Love him, hate hm
It's an old familiar saying among Red Sox fans now - 'Manny being Manny.'
Manny being Manny, however, has prompted the team to try and move him in three consecutive offseasons. And each time, I've disagreed with Boston trying to do so. This year, the Red Sox have ratcheted up their determination to ship Manny Ramirez off somewhere, entering serious discussions with the Padres in the past week.
However, the word is that San Diego is unwilling to part with ace Jake Peavy, and you really can't blame the team for not wanting to get ready of a young pitcher entering his prime ... and he is a bargain compared to other No. 1 pitchers in the league. Outside of that, few teams have the necessary talent, resources and capital to make a deal possible.
And that's why I agree with Ken Rosenthal in saying that, once again, keeping Manny is the best thing for Boston.
A bit loopy or not, he's one of the 10 most feared hitters in the game, and he provides ample protection in the lineup to, well, another member of the 10 most feared hitter in the game in David Ortiz. If the Red Sox can add Daisuke Matsuzaka to their rotation, which will be bolstered by moving Jonathan Papelbon from the closer's role to the No. 3 pitcher slot, sign some adequate bullpen help and close deals with J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo, they automatically become one of the best teams in the American League.
I haven't been a fan of signing Drew, but there's a caveat to that - I haven't been a fan of signing as a replacement for Manny. Adding him as the No. 5 hitter, however, makes this one of the most fearsome lineups in baseball.
Plus, as Rosenthal argues, if you look to the future, you can set yourself up for making a run at Andrew Jones when he becomes a free agent next season. Then, you'd have to only deal with Manny's contract for one final year, and you could move Coco Crisp to help clear salary space.
Manny being Manny, however, has prompted the team to try and move him in three consecutive offseasons. And each time, I've disagreed with Boston trying to do so. This year, the Red Sox have ratcheted up their determination to ship Manny Ramirez off somewhere, entering serious discussions with the Padres in the past week.
However, the word is that San Diego is unwilling to part with ace Jake Peavy, and you really can't blame the team for not wanting to get ready of a young pitcher entering his prime ... and he is a bargain compared to other No. 1 pitchers in the league. Outside of that, few teams have the necessary talent, resources and capital to make a deal possible.
And that's why I agree with Ken Rosenthal in saying that, once again, keeping Manny is the best thing for Boston.
A bit loopy or not, he's one of the 10 most feared hitters in the game, and he provides ample protection in the lineup to, well, another member of the 10 most feared hitter in the game in David Ortiz. If the Red Sox can add Daisuke Matsuzaka to their rotation, which will be bolstered by moving Jonathan Papelbon from the closer's role to the No. 3 pitcher slot, sign some adequate bullpen help and close deals with J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo, they automatically become one of the best teams in the American League.
I haven't been a fan of signing Drew, but there's a caveat to that - I haven't been a fan of signing as a replacement for Manny. Adding him as the No. 5 hitter, however, makes this one of the most fearsome lineups in baseball.
Plus, as Rosenthal argues, if you look to the future, you can set yourself up for making a run at Andrew Jones when he becomes a free agent next season. Then, you'd have to only deal with Manny's contract for one final year, and you could move Coco Crisp to help clear salary space.
posted by Jmac at 8:51 AM
3 Comments:
Let me just say that I hate Manny and the Red Sox with a passion most people reserve for convicted felons, Department of Motor Vehicle workers and Chuck Jones...however...if that team trades Ramirez and signs JD Drew I may actually feel some sympathy for Red Sox fans for just how hard Theo and the front office screwed them over.
JD Drew would provide all the drama and cancer in a clubhouse of a ManRam without anywhere near the talent or durability. You are dead on the money that Manny is one of the most feared hitters in baseball and for all his whining, the kid doesn't get hurt that much. On the other hand, JD Drew gets hurt just THINKING about running AND is such a d*ck he exercised terminating his contract early in LA just to make a few more bucks (as if the tens of millions he's made over the past decade wasn't quite enough).
So I have to admit...if it happens and the Sox trade Manny and replace him with JD Drew I will be as happy as a goat in a yogurt factory...but I will stop for a second and pour a little out for all the soon-to-be VERY depressed Red Sox fans.
Oh and by the way Jmac...did you realize the Sox spent only 3 million dollars less JUST TO TALK to Matsuzaka than they did to try and keep Johnny Damon...I'm just saying...by the way how is Coco Crisp working out for you guys?
When your starting centerfielder is Corey Patterson, don't you forfeit the rights to compare outfields?
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