Manny Ramirez will play his first game at Fenway Park tonight since being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2008.Living far from Boston, it's been easy for me to avoid hearing anything about Manny's return. When I go to work or am out shopping for groceries, no one is talking about Manny. The radio is never on. I have not read any articles at either the Globe's or Herald's websites. It has been no problem to concentrate solely on the actual games.
Most of the chatter has been whether fans should boo or cheer one of the greatest hitters to ever wear a Boston uniform and one of the two dozen people on Earth who can boast that he helped the Red Sox win their first World Series title in 86 years. (And was on a team that went from 0-3 to 4-3.) Gee, that's a tough one ...
I have strong opinions about the reception Ramirez should receive, as I did when Pedro Martinez returned, so I won't repeat them for 5th or 12th or 42nd time. I'll simply quote myself from August 1, 2008:
When I think back on Manny Ramirez Era, I will think of nothing but the prettiest swing I've ever seen, the no-doubt bombs and the Mummy, the Camden high-five, the bare-handed grabs off the Wall and perfect throws to the infield, the ropes to right-center, the Cairo catch and double point, the quotes, hugs, fist bumps -- the sheer joy he was unafraid to show while playing the game he loved. And the two (two!!) World Series titles.In this weekend's media circus surrounding Ramirez, there will be mostly clowns.
Despite his imperfections, there are few players I have enjoyed watch play baseball more than Manny Ramirez. He is one of the truly unique characters in the game's history. ...
All fans should be highly skeptical of everything the media says about Ramirez. Why? Because they take conjuncture, exaggeration, and distortion and present them as facts. Because they tell lies. Hence, the term: MUMS (Made-Up Manny Shit).
As Cyn says:
My least favorite trait of many of the writers in the Boston sports community is their [reliance] on the old "If you do 'this' it makes you a bad/good fan" crap. ... Don't let [anyone] tell you how you should feel or react.This weekend, I am going to focus solely on the field. The Red Sox are only two games out of first place, they lead all of MLB in runs scored, and they have a young pitcher making his major league debut tonight. For me, with MUMS everywhere you look and listen, if it's not about the games, mum's the word.
26 comments:
This may interest you: A former JoS commenter sent me a link to a post he wrote. It is extremely anti-Manny -- CHB might have second thoughts about writing something like this -- and I could not stop myself from leaving a lengthy comment. (And what's the first thing he does to counter my statements about Manny? He mentions 9/11.)
All I need to know about "Manny Being Manny" is in your glossary: The process of putting up Hall of Fame batting stats and being an all-around entertaining person.
There is only one thing I know for certain about Manny and that is what he did between the lines during Red Sox games for seven-plus seasons. I've seen my share of baseball and he is one of the best I've ever seen play the game. I don't see how that can be argued.
Just read through the link send to you by Mr. Marshall. I guess he was looking to poke the bear (and he did).
Is it possible to tie Manny to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? That would be convenient!
I loved Manny then, I love Manny now. I predict that he will get a rousing ovation at Fenway.
I still wear my #24 jersey when I go to Sox games. And it's not for Dewey Evans (or Takashi Saito).
Also, on the question of whether Johnny Damon was booed because he joined the MFY or because of his "values," Surviving Grady is pretty clear.
I'll be at the game tomorrow and I will be cheering my ass off for Manny.
Allan, in case you do not subscribe to the replies on Jack's blog, here's what I just posted.
I am a Manny fan and not really interested in debating all the off the field stuff raised here. But I do want to point out that Allan specifically referred only to former Sox players from 2004 in reference to the booing only of Damon on his return. Tiant was NOT on the 2004 team, so you, Jack, are wrong to say that Allan was wrong. No other player from the 2004 team has been greeted with anything but cheers and ovations: Mueller, Millar, Nomar, Pedro, etc.
I have a friend who is a sox fan that is going to one of the games.
He's going to give Manny the double #1 one sign. He's holding onto how things went down at the end angle. I'm quite sure if I was going down I would cheer for Manny. My gut feeling is it'll be a mixed bag with the cheers winning out. It'll be interesting for sure.......
Thanks, Amy, I did subscribe, but had not seen that.
I guess he was looking to poke the bear (and he did).
Heh. Not by writing it, but certainly by sending me the link. I don't think Jack had emailed me at all in the past two years (since he called us all deluded cult members and stormed off).
I wasn't even going to read the thing; I knew what it said already. But I took a quick peek at some of it and, as I said, I did not like the idea that someone who does not follow the game -- and Jack's blog is not a baseball blog -- would think that Mr. Ethics was posting his biased opinions as carved-in-stone facts.
His feelings are as valid as mine (who was it that said you are entitled to your own opinions but not to your own facts?). People can believe me, they can believe him, or they can check stuff out for themselves. Like I posted, I have no desire for any back-and-forth (or, as I first typed it last night, "back-and-froth", which might actually be a more accurate term).
I am still amazed at his reply -- it's the reason why I put a link to the whole thing in the first place:
"Allan may make what seem like logical points -- I'll tell you he is pretty close to brilliant, actually, so you can see I don't hate the guy irrationally and my disagreements with him are totally on the up-and-up -- but (psst!) I happen to know that that he has some pretty insane ideas about 9/11. That has nothing to do with the topic here, but you might want to keep that in mind when you read what he wrote. I'm not implying that his baseball ideas are kooky -- noooooooooo, of course not. I'm just sayin' ..."
He's holding onto how things went down at the end angle.
Yeah, why think about 2004 and 2007?
That's no fun.
...
(I assume that one of the "things" at "the end" that he is not holding onto is Manny's 1.060 OPS in the month before the trade.)
Yeah, I'm already sick of the "how will X be received when he returns to Fenway" BS but with Manny it's a total shit-show. Clown shoes for all the media. With FOX and ESPN on Sat/Sun, plus Dave O'Brien in the radio booth, Woti and his cat (Pedro) will be watching in silence. Am looking forward to Dubrount tonight and continued success for our former Chico Bandit. PS, I'm still waiting for our intrepid media to lift the cloak of anonymity on the McCormick incident.
Is it possible to tie Manny to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? That would be convenient!
Ha! Very good. And Manny's connection to the oil disaster would be just as relevant to this discussion as Allan's conclusions about 9/11. (Which, I will add, are based on solid facts uncovered from his and others' countless hours of research - whereas the opposition to those conclusions is based on statements like "That could never happen" and "He's crazy, don't listen to him".)
Although this is obvious, I will second what Amy said.
I loved Manny then and I love Manny now. He has done everything to deserve my love, and if he has done anything to abuse it, that is a flyspeck compared to what he gave our team. I love Manny not because I'm a demented kook but because I love baseball, and I care about baseball, hypocritical, self-righteous, judgemental pontificating.
I believe the ovation will be quite loud and send a message to the reporters out there, no one reads your papers anymore.
I am very curious to see how the FO handles this, I think they will do what they have shown allready with other players who have come back, and welcome him with open arms.
John Henry, in an email to (apparently) Gordon Edes:
I don't think it makes sense to answer your negative questions on Manny. While Manny was here we won two world championships and he was one of the best players in baseball.
All of us loved seeing him step to the plate. In fact, we loved just seeing him be the first out of the dugout to begin each game. He brought laughter and RBIs.
We've never had a harder worker or a more entertaining player. He was a star who provided great, great moments on an almost regular basis.
Welcome back, Manny, if only for a weekend...
***
Good for John Henry! I guess that confirms 9Casey's prediction that he will be welcomed back warmly by the FO.
and I care about baseball, hypocritical, self-righteous, judgemental pontificating.
Obviously a word missing there. "care about baseball, NOT hypocritical..."
Yay for John Henry. I love that guy.
I believe the ovation will be quite loud and send a message to the reporters out there, no one reads your papers anymore.
YES! I have no doubt about that. I think the crowd will roar for him.
These are the first two sentences of the first comment on JM's post:
Personally, given Ramirez’ record, I can’t blame the Boston fans- or any MLB fans anywhere- for giving him the razz in public. The shame is Baseball’s for allowing someone as morally compromised as he for even taking to the field.
If I am ever tempted to read a blog where such ignorant, self-serving vomit passes as informed discussion, will someone please put a pillow over my head and hold on tight?
Thanking you in advance.
L-girl said...
These are the first two sentences of the first comment on JM's post:
Personally, given Ramirez’ record, I can’t blame the Boston fans- or any MLB fans anywhere- for giving him the razz in public. The shame is Baseball’s for allowing someone as morally compromised as he for even taking to the field.
If I am ever tempted to read a blog where such ignorant, self-serving vomit passes as informed discussion, will someone please put a pillow over my head and hold on tight?
Thanking you in advance.
If you ever use the term "giving him the razz", I will put a pillow over your head.....:)
I'm all for Manny. I was a little angry at him for the way he left, but: a) that is a molehill compared to the mountain of good times; and b) the FO acted like assholes over that, too. I mean, if you need to trade him, trade him, but fuck this demonizing on the way out.
I wear #24 proudly in the adult baseball league I joined here in Portland. Everyone asks me, "Why #24?" and I tell them, "Its Manny's number."
To paraphrase Francona, I love Manny and I wish him all the best, except this weekend when I hope he Ks in every at-bat.
Zenslinger said...
I'm all for Manny. I was a little angry at him for the way he left, but: a) that is a molehill compared to the mountain of good times; and b) the FO acted like assholes over that, too. I mean, if you need to trade him, trade him, but fuck this demonizing on the way out.
I don't recall that Zen, did the FO really demonize him, they are usually high road guys.....
mattymatty said...
I wear #24 proudly in the adult baseball league I joined here in Portland. Everyone asks me, "Why #24?" and I tell them, "Its Manny's number."
People actually ask "why 24" in an adult baseball league ?
#24 =
Griffey - my son's ffavorite player since he was 8
and Manny - my favorite plaer since I was like 40-something
I said way back then - I LOVE characters, and Manny was a HELL of a character. Not to mention the best player of his time. I hope that he kicks ass, starting Monday
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