July 14, 2005
“Bostonist was watching the Red Sox play the Texas Rangers a little window popped up on the computer – an Instant Message from our buddy, saying, “Holy crap, Manny’s wearing Oakley Thump glasses in the outfield.” “Excuse me?” said Bostonist. “Yeah dude, you know those Oakleys that have the built-in mp3 player? Manny’s got those on!” Bostonist’s pal replied.”
Ramirez’s Annual Rite: Asking for a Trade
FIRST, before we explore the possibility that the Red Sox might trade Manny Ramirez in the next few days, perhaps to the Mets, let’s pause for a moment and feel sorry for Manny. He makes $20 million a year – that’s the No. 20 with six zeroes attached – for playing baseball in Boston, and he’s tired and uncomfortable.
He was so tired he declined to play Wednesday afternoon against Tampa Bay despite a shortage of players because of injuries. He’s so uncomfortable in Boston because fans love him so much he has lost his privacy, so he has begun his annual exercise of asking the Red Sox to trade him.
Last October I wrote a column questioning his refusal to donate a few thousand dollars to the baseball team at his high school, George Washington in Upper Manhattan, and some readers excoriated me for suggesting he was wrong for not helping the players on the team that was so integral to his career and wealth.
Those readers had a right to their opinion, but I wonder how they or other Red Sox fans feel now that Ramirez has demonstrated disrespect for his teammates by refusing to play when they needed him, and worse, has asked out in the middle of a division race that could determine the team’s ability to get back to the World Series to defend its championship. How should one characterize Ramirez for deserting a ship whose sails are full of wind?
He’s Right, Let’s Just Call It Like It Is
Manny Ramirez is a petulant, immature coward.
He is a disgrace, to himself, his family, the Red Sox and every major league player.
Here is a guy who was playing in Cleveland and chose to come to Boston as a free agent. He didn’t have to come here. He was getting his, somewhere. It’s not like Boston wasn’t a baseball crazy town already when he got here. Eight years and $160 million gets you a guy who refuses to play. Just plain says no. And gets paid $123,456.79 for doing it. When he gets in in the 10th inning, he dogs it? Uh, no, that is not acceptable. For a fan, a teammate or the organization.
As Sinatra would say, the Sox have F-U money this season. They will never experience a feeling of goodwill like they have right now.
Make an example of him. Punish him. Do whatever you can under the collective bargaining agreement. It’s probably not nearly enough to make some people happy (me), but do at least that much. Make a statement that enough is enough. It’s one thing to sulk, be a whiner, listen to MP3’s or hang out in the Green Monster during the game. It’s another entirely if you show such a reckles disregard for the team. Get rid of him today. For nothing if you have to.
Hat Tip:
�??We all knew there would come a day that, Manny being Manny, he�??d clam up and ask to be left alone, that he�??d find himself a little hiding place in the clubhouse, a place that would be off limits to the knights of the keyboard.�?�
Steve Buckley, Boston Herald
March 2001