"About Face"
Looks like Manny’s being Manny again, but, by all accounts, it also looks like Manny may very well be Manny somewhere else next season, as several sources report that the Red Sox are now unified in their determination to move the disingenuous Dominican during the winter, even if that means parting with him for pennies on the dollar. With his late season knee injury being questioned by everyone from the media to his own teammates, it seems apparent that Ramirez has taken it upon himself to shut it down for the rest of this “lost season”, and has raised the ire of even his most vocal supporters, including teamowner, John Henry; up until recently, the only member of the Sox brass who has shown no desire to move the slugger. Ramirez’s agent, Gregg Genske, has once again reiterated his client’s desire to be traded recently, and, contrary to statements made early in the season in which Genske stated that Ramirez wanted to finish up his career in Boston, now says Manny wishes to explore playing for another team in 2007.
None of the above is shocking. Fans of the Sox should be well-accustomed to Manny Ramirez’s “love us/hate us” attitude. However, what is shocking is the way Ramirez seemingly took himself out of the line-up, making pal David Ortiz’s run for the Red Sox single season home run record that much more difficult. Papi, of course, hit his mark (and then some), but one wonders if we could be looking at a new American League record by this time had Ramirez stayed in the line-up to protect his friend. As it was, we saw a virtual rogue’s gallery of number four hitters slotted in behind Ortiz, none of whom struck any sort of fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. Is Ramirez's knee really hurt, or is it his feelings that are aching these days? 2004’s World Series MVP put up his usual boffo offensive numbers, but the far more accessible and fan friendly Ortiz is the toast of this here town, and Ramirez’s contributions have been somewhat overlooked; at least until recently. Could it be that Manny feels overshadowed by the smiling superstar slugger? Could it be that he wants to be the top offensive dog again, and isn’t content with playing second fiddle to the second coming of Babe Ruth (whose record Ortiz could have easily shattered had Ramirez had his back)? Hell, is Manny even wired that way?
Friends and teammates would tell you that Manny Ramirez lives in a world of his own, and doesn’t even keep track of what he’s doing, let alone the statistical pursuits of his own teammates, but, deep down inside, don’t you think it may bother him just a little bit? Is Manny Jr. sporting a number 24 jersey when he’s playing imaginary baseball in his bedroom, or is his hero that other Dominican fella with the cuddly teddy bear looks and the gleaming smile? Before Big Papi, Manny Ramirez used to be the man who heard the MVP chants when he stepped up to the plate. Now when he steps to the plate it’s all he can do to have his name heard over the roar of the crowd after David Ortiz performs yet another offensive miracle.
Sure, they’re marketed as a team; the Dominican Hammers, the bash brothers of the new millennium, but, lately, they’re looking a lot more like Wham!, and I’ll give you one guess which player is Andrew Ridgely.
We’ve heard it all before from Manny, but this off-season may be when the talk turns to action, and number 24 finally gets his wish. But is it truly a desire to play somewhere other than Boston, or is his ego being chased out of town by an entirely different kind of green monster?
Looks like Manny’s being Manny again, but, by all accounts, it also looks like Manny may very well be Manny somewhere else next season, as several sources report that the Red Sox are now unified in their determination to move the disingenuous Dominican during the winter, even if that means parting with him for pennies on the dollar. With his late season knee injury being questioned by everyone from the media to his own teammates, it seems apparent that Ramirez has taken it upon himself to shut it down for the rest of this “lost season”, and has raised the ire of even his most vocal supporters, including teamowner, John Henry; up until recently, the only member of the Sox brass who has shown no desire to move the slugger. Ramirez’s agent, Gregg Genske, has once again reiterated his client’s desire to be traded recently, and, contrary to statements made early in the season in which Genske stated that Ramirez wanted to finish up his career in Boston, now says Manny wishes to explore playing for another team in 2007.
