Oh, Manny, If You Only ...

[SinceYaz]

A wistful look back ...

 

at missed opportunity ...

 

 

 

What a season Big Papi is having, Manny!

 

What a career he has had, Manny!

 

How he is being celebrated, Manny...

 

If only you had been as wise as your former bat-tery mate!

 

Imagine, Manny being Manny all the way to the

honor and love, the respect and admiration, expectation and sense of upcoming loss ...

 

It could have been yours as well, Manny!

 

With your sweet swing, your batter's eye, your launching pad power ...

 

How many more World Series would we have celebrated together?

 

How different would we all have seen you had you chosen to be a team mate instead

of being self serving and childish.

 

David Ortiz will forever be admired in the annals of Red Sox history ...the face of the team, the

spirit of the City, the core of three World Series championships/

 

Oh, Manny, we loved you! We delighted in you! We thrilled when we saw you select your black 34"

bat and threatened the mere mortal 60 plus feet away...

 

As Big Papi makes his final rounds with the possibility of a season like none other, and

possibly another championship, just imagine what that might have meant to you, to us.

 

I thank you for all the pleasure you gave us, but just imagine if ...

[Slasher9]

Easily one of my favorite Red Sox players of all time.

[Bellhorn04]

All things considered the Manny era was a monster success. It's unfortunate the way his time in Boston ended, needless to say.

[SinceYaz]

Easily one of my favorite Red Sox players of all time.

 

With all his haters, that is really nice to hear - or read, Slash!

[SinceYaz]

All things considered the Manny era was a monster success. It's unfortunate the way his time in Boston ended, needless to say.

 

Absolutely! I don't think we will ever see a Manny/Papi duo either ..... We were the fortunate ones.

[Bellhorn04]

Absolutely! I don't think we will ever see a Manny/Papi duo either ..... We were the fortunate ones.

 

On the short list of the greatest 3-4 tandems in history.

[Jasonbay44]

Manny will forever be one of my all time favorites. Don't care about all the things he did, he was a beast and awesome to watch.

[kenmeister]

I was happy that he served his steroid suspension after his Red Sox time was over.

[moonslav59]

One of the longest running threads in the history of "that other site" was a thread I started titled "No Manny- No Rings". I started the thread soon after his trade in an effort to address the revisionist posters trying to claim that Manny was not as great or as important as he really was for us.

 

The guy was amazing. I loved his calm approach at the plate. He hardly ever argued with umps. He rarely showed emotion when striking out- a trait that I feel drives pitchers crazy, but was mistakenly taken by fans as a sign he "didn't care". Manny worked as long and as hard or longer than anyone else in MLB.

 

His childlike behavior could become annoying to some (many), but we could all see he loved the game. I don't see that too much these days.

[SoxnCycles]

One of the longest running threads in the history of "that other site" was a thread I started titled "No Manny- No Rings". I started the thread soon after his trade in an effort to address the revisionist posters trying to claim that Manny was not as great or as important as he really was for us.

 

The guy was amazing. I loved his calm approach at the plate. He hardly ever argued with umps. He rarely showed emotion when striking out- a trait that I feel drives pitchers crazy, but was mistakenly taken by fans as a sign he "didn't care". Manny worked as long and as hard or longer than anyone else in MLB.

 

His childlike behavior could become annoying to some (many), but we could all see he loved the game. I don't see that too much these days.

 

Agree.

It's a shame that Manny's time in Boston ended the way it did and he had to go.

But, a Manny at bat was a can't miss at bat during his time with the Sox.

[Maxbialystock]

He sure wasn't my favorite player. I completely agree with all the great comments about his hitting, but you guys are ignoring he was immature and, on occasion, downright mean. Manny being Manny included punching out a club assistant he didn't get him tickets he wanted, simply not playing when he didn't feel like it, making Francona's job miserable on those occasions when Manny wanted to be Manny to the detriment of the team, playing poorly on occasion in 2008 to force the Sox to trade him, insisting he should be getting ARod's salary (which ARod himself didn't deserve), using PED's after MLB had finally decided to crack down on them, etc, etc.

[moonslav59]

He sure wasn't my favorite player. I completely agree with all the great comments about his hitting, but you guys are ignoring he was immature and, on occasion, downright mean. Manny being Manny included punching out a club assistant he didn't get him tickets he wanted, simply not playing when he didn't feel like it, making Francona's job miserable on those occasions when Manny wanted to be Manny to the detriment of the team, playing poorly on occasion in 2008 to force the Sox to trade him, insisting he should be getting ARod's salary (which ARod himself didn't deserve), using PED's after MLB had finally decided to crack down on them, etc, etc.

 

I may not have mentioned his faults on my last post, but I have addressed those faults many times in the past.

I did not intend to ignore his many poor and despicable choices.

I'm just against those who want to rewrite history because of their hatred towards Manny's actions.

[SinceYaz]

One of the longest running threads in the history of "that other site" was a thread I started titled "No Manny- No Rings". I started the thread soon after his trade in an effort to address the revisionist posters trying to claim that Manny was not as great or as important as he really was for us.

 

The guy was amazing. I loved his calm approach at the plate. He hardly ever argued with umps. He rarely showed emotion when striking out- a trait that I feel drives pitchers crazy, but was mistakenly taken by fans as a sign he "didn't care". Manny worked as long and as hard or longer than anyone else in MLB.

 

His childlike behavior could become annoying to some (many), but we could all see he loved the game. I don't see that too much these days.

 

I don't remember who said it, but of Manny's love for hitting, it was said he would play baseball on the dark side of the moon if only hitting was involved. (Or something like that ...) I loved watching him at the plate ...

[SinceYaz]

He sure wasn't my favorite player. I completely agree with all the great comments about his hitting, but you guys are ignoring he was immature and, on occasion, downright mean. Manny being Manny included punching out a club assistant he didn't get him tickets he wanted, simply not playing when he didn't feel like it, making Francona's job miserable on those occasions when Manny wanted to be Manny to the detriment of the team, playing poorly on occasion in 2008 to force the Sox to trade him, insisting he should be getting ARod's salary (which ARod himself didn't deserve), using PED's after MLB had finally decided to crack down on them, etc, etc.

 

Max,

 

Therein the wistfulness of Manny NOT being like Papi in the OP. So much to like about Manny but his poor personal behavior spiraled downward the last few seasons. I never stopped liking him, but the behavior v. the traveling sec. made it clear Manny being Manny had become more than just a dude clowning around.

[Michfan]

When my high school age grandson struggles with his batting i send him some Manny videos i have stored.

[Kimmi]

I love Manny and all of his on field antics. It's a shame about some of his off field stuff. I will always be grateful for what he brought to the Sox.

 

It's probably wrong, but I would welcome Manny back way before I would welcome Damon back.

[mvp 78]

I love Manny and all of his on field antics. It's a shame about some of his off field stuff. I will always be grateful for what he brought to the Sox.

 

It's probably wrong, but I would welcome Manny back way before I would welcome Damon back.

 

Well, Damon actually doesn't want to come back if you remember his Tigers days.

[Slasher9]

Every Red Sox fan that has an opinion of Manny Ramirez one way or the other should take 15 minutes out of their day and read this article.

it is a must read.

http://espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=manny

[mvp 78]

Every Red Sox fan that has an opinion of Manny Ramirez one way or the other should take 15 minutes out of their day and read this article.

it is a must read.

http://espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=manny

 

Nothing written by Bill Simmons is a must read.

[Maxbialystock]

Max,

 

Therein the wistfulness of Manny NOT being like Papi in the OP. So much to like about Manny but his poor personal behavior spiraled downward the last few seasons. I never stopped liking him, but the behavior v. the traveling sec. made it clear Manny being Manny had become more than just a dude clowning around.

 

Well, I have to admit that like everyone else I loved what he did at the plate and even defended his defense. I did tend to look the other way when he was "being Manny." I turned against him, quite simply, in 2008 when he did everything he could to get out of Boston, whose FO was never going to give him more than $20M/year.

[a700hitter]

Manny wanted out of Boston at some point every season. That would pass and he would continue producing like a wrecking ball.

[moonslav59]

Let's not forget that Sox management wanted Manny out of time over the years, and made it quite clear to the media. Doesn't that kind of force a player to want out as well?

 

Look, I'm not defending Manny few despicable actions, but the Sox were actively making it impossible for Manny to stay in Boston. I recall leaks about Manny not knowing which knee it was that was injured, then implying that because nothing showed up on the MRI, it meant he wasn't really hurt, and other leaks. I'm not denying Manny didn't fake an injury, but when you are a manager of a team, and you know you have a child-like employee that is a valuable part of your company's success, you might want to handle his disposal a little smoother.

 

I was shocked we got Bay after the whole world knew we HAD to dump Manny mid-season.

[Slasher9]

Manny wanted out of Boston at some point every season. That would pass and he would continue producing like a wrecking ball.

 

There is no truth to this statement at all. Manny never wanted out of Boston until 2008 when boras told him he wanted out.

[a700hitter]

There is no truth to this statement at all. Manny never wanted out of Boston until 2008 when boras told him he wanted out.

There were at least two seasons where Manny pulled minor work stoppages before the Trading Deadline and was rumored to have asked for a trade. I remember that he was held out of a game played on the Trading Deadline. Everyone expected that he would be traded, but 4:00 came and went and Manny PH to a nice ovation. I could be mis-remembering, but I don't think so.

 

In one off season the Red Sox put him on irrevocable waivers because h was not happy with Boston, but there were no takers for his long term deal at $20 million/year.

[Bellhorn04]

There were at least two seasons where Manny pulled minor work stoppages before the Trading Deadline and was rumored to have asked for a trade. I remember that he was held out of a game played on the Trading Deadline. Everyone expected that he would be traded, but 4:00 came and went and Manny PH to a nice ovation. I could be mis-remembering, but I don't think so.

 

In one off season the Red Sox put him on irrevocable waivers because h was not happy with Boston, but there were no takers for his long term deal at $20 million/year.

 

The game you're referring to was in 2005. I was at that game.

[Bellhorn04]

I think it's pretty cool that Epstein gave Manny a job in the Cubs organization.

[a700hitter]

The game you're referring to was in 2005. I was at that game.

My recollection is that manny had asked for a trade, got booed for it and then was benched for a couple of days up to the trading deadline, and then he had a change of heart on the Trading Deadline date.

[Slasher9]

Manny never wanted to play anywhere but Boston until 2008. 2005 the sox held him out of the lineup because they were trying to trade him. When the deadline passed he ph and got the game winning knock.

[a700hitter]

Manny never wanted to play anywhere but Boston until 2008. 2005 the sox held him out of the lineup because they were trying to trade him. When the deadline passed he ph and got the game winning knock.

I remember him asking for a trade more than once.

[a700hitter]

This confirms my memory. He asked out 4 times

Ramirez again asks Sox for trade

 

Slugger threatens not to report in spring

 

By Chris Snow, Globe Staff | October 29, 2005

 

 

 

Gene Mato, one of Manny Ramirez's representatives, communicated to Red Sox owner John W. Henry yesterday that Ramirez wants to be traded, and will not report to spring training if his wish to be dealt is not met, according to a team source.

 

 

Ramirez is a 10-5 player, meaning he has 10 years of major league service, five consecutive with the same team. That seniority entitles Ramirez to block a trade to any team he doesn't wish to join. With that in mind, Mato told Henry that Ramirez might decide during the process of being shopped that he wishes to remain with the Sox.

General manager Theo Epstein would neither confirm nor deny that Ramirez has requested a trade, but said late last night, ''Manny, his representatives, and the Red Sox have open lines of communication and will throughout the offseason. I think we all want whatever is in the club's best interest and Manny's best interest. [but] those conversations are private and completely confidential. For anyone to reveal the nature of those talks would be ridiculous. We have no comment."

 

 

This comes only three months after Ramirez asked to be traded by the July 31 deadline, which CEO Larry Lucchino revealed July 28 in his weekly radio interview with WEEI. Lucchino that day called the slugger's request ''not anything unusual," saying it was the fourth time since Henry bought the team that Ramirez asked out.

 

 

But Ramirez wasn't dealt. He remained with the team and made peace -- or publicly made a showing of making peace -- the morning of July 31, when he popped into manager Terry Francona's office and told the assembled media, ''I want to stay here for 2005 and win another World Series."

 

 

He said nothing about remaining with the club beyond 2005. He is, of course, signed for three more seasons, at a total of $57 million, the balance on his eight-year, $160 million contract.

 

 

Ramirez, along with one of his representatives, was scheduled to meet with Henry on Wednesday and discuss some of the issues in Ramirez's head. Henry, as of last week, wasn't expecting Ramirez to ask to be traded. A week ago yesterday, in an e-mail, Henry said he meets with Ramirez ''every six months or so, certainly every winter," and that he wasn't anticipating that this meeting would give rise to anything unusual. That meeting, though, hasn't happened, because of the aftereffects of Hurricane Wilma in South Florida, where both Henry and Ramirez live.

 

 

Ramirez, 33, struggled for much of the first half of the 2005 season but still tied a career high with 45 home runs. He knocked in 144 runs, his highest total since 1999, his last year with Cleveland. Ramirez did much of his offensive damage beginning July 31, when it was decided that he would not be dealt. Beginning that day, over the closing 56 games, he hit .327 with 17 home runs and 52 RBIs. He also significantly elevated his all-around game over the closing weeks of the season, paying noticeably sharper attention to base running and fielding.

 

 

Epstein said toward the end of the season that Ramirez had won his teammates' respect with his hustle.

''I think he really understood the impact that he has on our ball club," Francona said on the season's last day. ''How much we needed him."

 

 

David Ortiz, meanwhile, benefited greatly hitting ahead of Ramirez. Ramirez and Ortiz combined to hit 21 homers in the team's final 22 games, finishing the season with 92 homers and 292 RBIs, a season after hitting a combined 84 homers and delivering 269 RBIs.

 

 

''I'll tell you what," Ortiz said before Game 4 of the World Series Wednesday, ''If you're going to let a guy like Manny go, you better bring someone in like this."

He motioned to the man standing next to him, Atlanta's Andruw Jones, who led the majors with 51 home runs.http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/File-Based_Image_Resource/dingbat_story_end_icon.gif

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

 

 

 

 

http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/10/29/ramirez_again_asks_sox_for_trade/