Manny barely skirted punishment
According to the Red Sox, who were apparently on the verge of suspending him for insubordination (a fair way to phrase "refusing to play," if you believe Team Saux's POV). A formal letter was shown to Ramirez on a Saturday after consecutive games he asked out of, and the punishment would theoretically have gone into effect the next day. Ramirez eventually agreed to play in the Saturday game, which put the problem off for the time being. He ended up being traded to L.A. a few days later.
What's interesting to me isn't so much that the Sox would have suspended Manny. Yes, he was their biggest star, but the relationship clearly wasn't getting salvaged, so along those lines, what difference does it make? What I find curious is how the information is coming out right as Manny is seeking a new deal. Coincidence or a disgruntled boss trying to stick it to a disgruntled former employee? I just think it's odd how these measures would be kept quiet to the point where Bill Simmons practically wrote a novel in mind-boggled reaction, but happen to surface as Scott Boras -- speculated by most as the puppet master -- has officially declared it "Make Manny Rich" season.
You tell me.
AK
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Wow, bitter much? Boston REALLY needs to let it go already. You have a very good team and have had one for the last few years and into the future what is the point of all this? Stay classy Red Sox! I can't wait for them to not matter again.
Posted by: Mariano Duncan Sheik | November 16, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Quit on 1 team. Get a big raise from another team. Manny won't see any of my money, suckers.
Posted by: Kay | November 16, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Prior to this alleged would-have-been suspension, the Sox wanted to trade him. It sounds like the suspension would have occurred after the trade deadline; prior to trading deadline, the Sox as an organization had a clear disincentive to suspend him or otherwise make his negative behavior more public than it already was.
Espn reported this and cites "multiple sources." I think it's less one particular "boss trying to stick it to a disgruntled former employee," but more multiple disgruntled co-workers wanting to do the very same.
Plus, it's not like anyone in Boston WANTS to see a happy marriage between Manny and the Yanks. Sour grapes usually make good copy.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | November 16, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Me thinks the Sox are trying to chum the waters with cyanide.
Posted by: benzojones | November 16, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Link to Bill Simmons at your own risk. Isn't the internet supposed to be about succinct communication?
Blah blah blah. We all knew at the time that Manny pushed the Sox traveling salesman, something that got Shawn Chacon bounced out of baseball. And we all know that Boras wanted Manny to renegotiate at 36, not 38. Nothing has changed in those regards.
Any team dumb enough to sign Manny beyond three years will deserve what they get: a malcontent that makes Andruw Jones and Brad Penny look like Lou Gehrig. Declining production, disastrous defense, and a daily circus surrounding him for whatever ridiculous statement is emitted from his mouth.
The team that signs Manny will look brilliant for a bout a year (Regardless of cost). But somewhere around 2010, it will become obvious to everyone why signing Manny to a long-term deal was a bad idea--both for his abilities and for his behavior. I just hope the Dodgers have the sense to spend their dollars elsewhere.
Posted by: SaMo | November 16, 2008 at 05:50 PM
This won't affect Colletti at all, so I'd like to personally thank the Red Sox for lowering Manny's market value.
Posted by: DBrim | November 16, 2008 at 07:04 PM
This was something that made everybody wonder why it never happened? Another crack from Manny's former employer to smear Manny's offseason pay day, this is his history! This is the reason why nobody wants to give him a long term contract, an UNPREDICTABLE Manny. I think Ned is sending a good gift to the BoSox this Christmas! This is why Manny is a Hall of Famer..Check out ESPN's Jim Caple's HOF plaque for Manny..
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080729&sportCat=mlb
Posted by: Matsuda | November 16, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha...I mean Manny, Manny, Manny!
We need to:
- sign/trade for an ACE (5 or 6 years for CC please)
- resign Furcal. Lock him down witha good 3 year deal w/ plenty of stay healthy incentives and some sort of Dodger protecting injury escape clause
- Trade for Beltre. Dewitt at 2nd. Furcal at SS. Loney at 1st. Solid infield. Thank you.
- Ride FAJ back into shape and pray that he is the next Comeback Player of the Year.
- shore up the bullpen
That's what I got for now. Geaux Blue.
Posted by: gus2327 | November 17, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Caple's blog makes a good point. Which hat will Manny wear in the Hall of Fame? The Sox? Indians? The poor saps that sign him for the next six years?
He's like Gary Sheffield, Jeff Kent, and so many others in this era who don't really belong to any one team. You'd think a guy with numbers like Manny's wouldn't end up being a journeyman.
Posted by: SaMo | November 17, 2008 at 11:34 AM
SaMo,
Manny will be wearing the Dodger Blue hat to the Hall. What does Ned have on the Red Sox to get them to help him lower Manny's value???
Ned must have some really scandalous stuff on the Red Sox front office.... maybe it was a Christmas party drunkfest party pic.
Whatever Ned has got, it's helping him keep his job for at least another year.... Manny to Dodgers for 3 years 70 million w/ club option for 4th year at $20... you heard it here first.
Posted by: Rob | November 17, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Guys, don't forget about those annoying Giants. They could come in and sweep Manny up just to stick it to the Dodgers and us fans. Plus they need to fill that void left behind by Bonds. Manny may not want to play there, but Boras will somehow find a way to convince him if the price is right.
Posted by: Artful Dodger | November 17, 2008 at 01:02 PM
The Giants are a perfect place for Manny. A bunch of old guys who stand in the way of younger player development. San Francisco loves high-maintenance outfielders who've lost a step or two defensively.
That was their problem in 2007: too much emphasis on team concept and not enough focus on individual achievements. But without Bonds, they simply didn't know how to share the surliness.
Manny will receive 648 intentional walks if he signs with the Giants (that's 4x162, for all you non-Stephen-Hawkings out there)
Posted by: SaMo | November 17, 2008 at 02:15 PM
SaMo,
Over the next several years the Giants are not likely to be "A bunch of old guys...." They already have a couple of pretty decent young starting pitchers at the big league level in Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. Madison Bumgarner (a Kershaw-like lefty) and Tim Alderson, a righthander, were both 2007 first round picks who won full-season minor league ERA titles in 2008 as 19 year olds, and the young Pablo Sandoval is highly touted, and looked pretty good when the Giants brought him up at the end of the season. And although I can't remember all the names, the Giants have other very highly regarded young players in their minor league system.
Fact is, the Giants have been putting resources into their player development program over the past couple of years, and it probably won't be long before it starts bearing fruit. So while it looks as if the Padres may be sinking, the Giants could be on the rise. They probably won't be serious contenders next year, but before long they may well be back in the hunt.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | November 17, 2008 at 07:44 PM