I Know You Are(n't?) But What Am I?

Manny Ramirez is really not a part of the team, he’s in the back, in the trainer’s room, not really taking a leadership role. If he was a leader, he would be with the rest of his team and honestly, over the last couple of years, he hasn’t been a leader and that’s not very good.

So sayeth Jim Rice, who apparently has already forgotten that in the "last couple of years" the Red Sox won a World Series with Manny's absence of leadership. One wonders just what the Sox could have done if only Manny had spent time snapping towels in the locker room, or talking to Dustin Pedroia about how to improve as a hitter, or giving pep talks to Josh Beckett about how to get fired up for a playoff game, or giving advice to Jon Lester about how to bounce back from chemo.

Most ironically, this comment comes from a guy who shoved a 57 year old man after being removed for a pinch hitter in the heat of a pennant race. Not exactly an authority on "leadership", right?

Paul may be tired of this stuff. Me, I am just sick of it.

Comments

[Lar]

Seriously, if only Manny was a leader, they would've won 4 straight. That Manny is always up to no good!

[rootbeerfloat]

Did anyone see Surviving Grady's post about Many ranking 12th on the Sports Jerk list? Ahead of Barry Bonds, Scott Boras, and Mike Tyson. His post is classic but the list is ridiculous.

[Atheose]

Yeah, that list was a piece of sh*t. Missing from the list: Gary Sheffield, Jose Canseco, Chad Johnson, Rafael Palmiero.

[attackgerbil]

I changed my mind. I want Manny to be a Yankee. Take that flipping otherworldly batting line that _in decline_ is still head and shoulders with the best four or five hitters in the league) and put it in the Yankees lineup. Let everyone hate him, Sox/Yanks fans, every pitcher who faces him, Jim Rice, people who speak for Ted Williams' disembodied skull. Whatever.

It's a tough sacrifice, but I am ready to trade concrete "leadership" for a few nebulous things like base hits, on base percentage, run production, you know, "intangibles."

[Atheose]

John Donovan says the Tigers should trade for David Eckstein.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/john_donovan/07/29/trades.wedliketosee/index.html?eref=T1

*vomit*

[SF]

Thanks for sucking three minutes of my life that I can't get back, Ath, with that link. That's an atrocious article, neither funny (part of the intention, I think) nor educated (perhaps not part of the intention). It's just stupid.

[Atheose]

Yeah, he throws out random trades without any good rhyme or reason (he hardly gives any explanation at all). I apologize to all involved, but it was so stupid that I had to share it.

While sitting here in my lab waiting for computers to break I came up with this 3-way trade:

Mets get Manny Ramirez
Reds get Ryan Church and prospects
Red Sox get Adam Dunn and reliever Jared Burton

Make it happen Theo!

[Dan]

Yep that link should come with a warning!

I think he came up with it like this: Pull a players name out of a hat, throw a dart at a board full of team names and then make up a reason for why they should go there.

And dont think too long while doing that last part.

[Atheose]

By the way, what the f*ck is up with all the rumors about Manny going to the Marlins? Their GM trades Miguel Cabrera away but goes after Manny? Stupidity.

Though Manny for Hanley would be the greatest thing to ever happen to anyone anywhere, despite the fact that it would never in a million years happen.

[Dan]

But then where would Lugo play? LF?

:-D

[Atheose]

But then where would Lugo play? LF?

He can play checkers in the clubhouse with Johnny Pesky.

[Atheose]

Manny Ramirez, Jed Lowrie, and Clay Buchholz for Hanley.

A man can dream!

[krueg]

AMEN AG!!! Would Manny have struck out last night with the bases loaded in the 9th??? My wife turns to me after he whiffed and says, "Manny or Big Papi would have gotten a hit there..."

[Atheose]

What do you mean Krueg?

[Dan]

I think he means A-rod. Though it was 2 and 3 not loaded according to play-by-play.

[Brad]

I could really care less where or what the rumor is. If Manny is not on the Red Sox, I'm a happy, happy man.
This whole thing is not only tiresome, but stupid, and I'm tired of it taking place on the team I root for.
It's worse than rooting for the Raiders at this point, and for comparisons stake, I rank the Raiders right up there with Satan. Really.
Yesterday, I put all my Manny stuff in the Salvation Army box in my basement. I have reached my end.
Carl Pavano. Case of balls and bats. New batting cage. Whatever. I'm happy.

[krueg]

ATH: my mistake, it was second and third not bases loaded. I'm agreeing that I wouldn't mind seeing Manny on the Yankees. The guys can hit. Always. No choke jobs like most of the guys we have. Manny or Papi would have come through...I'm not blaming the game on ARod, Cano, Meaty (why is he on the team again???) and Nady all had chances to step up and none of them did.

[Brad]

I don't think any Yankee fans have anything to worry about. Manny is NY guy, and would probably play for free there.
The Yanks are going to let Giambi go, so that DH hole is probably going to be occupied by none other than Manny.
NY is salivating at the idea of putting him in front of a guy like A-Rod. Really, I can't think of a better combo than those two right now if back to back.

[Brad]

Or the Angels pick him up too - thus rendering them unbeatable for the forseable future.

[Dan]

NY is salivating at the idea of putting him in front of a guy like A-Rod. Really, I can't think of a better combo than those two right now if back to back.

Pujols in front of A-Rod would see half the pitchers in the AL asking to be traded to the other league. Manny is good but he aint Pujols good !

Back to reality though, would you put Manny in front of A-Rod or behind? I would think Alex would hit in the 3 hole and Manny protecting him, but either would be pretty devastating.

[dw (sf)]

as a sox fan, this comment opens up many opportunities for comment: "would you put Manny in front of A-Rod or behind?"

but anyway, I can't see the Yankees taking on his salary and drama. Nor can I see the red sox. He'll probably end up in Seattle... :)

[LocklandSF]

I really like the idea of picking up his two option years then trading him to some crap team with fans that don't care.

It's not possible since he's a 10-5 guy, but man, that would be sweet justice.

[Lar]

Eh, ARod gets on base 3 or 4 times yesterday, hits a HR, and he whiffed once, he gets the blame? C'mon.

Also, I thought he took good hacks at it - with some barely foul balls. It just didn't happen that way..

[attackgerbil]

> Eh, ARod gets on base 3 or 4 times yesterday, hits a HR, and he whiffed once, he gets the blame?

My original comment wasn't geared towards any specific player nor towards last night's game.

[Lar]

Ya, was talking about kreug and his:

AMEN AG!!! Would Manny have struck out last night with the bases loaded in the 9th??? My wife turns to me after he whiffed and says, "Manny or Big Papi would have gotten a hit there..."

[I'm Bill McNeal]

I don't want this to sound like an endorsement, but at least Jim Ed's shove was game-related and not ticket-related.

Jim Ed might have been surly with the media but he showed up to play.

[dw (sf)]

"Jim Ed might have been surly with the media but he showed up to play."

he did - with a broken wrist! his surly stuff I think hurt his hall vote (like it or not). ironic now he works with nesn.