Manny Being Anything but Helpful

This really is one of those times where criticism is deserved. A lot of the time the bloggers, the writers, the Joe Fans out there dish it out without any true gripe. This time Manny deserves it, and Coco, too. In a 1-0 game, when your staff ace is holding off one of the best teams in baseball, you do what you have to for the win.

They didn't.

Manny's responsibility as the on-deck hitter is to make sure anyone coming in from third base has a report on the action in the field. It was his job to make sure Coco knew to run hard, right? Right. Then again, shouldn't baseball players and athletes in general always try their hardest? Of course they should, but they don't. When they do they endear themselves to the same Joe Fans and bloggers spending their hard earned money on merchandise, tickets, and webspace to follow their favorite team. Youkilis, Pedroia, Wakefield, Varitek, Lowell, Papelbon, Ellsbury... every one has permanently won over the hearts of Red Sox Nation by leaving it all on the field. When we win, it's fantastic, but when we lose, there (I believe, at least, though some may disagree) is less agony because there is comfort in knowing it was all left out on the field, that they tried their hardest.

But when you lose a 1-0 game behind your ace because your speedy centerfielder jogs home and your star space cadet decided not to signal from home plate, there is nothing but heartache.