..and that is why Papi never sits for anybody. Few guys hit the ball as hard. The ball makes a different sound when Oritiz and Manny hit the ball than when mere mortals hit it.
Yes, I know. He's having surgery, because the discomfort and pain has increased, not because of any structural damage to ligaments or instability of the joint. He's not risking any career threatening injury by playing with this condition.
I agree with everything in the post, except 2004 probably doesn't happen if not for the loss in 2003. Getting that close and losing IMO motivated ownership to go out and get Schilling and Foulke in the off season. If they had won in 2003, I don't know if the FO would have had the same motivation.
How did they know that when he had been discussing a contract for less money with the Boss's son-in-law? No one else is or was asking for permission to interview him. Why would they offer him anything if they wanted him gone?
He's had this condition since last season. Doctors saw no reason to operate. The pain has gotten progressively worse, but there is no ligament damage and the knee is stable. Playing with the condition is uncomfortable, but there is no increased risk of ligament damage.