The comedy stylings of Manny Ramirez
Arguably the most mentioned plot line of Manny's Ramirez's time in L.A. has been his ability to loosen up what felt like a Merchant Ivory version of a baseball clubhouse: Very buttoned down. Very quiet. Cast members performing while rarely cracking a smile. Manny arrives and the joint starts jumping with pregame music, wall to wall looseness, Angel Berroa's various remote control vehicles, M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" blaring after every win (it played on a non-stop loop after the game 3 win), etc. Plus, that whole "laughter" sound rumored to surface every now and then in your everyday, average clubhouse.
But for the most part, Many's been subdued around us media types. Camera in his grill, he's typically limited talk to standard baseball cliches and constant reminders that he's happy to be here. And before today's practice, Ramirez seemed to be in that mode. Save an admission that he "partied like a rock star" over the Dodgers' NLDS clinching weekend (his description of the night didn't even sound particularly crazy, truth be told) and cracking a joke about fans not figuring out where he lives to crash the shindig, nothing we haven't already heard in some way, shape or form was offered. But then a reporter asked if Manny thought he could pull off a comeback like Rafael Furcal's after spending four months rehabbing a balky back.
"I don't think so. Maybe I could come and contribute in another way. Maybe like a defensive replacement. Maybe something like that. Furcal is 28 (Editor's note to Manny: Raffy is actually 31). I'm 35 (Editor's note to Manny: You're actually 36). He's a great player. He can bunt. He can hit. He can do it all. He's like me, a five tool player."
Tongue practically dead-bolted inside his cheek, an impish grin crossed Manny's face and he began to enjoy the roll.
"Now
that I can do all those things, I think I could ask for a raise," mused Manny. "I
don't DH anymore. I play the outfield. Run, hit. I could do it all,
so why not. When I was in Boston, everyone expected me to be a DH.
I'm just an all-around player."
To clarify, I'm 100% positive Manny was kidding around while waxing poetically about his versatility. The pay bump talk? Not so convinced he was kidding. If nothing else, I guarantee Scott Boras thinks he wasn't kidding. 
I asked which team he figured was on the lookout for a rare five tool player. "I
don't know. I think, everybody," responded Manny, a giggle fit immediately following. Assuming he's correct (and why wouldn't he be, since those types of athletes are so very rare), there could very well be a rush to, as Teddy KGB so famously put it, "Pay that man his money." Should that team end up L.A., as a member of my media brethren
reminded him, he's playing for the Dodgers free of charge.
"That's right," nodded Ramirez. "The Red Sox are paying my salary. I'm on vacation
right now."
A vacation, by the way, that admittedly includes some time in the "image makeover" spa. "I was just trying to see the opportunity that I was going to get to change my image. All that B.S. that was in Bean Town wasn't true. That I'm just an easy guy to please. A lovely guy." I wondered if he had started to worry about people getting the wrong impression. "Not really. You know why? As long as you know my teammates, they know how hard I play. I care about everybody on the team. That's what matters to me."
Finally, the best line came when my colleague T.J. Simers brought up Jason Bay, Boston's big fish landed in the three-way deal sending Manny to L.A., and The Dreadlocked One immediately offered props for his left field replacement.
"That was a good trade. I think they did the right move, you know? That's a helluva player. He can run. Play the outfield. A six tool (player). I got five."
I don't which was funnier. Hearing Manny give a seemingly earnest seal of approval to the trade he forced, or the phrase "six tool player." Either way, good stuff.
AUDIO
Manny Ramirez, Part I: Download manny_part_1_10.6.08.mp3
Manny Ramirez, Part II: Download manny_part_ii_10.6.08.mp3
Manny Ramirez, Part III: Download manny_ramirez_part_iii_10.6.08.mp3
Russell Martin: Download russell_martin_10.6.08.mp3
Hong-Chih Kuo: Download hongchih_kuo_10.6.08.mp3
Joe Torre: Download joe_torre_press_10.6.08.mp3
Casey Blake: Download casey_blake_10.6.08.mp3
AK
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As much as I would like to see Manny come back, I really don't think he will. I heard a reporter on 570 say that Manny was telling TJ Simers that if he's going to miss him when leaves to NY after the season. I'm sure it's just Manny being Manny but I'm not so sure. With Scott Boras as his agent and the way Manny is playing he'll probably demand $25 mil over 5 years with a 10% ownership of the club.
"He beat me straight up, pay that man his money."
Posted by: dcerros | October 06, 2008 at 10:12 PM
He's made for this team...pay the man his money
Posted by: K T | October 06, 2008 at 10:35 PM
MIA - "singing" Paper Planes? Isn't that one of those oxycontinmorons?
At least Kent isn't in charge of the iPod... "I'm a little bit country, and I'm a little bit rock and roll..." can get a little tiring after one play.
Posted by: Benzo Jones | October 07, 2008 at 06:39 AM
Hello, hello, Manny lives in NY and anyway he will be a dodger for four more years at 23.975 a year.
Wow we will beat the phillys SKIP BALIS just pick Phiily, this dude is always wrong, thank you skip
Posted by: pk-mesa | October 07, 2008 at 09:03 AM
"All that B.S. that was in Bean Town wasn't true" It absolutely was, why else would a team still pay Manny's salary while he is a dodger???They basically paid him to leave!!!He had a bad attitude towards his fans especially, his teammates and the Red Sox in general. He thought it was the Manny show,he would play poorly on purpose when he was angry with the management, not caring how he affected his team. He would literaly jog to first base because he was upset. He's putting on a good show because he is looking for a contract, it's all an act. We were happy to get rid of him and would rather lose the World Series without him than have him on our team. Good ridens!
Posted by: Bostonian | October 07, 2008 at 10:15 AM
We got Manny and you got the liar JD Drew so lets call it even but if we meet in the series we will not be playing Angel Ball but Dodger ball.
Posted by: pk-mesa | October 07, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Manny´s job is right there,,close to all L.A. fans,,any
doubt?,,Just wait for NLCS and you´ll see it.
Posted by: jose leclerc | October 07, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Manny will simply go to the highest bidder. Great as all this clubhouse business is--and I have to admit, it's had a MUCH bigger impact than I thought it would--I am skeptical that it will carry over to the same crazy degree once that man HAS his money. I lived in Boston for four of Manny's years there--and followed the Sox very closely--and Manny is as moody as they come, often seemingly without rhyme or reason. I actually thought Bill Simmons' recent article about Manny's mercurial nature hit the nail on the head.
It doesn't surprise me that Manny is declaring himself to be a year younger than he is, and tongue-in-cheek or not, self-aggrandizing has a deeper intent than just comedy. He is certainly smart enough to know that endearing himself to fans is the best way to drive up his asking price. And I have no doubt that Manny will simply go to the team that offers him the most money. Do Boras' players EVER do otherwise?
Posted by: VA Blueblood | October 07, 2008 at 04:56 PM
dcerros, VA Blueblood,
I agree with you that Manny will likely not be back as a Dodger. A couple of factors lead me to believe this.
However, if the Dodgers beat the Red Sox in the World Series, he might stay if the money was close?
First, he will want to go to NY b/c he could keep sticking it to Boston and its fans. You can tell he still have some resentment toward Boston and the fact that the front office and fans are still being petty, he wants to stick it to them.
Second, NY will pay the MOST for him. You gotta believe that Cashman and Steinbrenner will pay for Manny and Big! Can you imagine the NY lineup w/ Manny, Arod, Jeter, Abreu, etc... That would definitely be comparable to the old Yankees of Ruth and Gehrig... arguable the two best hitters of their time in the same team!
Third, Boras is Manny's agent... "show me the money!"
Fourth, last I checked Mr. McCourt is still the Dodgers owner..... he paid nothing for Manny this year. He got everything he needs from Manny and no longer needs him. 2009 Ticket sales have skyrocketed and the city is talking Dodgers.... ticket prices are being RAISED and paid for, claiming they have a winning playoff team but will be a bare skeleton of this 2008 team in 2009.... no Manny, no Blake, no Penny, no Kent, no Nomar, no Furcal... and whoever else is up for a big contract. We'll still be competitive w/ the young guns finally gaining experience... but will not have a legit superstar next year.
Posted by: Rob | October 07, 2008 at 06:34 PM
"Good Ridens."
-Bostonian
What a goofy dunce......
___
I said it here a looong time ago - yes, Manny will sign with the highest bidder, and it most likely will NOT be the Dodgers.
Good to see SOME are catching on........
Posted by: ASW | October 07, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Rob--if we don't sign Manny, that's a sizable chunk of McCourt's $118 million threshold that could go to one of several other monster sluggers on the market this winter (almost all of whom are younger than 36). I think a "legit superstar" is anyone you can reasonably expect to hit 35+ dingers and post an OBP over .375, regardless of clubhouse and media antics.
I have little doubt that there will be at least one player in Blue next year by that description.
To me it's more a question of paying for production vs. paying for the circus.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | October 07, 2008 at 08:52 PM
You guys don't be a Plaschke
Posted by: pk-mesa | October 08, 2008 at 02:00 AM
Kudos to the K's
Big write up on their Manny take on ESPN and the Philly Enquier
http://tinyurl.com/4prrzx
Posted by: Fatty | October 08, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Look, Im not questioning that Manny forced his way out of Boston. But he had fake injuries and jogged down the line in the past, and Red Sox fans always forgave him when he was raking for them in October. Now that he's gone everyone feels OK ripping him.
The perception that he was dogging it for an extended period of time is ridiculous though. For a couple days before the trade deadline, yea, he didnt give his full effort. But a look at the numbers shows in his last month in Boston, dude hit .347 with a .473 OBP. How is that dogging it?
By comparison, the "hustling, LA version" of Manny is hitting .397 with a .489 OBP.
Yes, its a 50 point jump in average, but when you really break down the numbers, Manny's Boston and LA splits are pretty comparable, and consitently good.
Posted by: Mike G | October 08, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Oh, and Bostonian, how many Sox fans really "would rather lose the World Series without him than have him on our team." pretty bold. Does this still apply if Manny and the Dodgers are the ones beating them?
What kind of real fan would honestly say they would rather their team not win a championship?
Posted by: Mike G | October 08, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Mike - you know and I know that Bostonian is just talking out of his arse on that one......
Does he know?..... probably
Does he know that you know and I know?
Probably not - too complicated for him..........
Posted by: ASW | October 08, 2008 at 04:51 PM
GO DODGERS
BRING OUT THE BROOM...
Posted by: Mr.G... | October 09, 2008 at 08:23 AM
I am a Red Sox fan and have been for many, many years. I think all the hate being heaped on Manny is "despicable." No one in their right mind can look at what Manny did while on that team and think he wasn't one of the best ever on that team. And his numbers in July in Boston were great. He also got most of the RBI's against the Yankees and Angels all the while he was supposedly "dogging it." I now know why Manny wanted out of Boston. Can't say that I blame him one bit.
Posted by: elccpa24 | October 10, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Being a Sox fan since 1938, YES, 70 years!, I can never remember a Sox player of Manny's ability with such a childish attitude.
I do recall an article in the SI when Manny was an Indian that he was called "a 12 yr old boy in a man's body". Times have NOT changed.
Nomar was just a bad but without Manny's stats.
Give me the young guys that the Sox have plus the leadership of MEN like Jason V and B, Wake, Popie, Dustin Ped, Mike Lowell, Youk ,etc,etc,etc.
Posted by: emile rocheleau | October 15, 2008 at 12:54 PM