WBZ’s Carl Stevens considers the crumbling relationship between Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox (above), though isn’t it a tad one-sided to paint Boston’s disgruntled left-fielder as being all about the money? Standing room tickets are $50 at Fenway Park, the franchise is a cash-printing machine, yet the poor, suffering ownership are being encouraged — by the local media, no less —- to cut salary in 2009, if not sooner.
It’s hard to imagine what Manny might have to moan about given a $20 million annual salary. But he’s a rather crucial component in Boston’s two World Series Championships in the past 89 years. For those who cannot abide by Ramirez taking games off, bitching about his contract status in midseason, etc., there’s only one solution that makes sense before Friday’s trade deadline : a straight-up trade swap with Detroit for Gary Sheffield.
Except that Manny can actually still play.
I read a Peter Gammons quote that was pretty interesting: “I find it a little different this time around. I don’t sense that this rallying of ‘poor Manny’ [in the clubhouse]. There’s a sense that… they’re trying to fight for their lives, they’ve had a lot of guys hurt, they’re out on the road… ‘let’s see, I’m not going to play the two games this season against [Mariners pitcher Felix] Hernandez. He didn’t play the two games against [Yankees pitcher Joba] Chamberlain, He didn’t play against [Reds pitcher Edinson] Voquez, he didn’t play against [Tigers pitcher Justin] Verlander. I think other teammates look at that and say ”oh, he doesn’t want to play against the hard throwers,’ take the day… I think that’s also worn people out. …
Look, the dude can hit but he’s costing the team wins ever time he has a phantom knee ache. He’s done this type of sulking a few times in the past, despite the championships. I hope the Dodgers or Diamondbacks are dumb enough to bust a trade. Since he’s only waiving his no-trade clause if the team that gets him declines his option years (therefore becoming a very expensive 2-month rental) the Sox can pay a lot of the remaining salary and then trade some prospects for Matt Holiday. Either that or everybody in Boston needs to shut the fuck up and just let him play out the season.
indeed, Gammons cited the allegedy intentional ducking of Joba on the TV this morning. As to what the frustration level with Ramirez really is in the boston clubhouse, it’s pretty hard to tell. But that’s a pretty nice rotation of pitchers he’s managed to skip.