Manny: the Photos

This thread is for Sox fans, mostly.

Despite the idiosyncrasy, the moments of selfishness and ego, it is hard to look at these pages of pictures and think "nah, he doesn't love the game".

Comments

[Atheose]

Aww did you really have to go and send us this link? I was just starting to get over the breakup.

[Atheose]

[overly sappy and emotional tribute video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0UbJwpa42I
[/overly sappy and emotional tribute video]

[stuck working]

Alright, no one tell Brad about this thread or he's gonna piss all over us sentimental fools.

In other news, that picture of Papelbon grabbing Manny's package confirms for me that Paps is actually the member of the Sox I'd least like to have to deal with in person.

[John - YF]

You have to love the picture of Manny at the parade with the Jeter sign...Second to Brad I am the happiest man around. I can't stomach Manny, never have been able to. I only hope LA signs him to a long term deal (Highly unlikely, I know) so the only time I ever have to see him again is on Sportscenter. The terrifying part is that sans Manny, this is a very likable Red Sox team. Even with the riverdancer himself.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Ath, I'm not going to look at that video tribute. Because I don't even like the thought that it might be like that Bobby Orr tribute video set to "Nobody Does It Better."

This is really, really hard. Because it is so unnecessary.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Be careful what you wish for. You might get it.

[Brad]

Are you freaking kidding me?

Ha. Na, I know some of you guys love this chump, and up to about a year ago, so did I.
Anyhow, this is nice for him. What an, awesome hitter.

He deserves to be praised for what he has brought to Boston, but only as a player. His off the field stuff really takes away from it (for me at least).

I think that some of you think I'm harsh on him, but I've played baseball my entire life, and I realize what this kind of person does to a TEAM sport. As John I'm sure understands, it's just not okay s to act the way he does and expect respect just because you're a good hitter.

The link is nice. I too hope the guy stays in the NL for the rest of the time he chooses to play this game.

[Paul SF]

I like this link. In the aftermath of a trade like this -- especially because of how badly it all ended -- my tendency is to root hard for the newcomer to succeed and internally dismiss the accomplishments of the man he replaced. That's not really fair to anyone.

Manny was great. His contract was far and away the second-best ever signed by the Red Sox since the advent of free agency. He provided us with a ton of great memories, never mind the two World Series and the 270+ home runs. Threads like that are perfect reminders why sometimes the business of baseball sucks. It's truly sad that closing the Manny Ramirez chapter in Boston became such a necessary and acrimonious act.

[stuck working]

Brad, I just don't see how you can be so unequivocal in your condemnation of all of Manny's behavior outside the batter's box. Fans and teammates alike loved many of his antics for a long time, and there's nothing wrong with that. Yeah, there's a line and, in the end, he definitely crossed it; that's why the clubhouse (allegedly) turned against him. But for a long time, part of the joy of Manny was in watching him just do crazy stuff that came real close to that line without crossing it.

[Kazz]

I liked him once, but after the crap he pulled over the past month, in his self-admittedly intentional attempt to piss the Red Sox off, he got on my bad side.

He was getting paid twenty million dollars, and he refused to play twenty million dollars worth of baseball. Hell, he refused to even be civil to those he worked with, around, and for. It was time for him to go.

[Brian Houk SF]

None of the joy of watching ManRam perform had ANYTHING to do with his stupidities for me.

Seeing him send the ball screaming out of Fenway or deep in the gap, or hell, stroking an RBI single was about all the joy I ever got from Manny, well except for that Jeter poster.

Manny being Manny: Not worth the price of admission

Manny at the plate: Priceless

the overall package just isn't worth it...

[dc]

"...that's why the clubhouse (allegedly) turned against him..."

i think these feelings were under the surface for a long time now, and i'd be surprised if the latest complaints by players to theo are only alleged...

for a long time i waited for varitek, the captain, to step up and kick manny's arse, just like jeter was expected to straightened out what was the arod misadventures...at the time i said jeter probably didn't do such things out in the open, and i'll give tek the benefit of the doubt here...that may be why manny was starting to feel so lonesome at the end...i could be wrong, but i don't think his little speech about 'loving' [my word] the boston fans, but not the "red sox" made any distinction about the players...interesting omission...

[SF]

Interesting point, dc, I think the silence that spoke volumes was Ortiz', who wasn't out in front of this vocally defending Manny, his buddy. He made a couple of statements, but they were not that enthusiastic, almost matter-of-fact. That has to indicate that he knew the way the wind was blowing and why.

[stuck working]

Yeah, just clarify, I used the word "allegedly" simply because it's hard to know the truth of the matter about what people like Ortiz, Tek, etc, felt, said or did. I do think that the clubhouse turned against Manny, but I couldn't really say I have proof of that, that's all.

[I'm Bill McNeal]

Gordon Edes, now the national baseball writer for Yahoo! Sports, was on WEEI this morning with Dale and Holley. When questioned about his final piece in Saturday's Boston Globe -- the one where he reveals that Boras called the Red Sox about an hour after the trade had been consummated and asked that it be rescinded and that Manny would not be a problem the rest of the season if the option years were waived -- Edes said that he heard the same thing from three different people with direct knowledge of the trade, and that he was surprised that Boras so vehemently denied that he had made the call.

[Atheose]

Good point Bill--Boras is such a f*cking scumbag.