Back on October 17th of 2008, shortly after the Dodgers were eliminated from postseason play, I posted this blog (read below) recommending that all Dodgers fan and Dodger ownership dismiss the idea of bringing Manny Ramirez back to L.A.. I think it's only appropriate that I  re-post the blog since we are on the cusp of a new baseball season and Ramirez has yet to sign with a team and not to mention the Academy Awards (Oscars) will air this coming Sunday.....How I felt then about the Manny situation is how I still feel today, even stronger! 

Manny Ramirez should get an Oscar for Best Lead Actor instead of a Phat new contract from the L.A. Dodgers or any other team in the MLB foolishly thinking of such team economic suicide by signing him, 37 yrs. old by the start of next season, to a 5 year-100 mil. plus deal.

Manny came to Hollywood at the trading deadline this past July and immediately memorized the fans of L.A. by naming himself MANNYWOOD and then going out on the field and playing like a man possesed with an over abundance of passion. He put out a 100% effort on and off the field and extended that energy into the playoffs by putting up astronomical numbers for a Dodger team that was average at best without him. But instead of encouraging my friends, who are fans of the Dodgers, to re-sign Manny I'm instead telling them "Buyer Beware" While most fans and outside observers were busy falling head over heels for Ramirez's well executed feature screenply titled MANNY Being MANNY I was able to read between the lines. And what I saw was a baseball player who has incredible talent (he's arguably one of the top 5 right handed hitters of all time) and is incredibly endearing to all when you initially meet him but when u dissect his personality and motives you uncover a consistent pattern of inconsistency.

Manny was playing 'nice' the last half of this season because he knew his contract was up at the end of the year and he and his 'Bullish' agent Scott Boras wants to break the bank on his very last career contract. The Manny of now is the same Manny that was on display in Boston and in Cleveland years ago. A egotistical, selfish player that plays by his own rules. Ramirez hasn't changed, his lazy instincts are still there, there just in remission right now until he tricks a new team into giving him the contract he wants and once that happens he'll be back to his old-self...playing horrible defensive outfield, running lazingly around the bases, taking himself out of games when he feels like it, ignoring teammates and management and listening to his I-Pod shuffle while playing the outfield Manny can stay in Los Angeles if he likes, thats cool-I heard he's fun to party with, but instead of putting on a Major League Baseball uniform next season he should be auditioning for the sequel to DiCaprio & Crowe's current movie 'BODY OF LIES'