Posted by TheFullCleveland on 2008-07-31 23:49:36 +0000
The end of an era. It all happened so quickly. He's still a great player, but the prospect of the second half of the season being filled with headlines of Manny and the front office bickering back and forth lead me to think that this is, indeed, a wonderful development. With any luck, Jason Bay will flourish in the American League and click with the locals. Thank you, Dodgers and Pirates!
Posted by tgl on 2008-08-01 01:48:17 +0000
That seals it: A Dodgers-Red Sox Fall Classic.
$7 million for clubhouse harmony? Good work, Theo.
Posted by dyedon8 on 2008-08-01 02:41:32 +0000
So Bill Mueller was my absolute favorite Red Sox player of the past ten years. I struggled to find a new favorite once he was jettisoned. Loretta and Pedroia and Wakefield all appealed to my avowed underdoggist leanings, and Ortiz is Ortiz. But earlier this season I decided Manny was my favorite. High fiving a fan and then throwing out a runner at third clinched it for me.
But jeez. The antics obscured the yearly bullshit -- remember in 2003 when it was almost A-Rod and Ordonez for Manny and Nomar? 2005, when everyone thought he was gonna be traded at the deadline? 2006, when he sat out the last month or so? Francona tried like hell to keep everything good in the clubhouse, and all the players kept an even keel with the press, but last night's four error game said more than post-game press conferences did.
So, the trade. Craig Hansen was the hot shit prospect who didn't live up to his potential, got sleep apnea surgery during the offseason, and then didn't live up to his potential AGAIN despite all the pre-season hosannas heaped upon him. And nothing against Moss -- the kid's good, one of a stable of a zillion fourth outfielders the Sox seem to cultivate solely as trade bait.
Manny's great, don't get me wrong, but he's at the end of an eight-year deal more wildly productive than I could've imagined when he first signed. If you had told me at age 18 (or 24, or even 30) that the Sox would win two in four years, I would not have believed it.
Jason Bay's numbers are almost identical to Manny's, except that a) he doesn't play at Fenway, and b) he's a better outfielder. There's going to be an adjustment period while he gets used to a whole new batch of pitchers, of course. But he'll be fine. Better than fine -- the Monster! --and 12M cheaper that Mr. Ramirez.
I wish the Sox had gotten an arm (Grabow?) in the deal, and wonder who's gonna smoke out the Monster scoreboard operators.
But hey -- thanks, Manny, for everything. Tell Derek Lowe and Nomar that we all said hello, willya?
Posted by mahatma chani on 2008-08-01 14:07:34 +0000
If the Red Sox trade Manny Ramirez, all of America gets a free taco.
Posted by MF DU on 2008-08-01 14:08:17 +0000
A+
Posted by TheFullCleveland on 2009-05-07 12:52:56 +0000