I am definitely a Manny Ramirez apologist, I tolerate his antics and stupid actions sometimes because he’s one of the greatest right-handed hitters ever, hell, I practically fellated him 2 months ago. When he got in trouble for pushing the team’s traveling secretary, I thought it was bullshit, petulant and childish, but I wasn’t advocating throwing him off the team or suspending him or anything. I figured, as Terry Francona and Theo Epstein said, that the issue would be handled in-house and that was all I needed to know. Apparently, according to former Boston sportscaster Bob Lobel, Manny ended up receiving a fine in the six figures that went to charity from the team. Good. Totally appropriate and I’m sure it can help some people even if Manny doesn’t learn anything.
Lobel went on in his interview on WEEI sports radio to say that
The thing that most people are forgetting and haven’t talked about is the strikeout in Yankee Stadium. The bat on the shoulder for the three pitches from Mariano Rivera. That was a big [expletive] to the Red Sox after the fine. I’m just telling you … there are things in the front office that are perceived … I’m saying that there is a strong feeling that that [three-pitch strikeout] was the message to the Red Sox and it’s a strong feeling that that’s unacceptable … there’s a feeling that he didn’t give it his all, let’s put it that way … I’m just saying the front office has not forgotten that moment. It’s akin to Nomar sitting on the bench [in a game in which Derek Jeter dove into the stands at Yankee Stadium in 2004]. It’s the same thing. It’s an at bat that resonated very strongly in the front office.
If this is true, and Manny decided to essentially throw this game then there is simply no excuse. We can’t get rid of him this season, our team is built around having him in the lineup and to remove him completely would be essentially a white flag on the season. But this, if true, could put his future very much in doubt with the Sox.
I still think despite this allegation, that the Sox are going to pick up the first option year of Manny’s contract, at $20 million, simply because I don’t think there is a good enough option out there to replace him. However, I’d say it is very likely that Manny is NOT a Red Sox after the 2009 season, when a player like, say, Matt Holliday, is a free agent and could theoretically replace Manny’s production–I know I know, his home/road splits are bad, but Fenway is a hitter’s park…If the Sox could find a means of similar production I think they’d welcome it (hence maybe their looking at Mark Texeira before) but it’s not easy to find Hall of Fame caliber hitters out there that are attainable, except for that big-headed ‘roid monster who used to play in SF… ugh, please don’t sign him…
When Manny is just having fun and playing baseball, I love him and want him to stick around forever. When he starts acting like a spoiled child, I’m not so sure it’s worth it anymore. And I think the front office is starting to feel that way too. I don’t think I’ll be apologizing for Manny any longer, now he lives and dies (as a Red Sox) by his actions and his production.
The Slanch Report 
It’s just Manny being…sigh.
come on – you really think the sox would drop him in ’09 for his moments of douchiness, when he still can (and does) produce a ton? they’ll keep him around, and dock his allowance every time he acts up. maybe they need to really punish him – take away the car keys to one of his favorite cars or something.
the only thing more dangerous than manny’s moods is manny’s production – especially if it’s coming at us from another team.
i’m with you that his petulance has become ridiculous, and no longer worth apologizing for. but when manny’s not being a little bitch and asking for a trade every six seconds, theo and crew are perfectly happy to slap him on the wrist and keep him around.
sure, if manny is hitting 30-35 hrs and driving in 120 then his production is worth it
if he hits like he did in april, it’s worth it
if he hits like he did in may than it isnt
manny is now in a put up or shut up mode, he’s cheating on fastballs and getting beat by fastballs, which is not a good sign
i want him to be dope, but im also not willing to overlook the things i used to, he’s just another (albeit future hall of famer) player now and if he dont produce he’s gone
Y’know what’s sad?
Manny never really seems to care, yet pretty much always delivers. A-Rod, on the other hand, has a naked desire to win at all costs, and yet historically has choked when it counted.
Ah, the mysteries of life!
who’s that sad for, besides asshat yankee fans or a-rod (aka douchebag mcslappy-hands) himself?
i’m willing to be that that travelling secretary who thinks he’s really cool with the players and was like “sorry manny, i don’t know about 16 tix” and manny did something cooky and the guy was like “oh manny, there you go being manny again” and manny was like “fuck you narc! you don’t fucking know me! i’m so tired of that shit!” and pushed his ass down.
but that’s just manny being ‘roid ragey!
maybe?
ah, who fucking cares.
It’s sad for baseball when the national attention is captured by a nonchalant loafer who corks his bat, can’t field his position, and badmouths his front office EVERY YEAR rather than, y’know, the best player to ever play the game.
RE: mattraw
are you referring to sammy sosa? he’s “retired,”
and if you’re saying A-Rod is the greatest player to play the game, he still has a ways to go, he’s on the way sure, but he aint there yet,
corks his bat? that’s like saying johan santana’s been using a spitball for the last 7 years. let’s stick to things that have been proven in people other than sammy sosa, like steroids. a-rod uses steroids.
The Red Sox should pull a “Little Big League ” on him and refuse to trade him or give him his 20 mil. He is a spoiled little brat and they should let him rot for the rest of his contract and see how many teams want a spoiled jerk on their team after he sits out a few more games. OR better yet…they should send him up to the Portland Sea Dogs for the rest of the season with his “Bum Knee” and see how he likes that ! Cry baby jerkoff- While most of the counrty is struggling to pay for gas and loosing their homes…Manny is complaining because he’s “tired of the Red Sox” Oh please- let him serve hot dogs in the stands for 5 dollars and hour and try to feed his spoiled rotten kids off of that salary and then come crying to me..
Whaaaa !! Poor baby- NOT !
BE a man MAnny and Show us you have balls- play the game and shut your mouth. ( and show some class while you’re at it)
“Manny being Manny”
How old is he? How much are they paying him to play a game? Please stop enabling this clown. Unprofessionalism is just that. He’s not a child, he’s a grown man and he’s starting to make boston look bad.