What's up with Manny's attitude?

by SoxDevil on Jun 30, 2008 1:31 PM EDT

I'm concerned about Manny's attitude this year. If you recall he started off in baseball nirvana, meditating on being positive. But a belligerant and angry Manny has been occupying MBM's locker as of late. I can't ever remember Manny acting like this during his entire career. He's been silly, moody, and flakely, but never openly hostile towards teammates or club officials. What gives? I hate to even think "roid rage," but I'm really at a loss to explain away Manny's poor behavior.

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Added Pressures

Manny has had some more pressure this year then of previous years. After last years “down” year, he went and put in alot of work during the off season to not let it happen again. He put alot of pressure on himself to not slump during a “contract” year and not fall into an age decline that everyone is saying will happen.

Papi’s Injury. I think he noticed last year that he does hit alot better in the lineup with Papi in front of him. When Ortiz went back on the DL this year he put more pressure on himself to fill the void.

Drew’s emergence. J.D. Drew is showing that he is an elite MLB outfielder. With Drew now almost a mainstay in the 3 hole, Manny has to watch everyone of his at bats. Atleast once during the season Manny has to have thought, “How secure is my future in Boston, when they already have a premier slugging outfielder in Drew?”

Lost Friends. Manny’s favorite people to talk to have been Papi and Lugo. Papi isn’t around because of the injury and everyday Lugo wonders if this is the Day they finally trade him.

Team Leader. Manny has never been asked to be a team leader for the Sox, he has always just been, well Manny. As much as Varitek is a leader, he is mostly a leader of the pitching staff and mostly leads by example. We normally have a much older team then this year, so alot of the younger guys look up to Manny to be a leader.

While most of these things are minor, they have all compounded at the same time and on the biggest of all stages, Fenway Park. This would give anyone anxiety even the ManRam himself.

by drabidea on Jun 30, 2008 3:08 PM EDT 0 recs

I think in terms of younger guys looking up to older players not named 'Tek...

Mike Lowell = Leader.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Jun 30, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Beckett

For the young pitchers, even though he isn’t that much older. And Timlin in the bullpen.

"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 30, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm all choked up

about Manny and all his pressure. Isn’t he getting paid to play this game?

J.D. Drew seems to be doing fine without Papi in the line up. With Drew’s injury problems, I’m sure he’s put plenty of pressure on himself and seems to be handling it well.

Lugo isn’t going anywhere this year.

I’d hate to think that any of the younger players use Manny as a role model when there are guys like Tek, Lowell and Timlin in the clubhouse. Manny has never been a team leader, because he doesn’t have the qualities of a leader.

I can only imagine how Carlton Fisk would have handled a dog like Manny.

Lastly, isn’t it a felony to assault a senior citizen?

by 4thturn on Jul 1, 2008 5:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

Manny being a jerk

It’s a long season, it happens. Life can be stressful. Some days I’m a real jerk too. Though I’ve never pushed a 60-something secretary to the ground.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 30, 2008 4:46 PM EDT 0 recs

I think the main problem is Papi's injury.

That and some of the things Drabidea said, including the “contract year” and JD Drew.
I don’t think there is anyone who is threatening to take his left-field postion, but another problem may be that he just isn’t hitting. Sure, he went on that home run spurt after 5000, but since then he hasn’t been swinging the bat really well. That and the overperformance (I’ve been wanting to say that sooo long) of JD Drew is not helping, but of course I’m not telling JD to stop hitting. He’s feeling pressure to help fill up the number three spot thats already taken.

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 30, 2008 4:50 PM EDT 0 recs

ahh

typo: 500, even though i wish it were 5000

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 30, 2008 4:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

I dunno

I have a hard time believing that Drew’s few-month success is causing Manny to be insecure and press at the plate. Manny didn’t throw tantrums when Ortiz was flip-flopped to the 3-spot (even though he wasn’t psyched). It’s tougher being in the 4-hole with less protection. Don’t think for a second that part of Drew’s success doesn’t have to do with “Bad Man” Ramirez standing on deck.

"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 30, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

I couldn’t agree more. In one of my previous posts I commented that a slumping Manny is more intimdating then most of our lineup. Some or most of Drew’s recent success can be attributed to Manny being right after him.

I do not condone any of Manny’s actions and they are certainly out of character. I do however, think it can be seen how Drew’s success can be hurting Manny. I don’t think it caused the slump by any means but it isn’t helping to slow down the “snowball” that is called “Manny’s Slump.”

by drabidea on Jun 30, 2008 5:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

More stress

Anyone see this?

According to sources, the Sox recently received a mailed threat, believed to be postmarked in Memphis, Tenn., which targeted black and Latin players, citing at least two by name. The named players have been informed about the threats and will likely have security accompaniment away from Tropicana Field, including at the team’s hotel in St. Petersburg.

That is totally f’d.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 30, 2008 4:52 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah, that’s messed up. What’s wrong with some people?

"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 30, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wicked scary

We only have one “black”* player, right? That being Coco? Is Coco currently serving his suspension?

I used quotation marks because though Papi is one dark man, he is technically Latino.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 30, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

Black is just a color

I think you are giving racist people too much credit for knowing what color someone is. If they are ignorant enough to be so racist they would kill someone for it, they are probably ignorant enough to think Dice-K is Irish.

by drabidea on Jun 30, 2008 5:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

We don't see color

Me and him, that is.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 30, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Manny's not black?

David Ortiz is not black?

You can be Latino and black, too. Latino is not a race, after all.

by RickD on Jun 30, 2008 10:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm mostly ignorant.

I’ll preface with that.

As I understand it, “black” in our culture has two meanings – one (small “b”) referring to the pigmentation of the skin, and the other (big “B”) as a precursor to the term “African American.” So yes, Papi has black skin, but he is not Black.

I could be wrong, but I think when the article refers to “black and Latin players,” even though it uses the small “b”-black, it’s drawing a distinction between African Americans and Hispanic players. If “Latin” encompasses all the Hispanic players (and to my understanding, it does, but I’m mostly ignorant), the explicit inclusion of “black” would include Coco. I think.

It has been too long since I read any bell hooks.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 30, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Darkness!

"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 Jul 1, 2008 1:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Woof?

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jul 1, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

bell hooks; bell curve...

I hadn’t heard the name bell hooks in years

I want to be amazed by the (supposed) threat but I am not- sadly that kind of behavior doesn’t amaze me- disgusts & scares me but I am not surprised when I read or hear about it

"You know," Girardi said, shrugging his shoulders, "it didn't work."

( Joe Girardi on pitching to Manny Ramirez with first base open)

by MassGal on Jul 1, 2008 11:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

Papi is "black"

Papi is most definitely black. 90% of the Dominican Republic originally came as slaves from Africa, eventually slavery was outlawed and most of the rich white people moved to different countries. So Papi is like “African-Dominican” instead of “African-American”, thus making him be classified as “black or Black”.

by Gnick on Jul 3, 2008 12:12 AM EDT up 0 recs