Listen, I understand that he had become a total headache to the Red Sox higher-ups of late, but the bottom line is that Manny Ramirez was a huge reason why Boston won two world championships in the last four years. This is just a bad deal. Granted the Sox should still be able to win their division, but there's no way they defend their title without Manny Ramirez. As for the Dodgers, with Manny playing for a new contract, I'd put them right behind the Cubs as prohibitive favorites to win the NL pennant.
The national media and baseball fans in general, know that Manny Ramirez has a reputation for being a goofball. But "Manny being Manny" is no excuse for pushing a grown man in his 60's to the ground, much less over some baseball tickets: Manny Ramirez said he patched things up with a Boston Red Sox employee he reportedly shoved to the floor during an argument, and the club said the matter is over.
The Providence Journal reported Monday that Ramirez pushed traveling secretary Jack McCormick in the visitors' clubhouse Saturday in Houston after McCormick told Ramirez that he might not be able to come up with the 16 tickets the player requested for that night's game.
"Whatever happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse," Ramirez said Monday. "I talked to him and everything is fine. He's going to continue being my friend. It's over with."
The Red Sox should've sent a message to Ramirez and suspended him for at least a game.
Am I the only one who feels that Manny Ramirez is under appreciated by the press, who constantly knock him for his "Manny Being Manny" episodes then recognize his greatness? To think Manny's never won an MVP (while A-Rod has 3), yet he's been a Yankee killer all his life, done great in the playoffs and has helped his team win two world championships (lest not forget that he also helped Cleveland go to the WS twice during the 90's). I hope he stays a Red Sox after the season.
