Manny Things To Consider, One Thing To Do

In light of my previous post, whereby I supported sitting tight as the clock strikes 4 PM this Thursday and the trade deadline passes, I have come to a contrary conclusion.

If at all possible, Manny Ramirez should be traded.

There has been oodles of character assassination in the Hub over the last week from both Manny's camp and that of his arch-nemesis, The Front Office and Everybody Else. It started when Manny missed the last game of the Seattle series with a sore knee, something that in itself was relatively innocuous, but became troublesome when Manny returned to Boston and sat out the first game of the series against the hard-charging Yankees. In case you haven't heard, his presence on the bench was a surprise to everyone in the clubhouse and FO, and he was penciled into the starting lineup before pulling himself out. After the game Ramirez was sent for an MRI on both knees and it was uncovered that nothing appeared to be wrong. By all accounts Manny was confronted by John Henry, Larry Lucchino, Tom Werner, Theo and Tito, who told him to put up or shut up. He's played the three nights since that confrontation on Friday, but his absence on Friday night, the night David Ortiz returned to the lineup, was just too much. Theo allowed FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver to state on national television that the Sox would trade Manny if he waived his no-trade clause. Manny's response was to play the "no respect" card held previously by Pedro, Nomar, and Damon, and tell ESPNDeportes that he was tired of the Sox, and that they should just tell him they're not going to pick up his option. What's happened since then?

Well, he's played, sure, but he's also found himself the unmistakable target of Peter Gammons, one of the most respected baseball writers still going. Just yesterday Gammons posted an article that ESPN has since made free to all readers (and you can find it here) in which he called Manny out behind the woodshed. The gist? Everybody's tired of the act. The players, coaches, executives, even Manny's agent Scott Boras, who is trying to convince his client that it's in his best interest to shut up and play out the season. Manny's getting torched in the papers like he's never seen before, and even his most ardent "But try and replace his lineup production" supporters are starting to fall. It's clear that this is the end of the line for Ramirez in Boston. According to Gammons, Manny is ready for his new contract now, thank you very much, and that contract jingles to the tune of a 4 year, $100 million deal for the soon to be 37 year old slugger. Seriously? This guy is completely delusional.

Manny isn't having a bad year per se, but he isn't having a year worth $20 million (his current value) either. His line is decent reading at .304/.400/.538, and he's already matched his homer total (20) from last year. Unfortunately, when you reach 36 years old teams start to look not only at your plate production but also at the long-term benefit for the team. His defense is shoddy and has been more frequently punctuated by goofball antics. As Gammons and numerous others have pointed out, he's sat out against some of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the league, including twice against New York's Joba Chamberlain, resting comfortably on the bench when his presence would have infinitely helped the team (we all saw the 1-0 loss on Friday that could have been different with Manny in the four-hole). He's managed to get into an aired shoving match with Kevin Youkilis, has thrown a sexagenarian traveling secretary to the ground when he didn't get his way, and pouted to the media (both English and Spanish) about his contract.

It's gotten so bad, Dennis Eckersley called him out on TV, and I think most people wanted to pat Eck on the back.

It's time for all of this garbage to end. The Sox are unquestionably a better team with Manny than without him, and the likelihood of a trade before Thursday seems very unlikely. The front office is reportedly offering to pick up the majority of his contract for this year to give another team a 3 month rental of one of the best hitters in baseball, but it still seems like most teams aren't going to want the distraction of Manny-being-Manny in their dugout and on their field. Because you see, that's the problem. Manny might be on your team and he might be in the field and at the plate, but as we all saw in 2006, Manny has zero problems taking a little personal time when he thinks he needs a mental health day. There's no guarantee you're going to get the 100% you see out of players like Mike Lowell, Kevin Youkilis, or even David Ortiz. You might just have to settle for a temperamental superstar who wants his binky when it suits him.

Boy, I sure am sick of those. I was sad to see Pedro and Nomar go from the standpoint that they so clearly represented the best the sport had to offer to this city on the field, but I felt like a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders when their tired acts of "I get no respect, Player X has a contract worth twice mine, etc" and other incessant complaining hit the road. I realize what Manny is worth to this team, and I realize what we would be losing in terms of production, but I can't believe people think that chemistry and intangibles won't have an effect on the morale of a team. If they can get a decent return on Manny, his ass should be grass. Let him bitch and moan somewhere else. I'd rather cheer for a team that I know takes the games personally. At least then I feel better about it.

Manny needs a good smack upside the head. I'm tired of the act.