Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and more

by Randy Booth on Jan 3, 2008 6:53 PM EST in News Comment 15 comments

Peter Gammons' chat transcript is up at Boston.com. Here are some of the best tidbits from our main man Gammons:

Q) Who do you think are possible teams that would accept a trade for Coco Crisp?
A) I think Texas... and Oakland... would be the most likely if he's not part of any deal with Minnesota. I could see Billy Beane trading for Crisp and then turning around and trading him before season starts. The A's think he's the best defensive center fielder in game right now.

Q) How did surgery go for David Ortiz? Do you think he will be in '06 shape for this season, or should we expect a solid year like this past season, with a little less home run power?

A) My guess is that he'll be fine. And in a lot less pain than he was at times last year. I thought for nearly three months, he was very clear that self confident presence was missing and it was injury related. In the 40 HR range... what's going to be interesting is going to be how Manny hits with him. Manny rented a house in the Phoenix area and has become a maniacal workout warrior in Tempe Arizona at the Athletes' Performance Institute (API). From what I've heard from people at API, Manny is getting himself into phenomenal shape. And having watched those workouts, I can tell you, they are extremely difficult.

Q) Which hitting prospects in the Sox system do you feel will make a BIG IMPACT in the near future?

A) Probably the two highest regarded young hitters other than Brandon Moss are Lars Anderson and Ryan Kalish. Anderson is considered their best power prospect after a very strong season at Greenville as a 19 year old. Outfielder Josh Reddick made himself a significant prospect and scouts who saw some of the players out of last years draft were impressed, specifically 3B Will Middlebrooks, 1B Anthony Rizzo, and OF David Mailman.

Q) Will Jim Rice finally make it into the Hall of Fame?

A) I don't think so. I voted for him, but it's been interesting that there have been people like Rob Neyer who are so obsessed with degrading Rice's career. The fact that he retired as early as he did clearly has cost him because of the 382 home runs. But for him to be in the top 5 in MVP balloting 6 times in 12 years, to me, speaks more about his career than the fact that his career OPS is the same as Ellis Burks.

Good stuff from Gammons in the chat transcript. If all he said about Manny is true then I can't wait to see him come February. If Manny is going through all these extra steps then he should certainly improve over last season's stats.

0 recs | Comment 15 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

Manny for MVP in 08?

I like that he is training like a freak.

by SoxAcumen on Jan 3, 2008 7:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

Manny is a hitting savant, and he works very hard to maintain it. But he's also getting older. I don't think we can pencil him in for .300/35HR/100RBI seasons any more - he'll be 36 next year. If Manny comes back and wins the MVP, I'd start to worry about PEDs.

by 0157H7 on Jan 3, 2008 8:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

Id shed more than a few tears if we didn't pick up Manny's option. The dude has always been my fave player, and the thought of him leaving Boston makes me sick to my stomach.

by Matzushocka on Jan 3, 2008 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

My hope is that Manny sticks around through 2010 so when he retires and goes to the Hall of Fame, we can proudly retire his number in right field.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 3, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

I have a love/hate relationship for Manny, and truthfully I almost wish he'd retire now. I'm not the most astute person when it comes to baseball, but he truly is nothing more than a momma's boy and if he doesn't get his way, he claims he's hurt and can't play. A lot like Pedro in my opinion.

I know the numbers wouldn't be the same, but I have a larger love relationship for Coco, and would love to see him around many more years than Manny.

Just my $0.02.

The Red Head

by the red head on Jan 4, 2008 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

One of the major Manny issues I don't understand is the playing-time complaint. He's played (going backwards from 2007) 133, 130, 152, 152, 154, 120, and 142 games. Those are all very healthy numbers and average to 87% of all games played.

"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 Jan 7, 2008 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

After the Mitchell Report, I don't think ANYONE will be using PEDS ... unless it really is completely undetectable. Manny has been one of the best hitters in the AL for many, many years so I don't think another great season -- MVP caliber, even -- would be out of the question unless he used PEDS.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jan 3, 2008 9:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

I have a total man-crush on Manny.

Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Jan 3, 2008 10:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

I don't know if its a man-crush, but I do love Manny and never want him to wear any other uniform but Red Sox, ever again. So lets lock him up for 09 and 10 and hope he rides off or signs one of those Wakefield perpetual $20 million dollar deals....

by SoxAcumen on Jan 4, 2008 3:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

Just to add to this. I have a good buddy from my law school days who is an Indians fan. He hates Manny with a passion. Every time I see him around LA in the "scene" he always brings up the things he hates about Manny and the plays that make him look bad. Pisses me off, bc I am like "wait, Manny is the best...", he was on the World Series team in 04. My buddy, again an Indians fan, always talks like its no big deal we won in 04'. Effing Hollywood people. However, its my opinion that just like Detroit has fallen in love with Rasheed Wallace and his foolishness, I think the fact that Boston has shown unconditional love to Manny is why he has never let us down. Sure he is insane and plays the outfield like a drunk softball league veteran with 10+ beers in him, but he mashes.

Manny knows we love him and he will always do his best(whatever that is in his own mind).

by SoxAcumen on Jan 4, 2008 3:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

You have to take anything a Cleveland fan says with a grain of salt. They are just upset that the ownership groups of the Indians have always sucked. Look at the talent they have let walk and sign for more $$$ elsewhere over the last 15 years. It is not excuseable for a team to let a corner-stone home grown HOF talent like Manny Ramirez leave your team for more $$$. Don't give me the "mid market budget" card either. That team had the record for most consecutive sell outs when Manny left, how could they not afford him?
This wil be repeated after 2008 when CC Sabathia will not be re-signed by the Indian's front office. The team will again cry poor, and explain you cannot lock the amount of dollars into one player that CC (much like Manny did) will command. If you cannot commit mass dollars to a star hall of famer like Manny, and you cannot commit the dollars CC will command, then why field a team? The Indians organization owns a tv network now much like NESN, and attendance was up for them, so what will be the excuse this time around?

I HATE when MLB teams cry poor and use the "small-mid market" excuse. It isnt true, look where the Indians rank in terms of overall profit every season. Tell me they do not have the $$$ to sign star players. And yes, I know it is not just the Indians...its many teams. The thing that gets me is when the fans of teams like the Indians then go on and bitch that we spend money on players. They wish that the teams they support would spend money. I

I always felt bad for Indians fans in the 1990's. The teams in Cleveland during those years were UN-REAL in terms of talent. The Indians were one ace away (when we acquired Pedro over them) from winning several world championships. The MFY dynasty of the late 1990's would have never existed had the Indians of those years had one lights out shut down starting pitcher. And then to follow that up, they let guys like Belle,Thome, and Ramirez walk. Why?

I know as a Red Sox fan I have no right to ever poke fun at any long suffering sports fans, but if I were a Cleveland Indians fan Id turn my back on the club forever if they do not resign CC. Ownership of that team is now letting the ENTIRE central division get better, and doing nothing at all. Its sad.

by Matzushocka on Jan 4, 2008 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

***The Indians still have the record for most consecutive sell outs @ home. That record will fall to the Red Sox sooner than later.

by Matzushocka on Jan 4, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons on Crisp, Santana, Manny and mor

If they don't sign CC, he is a Yankee. I think Cleveland is in a position that there is no other option but resigning CC.

Right now, I bet they are praying Santana does not get traded and gets the 7/$140 million, bc that means CC gets the same deal.

by SoxAcumen on Jan 4, 2008 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

>>>CC isnt staying in C-town

Id honestly bet my house and everything I own that Cleveland will not re-sign CC.

by Matzushocka on Jan 4, 2008 9:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Peter Gammons

Gammons is soooo often wrong because he is an emotional fan mixed with reporter. I love hearing him, but you cant take it all as what is going to happen

the difference between a yankee stadium hot dog and a fenway frank is that they dont sell yankee dogs in november anymore.

by fishfarmr on Jan 5, 2008 12:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs