Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Knicks Beat Lakers With Familiar Strategy

500

4f618b774d124c57d03df13ac9ab3154-getty-80312814gf015_bost_balt_medium

via d.yimg.com

It's just a number. I've heard that a bit over the past couple of days. And those severely misguided individuals have a point: other than being a "nice round number", what does 500 mean that 499 didn't? That 501 didn't? That 237 didn't? And it's true.

The HR itself was semi-notable, if not historically notable. Chad Bradford is not an easy pitcher to hit a HR off of, in fact, a RH submariner should've been one of the toughest for Manny to hit one against. 

49060bab3664e4387438d0b34c6bd2e3-getty-80312814gf008_bost_balt_medium

via d.yimg.com

But what is 500? It's a reason. It's a reason to celebrate all things Manny. Since he's come to Boston, he's done nothing but hit. There are many large FA contracts handed out in the modern era of baseball, and you'd have to say that of those players, Manny is one of few who has really met expectations. 

Did I say he's done nothing but hit? He's also been at the center of a number of amusing situations, at least when one looks at them with the proper perspective. He's demanded and rescinded demands for trades. He's put property on sale on ebay. He's been late to spring training for...interesting reasons more than once. He's cutoff throws in which he was certainly not the relay man. He's robbed MFY utility IFs of HRs. He's high-fived fans in the middle of amazing plays. He's disappeared into the Monster during play.

Through it all, he's continued to hit. And moreso, he's been an absolute delight for those able to let the aforementioned incidents (and others) be seen for their entertainment value. 

And, of course, Manny has had the right perspective of the milestone. He wants 600, heck, he specifically mentioned hitting 501 in the midst of questions about the 500 mark. Manny loves to hit, and loves to see himself being successful at doing so, maybe moreso than any of his fans.

What else is 500? It's a reminder that when he's done, we're going to miss him. ...a lot.

18960fd8b509c2774053c452ac8aa3d3-getty-80312814gf011_bost_balt_medium

via d.yimg.com

Comment 7 comments  |  2 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Nice photos

I missed Manny’s 500th, but enjoy every at-bat.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Jun 2, 2008 12:39 PM EDT reply actions  

Great post

Manny is THE MAN.

Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone

by MerryGoByeBye on Jun 2, 2008 1:01 PM EDT reply actions  

Manny’s always surprising us. I don’t think anyone is expecting him to demand a trade, which was an annual occurrence up until last year. You don’t see so many jokes about his work ethic any more either (for example: http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/manny_ramirez_asks_red_sox ).

I think Manny’s on track for a better year. He’s only missed four games altogether of the first 59. He’s on pace for .2 HR per game played. If he gets in 140 games, he should hit 28 HRs. And Manny might go on an extended hitting streak and do even better. Manny’s real value last year was in the playoffs. He was awesome against the Angels (1.740 OPS) and the Indians (1.290 OPS) with four HR.

The big question is, will Manny hit well enough for the Sox to pick up his $20 million option year?

by 0157H7 on Jun 2, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply actions  

How about a paycut

and a four-year deal? COuld he turn down $15 mil for four years?

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 2, 2008 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

That's a lot of truck for 20 million

The sox should re-seign Manny—no question about it.
He’s the best hitter of his generation, and top 10 all time.

Fenway won’t be the same without him
We are watching history people!!!

2 world series rings AND a high-five in the outfield…
what else do we want???

xxCRACKxx flies the ball into the cool October night...

by mpieretti on Jun 3, 2008 2:01 PM EDT reply actions  

He also had an error, but we can forgive him.

Manny has had three straight games with a home run since 500.

If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only lefties are in the right mind. Bill "Spaceman" Lee

by BoSox415 on Jun 3, 2008 6:24 PM EDT reply actions  

Manny is...

...the seamless synthesis of the two ways I love baseball. He’s the goofy, fun “Let’s go to the game, and drink a half-dozen beers, and cheer for offense” game and the high-tension, bloodthirsty, “I love watching the Sox grind down a division rival in a pitchers’ duel” game. He’s the floppy, shambling, high-fiving, grinning puppy, loping around the outfield and the towering 45-degree “I drink Mussina’s milkshake” laser home-run to Landsdowne Street.

Incomparable.

Rock me, sexy Jesus...

by nuthinboutnuthin on Jun 4, 2008 12:33 AM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Over the Monster, an SB Nation community that delivers news and analysis while encouraging discussion regarding everything Boston Red Sox. OTM was founded Feb. 22, 2005.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Jddrew_small
OTM Fantasy Baseball-post 2

Recent FanPosts

Small
Pedroia vs Cano
I_want_to_believe_small
Dwight Evans = Hall of Famer
School-of-adventure_print_small
What might have been continued: 2010-2011 offseason
Small
The Red Sox and the luxury tax
Silence_small
Alfredo Aceves and Red Sox agree at $1.2 million
Danny_and_shuttle_small
Matt Garza Is Fair Compensation For Theo Epstein
School-of-adventure_print_small
What might have been: A revisionist look to the 2009-2010 offseason.
School-of-adventure_print_small
Dustin Moseley
Old-patriots-logo_small
Free Agent SPs Not Named Oswalt, Jackson

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

Red_seat_small Ben Buchanan

Twitter_eb_2_small Marc Normandin

Authors

Lowrie__1234972975_0178-1_small lone1c

Jddrew_small gizmosandy

Pedoria1_small Mattsullivan

Baghead-1_small Matthew Kory

Photo__2__small BrendanOToole

Cee_small Cee Angi

Retired Numbers

20136_562469370037_32603605_33253497_5601129_n_small Randy Booth

Master_shake_small Allen Chace

Rollie_fingers_small SoxDevil

Rorscach_small 0157H7

Red_sox_logo_small Logan Lietz

Photo_small wolf9309