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Man Oh Manny
By Jonathan Atwood on July 28th, 2008 11:09 PM |
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As it has been widely reported over the weekend, Boston Red Sox outfielder and future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez is currently on the trading block. It seems that the Red Sox have finally had it with their star left fielder and are openly shopping him around the league before this week’s trade deadline.
According to a New York Post article, Ramirez’s top choice destination is Philadelphia, where he would be 
reunited with his former hitting coach and manager Charlie Manuel.
Sources said…the Phillies, have the best chance to trade for Ramirez because Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel has perhaps the strongest relationship with him of anyone in the majors. Manuel was Ramirez’s hitting coach with the Indians from 1994-99 and his manager in Cleveland in 2000, and the two have remained close.
The Post article continues, saying that,
With 10-and-5 rights, Ramirez can refuse any trade and the belief is he might not accept a trade to anywhere but Philadelphia.
Before we get too excited though keep in mind that just because Ramirez wants to go to Philly does not mean that’s where Boston would trade him to the Phillies, if they trade him at all. This has become a yearly ritual between the Red Sox and their disgruntled, and eccentric, star. The sides talk often of trades and discontent. Most recently, the Red Sox front office were outraged over remarks that Ramirez had made about the way they go about contract negotiations, stating that
“I want no more (expletive) where they tell you one thing and behind your back they do another thing.”
Another point of contention between the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez is his alleged propensity to fake injuries, playing only when he feels like it. The latest episode occurred Friday when he took himself out of the Yankees-Red Sox series opener.
Since the media is enamored with everything New York and Boston, Ramirez’s behavior is often chalked up to “Manny Being Manny,” but even the media appears to be fed up with this latest stunt.
This all begs the question: Do we, as Phillies fans, even want Manny?
He is a sure fire Hall of Famer with some impressive numbers. He is a career .312 hitter with 509 home runs and 1669 RBIs. But he is most likely a half season rental, as I doubt the Phillies would pick up his $20 million option next year or give him a contract the size that Manny would command. I do not think it’s worth giving away the farm for a guy that is only going to be here for a couple months. More importantly, Ramirez is a clubhouse distraction at best, and at worst a cancer. He has a me-first attitude that has no place on this team and will do nothing but to further throw this leaderless team in disarray. I have repeatedly ridiculed Jimmy Rollins for not exerting the hustle and effort required of a major league player and Ramirez is an even bigger offender than J-Roll.
Fact of the matter is, I would rather have Matt Holliday from the Rockies. Sure, Holliday’s numbers may not be as good as Ramirez’s, and there is the matter of his home and away splits, but Holliday is a good guy. He could come to Philly and be a clubhouse leader, and will be here for at least one year longer than Ramirez, with plenty of time to sign him, most likely to a contract less than Ramirez’s. Most importantly, Holliday won’t rip this team apart.
I say let Manny Be Manny in Boston.
There are currently 2 responses to “Man Oh Manny”
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I hear the same thing from a lot of Met fans, but you can tell it to his two world series rings. bottom line is if either the Mets or Phillies were to acquire Manny, they would bury their division rivals, if not the rest of the NL. Manny’s that type of player. Also, the notion that Manny is a “bad guy” is a complete myth. Manny is a spoiled brat. He’s nearly 40 and he still throws temper tantrums. That said, he is always smiling, frequently laughing boisterously, and the only time he is 100% serious is inside the batter’s box. I think fans get too caught up in character and contract squabbles when they play GM, but I think you’d be foolish not to want this guy in your lineup, or your clubhouse, for that matter.
I think you’d be foolish not to want him in your lineup, but not your clubhouse. Just because he’s always smiling and laughing does not make him a good teammate. When I say a bad guy, I’m not inferring that he’s a mean person or anything like that. But guys react to stuff like jogging down to first on a ground out, or pulling yourself out of the lineup because you don’t feel like playing. That stuff isn’t good for your team, regardless of how much offense he provides.
A team like Boston can withstand Manny better because a) they win and this stuff is always easier to tolerate when you’re winning and b) because they have a legitimate leader on that team in Jason Veritek who can whip his team into shape.
Teams like the Phillies and Mets can’t afford another clubhouse distraction or hot shot guy. These two teams need a Tek before they can get a Manny.