Describing Manny Ramirez as someone with dreads past his shoulder blades, a jersey two sizes too big and saying he has the physical description of "husky," would be putting it nicely. Simply put, he's not your typical embodiment of a major league baseball player.
And that's why he's my guy (I will be getting that jersey in a 2XL, thanks.)
As you may have figured out by now, I am not a fan of the clean-cut. I am not a fan of the "favorite." I like my favorite players, teams, etc. to be eccentric, different, quirky, and have a general flair about them. Man-Ram is all of the above. So Boston got their panties in a bunch because he ran to first base in 5.1 seconds. He supposedly quit on the team. Seriously? I've seen worse from other players all the time. Pitchers deliberately not following the team's orders on pitches, runners not listening to the third-base coach and going for home anyway. Hitters ROUTINELY don't run out grounders and pop-ups. Not saying it's right, just that it happens all the time. And don't get me started on players who after they sign their big contracts, don't produce anymore or are constantly hurt. (Mike Hampton, Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson...I'm talking to you.)
Boston, just do us all a favor and say you didn't want him anymore, because you didn't want to pay him. You got a younger player who is cheaper, but has no playoff experience and is not proven to be a clutch hitter. Go ahead and take out one of the ten best hitters in baseball history (look it up.) Replace that.
At the very least, you could've traded him for Brett Favre, right? LA Dodgers vs. The Boston Red Sox for the 2008 World Series...
-Ed.
*photos from yahoo.com & tiricosuave.com
Comments
1 Response to "Manny Ramirez is the homie"Ed - I agree with you that I enjoy the edgier players with a bit of flamboyance who don't always fit the "corporate mold". I went to many a Reds game when Deion Sanders was here. Not because he was the most talented player, but because you might see him go from 1st to 3rd on a grounder to second or 1st to home on a single to right. That just isn't supposed to happen.
However, if it's true that Manny didn't give a full effort or tanked on purpose to force a trade, then I have to disagree. He signed a fat contract and was being paid to do his job. What if a surgeon started getting sloppy because he didn't like the deal he signed with an HMO? Unthinkable, right? Well, other professionals should bring the same standard of excellence and pride, whether you're a surgeon, ballplayer, streetsweeper or sportblogger (is that a word? What do you put on your tax return?)
If we don't hold these ballplayers accountable, then I guess dogging it will become a legitimate contract negotiation tactic that will eventually ruin the game.
JAG
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