up, and a man who knows how to manipulate his clients into testing the free agent market.
    Boras supposedly called the Red Sox around 5 p.m. on July 31 saying that if Boston agreed to drop the 2 option years on Manny's contract he would no longer be a distraction for the remainder of the '08 season. Sox management reportedly said that "this only confirms the notion that you were behind this the whole time. Tell him to pack lots of sun block."
    When the news was broke two day's ago about the investigation , Boras stated that Ramirez only wanted out of Boston because he wanted the same sort of living environment that he had in Cleveland.
    Well then, please Scott explain to me. If the pressure of Boston who, hadn't won a world series in 82 years when he signed, was too much on his personal and professional life, how are the "bright lights of New York" going to be any more accommodating to him? How are the New York tabloids, who follow your former client in Canada, going to be any less of a problem for Manny? Don't tell me the avid fans in New York aren't going to stop him on the streets and ask him for a picture, an autograph, or to go clubbing with them.
    I don't know what the ramifications of the commissioners office can be in this situation, but it is obvious that they have reasons to investigate. Maybe Scott Boras should consider the client he is representing before he speaks for him, especially when it comes to Manny Ramirez. Who knows, tomorrow he might want to be a Cub because he likes the Polka song he heard on his ipod. Or he might decide he wants to play for the Milwaukee Brewers because the sausage race was hilarious.
    But who knows really? Maybe this is just uber agent Scott Boras's plan all along. After all he missed out on A-rod's new deal, but if you get the Yankees in on the bidding price, you drive up the price on the rest of the league.
    After all, Scott Boras is no ####, he just happens to represent one.