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Note to the Red Sox: End the Manny Ramirez debate now

For the last time, Manny Ramirez is gone and he's never coming back.

It seems like this saga will never end. It has been almost seven months since Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers but apparently that's not enough time to shake this thing loose. It's like a dog that wipes its butt on the carpet, but no matter how long he wipes, that turd is still going to be there.

Yahoo! Sports' Gordon Edes wrote a story recently saying the Red Sox don't miss Manny. Which, if true, is great but when is the whole discussion about Manny going to end? Will it ever end?

Let's look at what Manny did for the Sox, in both recent memory and in years past. Instead of giving you fancy statistics that you can only figure out with a Texas Instrument scientific calculator, though, I'll divide it simply into two parts:

Mashing and complaining.

Yup. It's really that simple. Manny, as we all know, is not a very complex individual, so why should what he do be complex? Some of you might think that I'm making this whole Manny thing a little too simple. But let me ask you a question: what do you specifically remember of Manny Ramirez?

A big home run? Manny's uncanny ability to fight off pitches and then shoot off a laser to deep center field? Manny waiting for his pitch and finding the gaps in the outfield? Or do you remember stuff like Manny throwing the traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the ground? Or when Manny would sit out because of a "bad" knee?

I hate to make this case black and white, but you have to call it like you see it. Manny was a great hitter, but he was also cancerous in the clubhouse. Some people might not think that type of thing matters, but it really does. That's what seperates champions from the chumps when October begins.

Here's a good reason not to miss Manny: Jason Bay. A true class act, a 30-home run hitter and a guy that actually wants to be in Boston. Wow. What a thing to have in the middle of your lineup. I'll take him! Oh wait. We got him...

I propose this from now on: let's not look back at Manny and ask "what if?" It's useless now. He served his time as a Red Sox, which, for the most part, was seven and a half great years. He had a lot of good times, a lot of bad times and a lot of times where we just left the situation shaking our heads.

Time to look forward. The Manny Era is dead.

Poll
How will you most remember Manny Ramirez in a Red Sox uniform?
The Masher
205 votes
The Complainer
132 votes
A healthy mix of both
354 votes

691 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 13 comments |

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I like "The Masher" as an overall nickname for him.

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

by Allen Chace on Feb 23, 2009 3:21 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I still say ...

He was villianized in Boston when Ortiz came off the DL. Red Sox front office realized the defense is better without him and they were not going to pay Manny and Ortiz to DH. If they let anyone go it should have been Ortiz from a numbers standpoint. It was easier to villianize Manny to the fans than Ortiz. So they got rid of Manny. Manny being Manny was cute until economics got in the way. Then a move had to be made. Rather than just trade him, they had to villianize him first. Red Sox nation would have come unglued if they said it was just an economice move and to upgrade the defense. Imagine what you would all be saying now given his production the last two months of the season.

If Manny stays the Red Sox don’t lose 5 of 6 to Toronto against left handed pitching in the month of September. Red Sox probably would have won the division. I am a Rays fan and I will admit that.

Looking forward to some exciting baseball this year against you guys. I am actually taking my nephew to the Red Sox vs. Yankees spring training game in Tampa on 03/24. My nephew is a huge Red Sox fan who didn’t convert to being a Rays fan when the home team finally became successful. I am rewarding his team loyalty by taking him to see the Red Sox and Yanks play.

It’s a close call but I will be rooting for the Red Sox in that one.

by PewterPirate55 on Feb 23, 2009 5:19 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I love Manny but,

he physically assaulted an old man in the clubhouse and refused to pinch hit during his days off. These are facts and because of these things (in addition to the lack of defense) the Sox had ever right to let him go. Especially when they got Jason Bay out of it.

Also, the Sox won 5 of 7 against Toronto in September.

by BTLove on Feb 23, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I get it but

I can not change my avatar. I just can’t do it. I can’t think of anything else that fits.

"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 Feb 23, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Manny mashing on one side (ALDS home run off K-Rod)

And Manny complaining on the other (pointing to his knee)

Well, I'll appreciate for you to keep my zingers outta your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Feb 23, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Villainized by the front office?

They did not villainize Manny, they just stopped making excuses for him and covering up his antics. To a man, all the players that experienced his behavior first hand, agreed that it was time for him to go.

by SoxFanForever on Feb 23, 2009 5:51 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

ie.... Manny being Manny is only ok when the economics make it cute.

I am not a Manny apologist but …. If Manny stays the Red Sox win the AL east. The team was better and had more offensive production when Ortiz was on the DL and Manny was playing DH. That being said I agree without trading Manny, Jason Bay probably ends up in Tampa.

I guess it probably is a wash as to who wins the division. Unless Dodgers would have taken Ortiz in the 3 team trade.

by PewterPirate55 on Feb 23, 2009 9:21 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I am so not digging Jason Bay...or Ells

can’t explain it but they just don’t do it for me. I know they are fan favorites and have done well or better than OK, but….

"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 Feb 23, 2009 5:53 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

So you’ll go to your grave supporting the GAPster ManRam?

by Randy Booth on Feb 23, 2009 6:15 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I think so....

We’ll see what other ideas I come across; good quotes or something,,,something like the below might work, but can not think of an avi that will fit:

I am joking, of course. I tend to exaggerate on the spot … but I am extremely happy.

"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 Feb 23, 2009 6:20 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Its simply

without Manny the Red Sox don’t have a World Series Championship let alone two.

Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist

by E5 on Feb 23, 2009 9:42 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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