Dear Manny,
As I type this letter to you, I do so with a heavy heart. The events that have transpired over the last week, have made it possible – albeit small possibility – that you may not be a card carrying member of Red Sox Nation come the next Tuesdays with Smitty. Note to all readers : As I am typing this Manny just grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and didn’t even run down the baseline. It has become very apparent since right before the All-Star break that you are very unhappy that Red Sox ownership. Especially since ownership hasn’t picked up your “market value” $20 million options for both 2009 and 2010. In fact, I used your cause as inspiration and tried it last week with my employers too. I told them my throat hurt and my wrists were sore, so I couldn’t talk all day or type. Let’s see how my clients do without me. Ownership will know my value and they will give me an extra $1,000 for next year and the year after. Between you and me, my wrists were fine…how about your knee?
See I don’t blame you. Back in 1993 your friend Pedro pined ownership every day, every interview – basically any chance to get them to pick up his option for 2004. And they did. They didn’t even wait until the end of the season to pick it up. After all, it was a matter of respect. I mean what has this organization done since? Won 2 World Series, had the guts to trade the face of the franchise – Nomar, completely rebuild the farm system, and raise Red Sox fever to all time levels. You are right – they haven’t done anything to indicate they know what they are doing. Yes they have covered for your past missteps, your “injuries”, your “bad hammy” for shutting it down in 2006, and even your eccentricities. How dare they think twice about how they are spending $20 million dollars?
Even your numbers here have been incredible with the Red Sox. No other lineup in Major Leagues Baseball has a 3-4 combo as deadly as you and Big Papi, and there hasn’t been a better run producer in our generation. I know you are underrated as a left fielder, but let’s face it – outside of Fenway any fly ball to left field when you are out there –well, is a little scary. Never was it more apparent when you decided to give yourself a back massage using the baseball in Anaheim. I know you sometimes don’t run out fly balls or ground outs, but I understand you are trying to do your part to conserve energy. Why waste energy running down that line when you can save that energy for later?? I gotcha man, I understand.
But Manny, you have to explain something to me: What happened since the Spring, when you declared yourself happy to be a Red Sox and wanted to finish your career here? It seemed you had come to peace with the price that comes of being paid $168 million dollars in Boston. The fans have embraced you too. In fact “Manny being Manny” can be heard everywhere as a punch line. Wait – is that a good thing? But fans here love you. You beat up on the Yankees, in fact you make them wish you were in the National League. People here love you – they stick up for you. In fact we understand what an extra $20 or $30 million would do for you. We can relate. I mean after that, your kid’s- kid’s – kid’s- kid won’t ever have to work. Of course that is provided that you don’t keep leaving $40,000 in case in the glove compartment of your car.
Manny – one more thing: how did insulting the owner of Red Sox help your cause? How does not having a great season and potentially leading the Red Sox to another World Series title, not help your cause? In fact, I am a little confused. That really makes a lot of sense. How did taking the night off against Joba, really help your cause? Come to think of it – it is a little strange that the last couple of nights you have been too hurt to play were against guys like Joba and Felix Hernandez. Coincidence, right? I mean Manny Ramirez isn’t afraid of any pitcher, right?
So Manny if this is it – thanks for the memories. Maybe it is time for you to move on. Maybe it is time for the Red Sox to be drama free. There is too much about this team that is good. This team is too good to have one guy derail an entire season. Too many Bostonians spend their hard earned money to come watch you play and to come watch their Red Sox win. But in the end, it comes down to $40 million dollars, because $168 million wasn’t enough. As being someone who has stuck by you for years – I have to agree. It is time for you to go.
Hey you are turning 36 this year, so you are eligible for the Omar Minaya “ Bingo Club”. Do you think you would like the National League?
And one last question – Did Scott Boras put you up to this?
Sincerely,
A former Manny Ramirez fan
Do Manny and Favre have each other on speed dial? I don’t know of two adults who are in more need of attention. I am waiting for someone to take their mugs and superimpose them on Big Baby Huey’s costume and post it on the web. Can’t you see both of them sucking milk out of baby bottle?
Manny is absolutely confounding. The altercation with Youk was about as out-of-character as…as…as a clean-shaven Judas Damon in Pinstripes – well maybe the latter wasn’t out of character.
Then shoving the elderly traveling secretary? Has Manny been getting a double shot of espresso in his latte?
The two sides have had irreconcilable differences before and managed to work it out. If this is THE time that Manny leaves Boston then please send him somewhere he can’t hurt us. Can the Reds afford Manny? Oooops, sorry about that JD. Better yet send Manny to San Diego – he would love chillin’ in the sand.
I have of the mindset that this is just one more case of Manny being Manny, that it will blow over, that he will keep swinging the bat and get us to the playoffs. I am starting to waver a bit…Not just because of Manny and his antics of this season, but of the apparent weakenning of the perceived strength of the Saux pitching, both starting and in relief… I wrote just a week ago that the kids on the farm would come to the rescue and that no big trade was needed- I am second guessing myself now…I wish I knew what the clubhouse wanted right now- but I have to say that Theo has usually had a good feel for the needs of the clubhouse, just ask Nomaaahh back in 04…
Bottom line is that I will be surprised if Manny is traded, but a part of me will be more than a little relieved when it comes to pass…
As a Saux fan I must say that Pudge for Kyle Farnsworth is a great deal for the Yanks…
I have been always able to accept the “manny being manny” concept because he has always left us with memorable moments and making it up with his bat. But how much more can you take when it comes personal? Pushing traveling secretaries and making outrageous comments to the media about his thoughts on being traded and not coming back next year. It just goes on and on and its getting worse.
In my opinion, i have not seen the Sox play worse baseball then the last couple weeks. Something is wrong, to me the club looks mentally fatigued, but whatever it is it’s not good for the team.
Looking at the past i think if they trade manny, they might be better off doing that. Back in ’04, they were playing bad baseball just like now. They moved a Sox icon in nomar and they started playing their best baseball in winning a world series. As time passed they let other players go and overall the Sox have done great without them. If a trade does happen, it may just rejuvenate the club.
Part of me LOVES the intrigue of these trade rumors- what’s the latest news, what prospects are involved, we could get WHO?… the rest of me CAN’T STAND this waiting for the deal to happen, or not happen…
I really wonder what the Red Saux clubhouse is feeling right now, they are playing like crap now- is it just a midseason slump or is there something rotten in Denmark? 4:00pm can’t get here fast enough (really about 4:30 by the time the last minute details are faxed to the league offices)…
Should any of us get TOO excited that Junior might be moving to the ChiSox? I really wish he had made it through his career with a few less injuries… what a freakin’ talent… but not so much anymore…
Dave – welcome to the Clipboard and come back back often.
Muels – the trade deadline is maddening – I just hate how it becomes an entity in and of itself.
If it weren’t for injuries, we would be referring to Junior as the best baseball player of our time.
Completely agree on Griffey. I am hoping that his moving to the AL may allow him to stay in the majors a couple more years. Hopefully this allows him to DH once in awhile, but still play in the OF. Gotta like the White Sox lineup if Thome and Konerko start hitting. With Quinten and Dye, there is some pop in that lineup.
I am probably in the minority, but I think the Red Sox got a pretty good deal in the Manny trade. First an addition by subtraction as I firmly believe that Manny’s behavior and the whole saga has had an affect on the Sox play. Here is hoping that Red Sox fans will welcome Jason Bay as he is a pretty good player in his own right.
If the Red Sox hadn’t traded Manny, the season would have been lost. Without a doubt he would have been a spectacle – a la “trade me for Brett Farve straight up”. I am sure he would have given Francona fits and probably at the worst time sat out with some mysterious injury.