Manny Goes Hollywood
August 1st 2008 06:19
Manny Goes Hollywood
The Boston Red Sox finally gave Manny Ramirez what he has wanted for a few years now, they traded him. Last night they were trying to get a three-way deal going involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Florida Marlins. At one point it looked like talks were progressing nicely, but then teams decided they wanted more from the Sox, and the team didn’t like that. So most went to bed thinking yet another trade deadline would come and go without Manny going anywhere.
The Red Sox told some that they would do anything to get rid of Manny by the 4PM ET trade deadline earlier in the day. Indeed they were willing to give up a lot to give Manny a new zip code on his locker. The three-way deal wound up being between the Sox, Pirates, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Manny will now be wearing Dodger Blue and playing for former arch-enemy Joe Torre. The Sox get outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh. The Pirates might wind up coming out best from the deal. They received OF Brandon Moss, and relief pitcher Craig Hansen from the Sox, as well as 3B Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris from the Dodgers.
As for the Dodgers adding Manny to their lineup should make them the favorite to win what is a mostly lackluster National League West Division. Joe Torre should be a good influence on him. I will be interested to see his batting average climb again as he now has Don Mattingly as a coach. Plus, in Hollywood, “Manny being Manny” shouldn’t stand out quite as much. Another plus for the Dodgers, Manny now has no contract for next season which means he should step his game up a couple notches for the final two months of the season.
Manny leaves the Red Sox fifth in team history with 274 home runs, sixth with 868 RBIs, and ninth in batting average at .312.
Jason Bay will have to learn to play in a “big game” situation now, as well as learn to play in front of the Green Monster during home games, something Manny had mastered in his seven and a half years in Beantown.
Third baseman Andy LaRoche will now be throwing the ball across the infield to a familiar face. . . his brother Adam is the first baseman for the Pirates.
As one of the guys on ESPN said, I just don’t see how the Red Sox are a better team without Manny. The Yankees have been closing in on them since the All-Star break, and this should just make it easier for them. Now the question is will the Yankees or the Rays win the division this year?
The Red Sox told some that they would do anything to get rid of Manny by the 4PM ET trade deadline earlier in the day. Indeed they were willing to give up a lot to give Manny a new zip code on his locker. The three-way deal wound up being between the Sox, Pirates, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Manny will now be wearing Dodger Blue and playing for former arch-enemy Joe Torre. The Sox get outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh. The Pirates might wind up coming out best from the deal. They received OF Brandon Moss, and relief pitcher Craig Hansen from the Sox, as well as 3B Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris from the Dodgers.
As for the Dodgers adding Manny to their lineup should make them the favorite to win what is a mostly lackluster National League West Division. Joe Torre should be a good influence on him. I will be interested to see his batting average climb again as he now has Don Mattingly as a coach. Plus, in Hollywood, “Manny being Manny” shouldn’t stand out quite as much. Another plus for the Dodgers, Manny now has no contract for next season which means he should step his game up a couple notches for the final two months of the season.
Manny leaves the Red Sox fifth in team history with 274 home runs, sixth with 868 RBIs, and ninth in batting average at .312.
Jason Bay will have to learn to play in a “big game” situation now, as well as learn to play in front of the Green Monster during home games, something Manny had mastered in his seven and a half years in Beantown.
Third baseman Andy LaRoche will now be throwing the ball across the infield to a familiar face. . . his brother Adam is the first baseman for the Pirates.
As one of the guys on ESPN said, I just don’t see how the Red Sox are a better team without Manny. The Yankees have been closing in on them since the All-Star break, and this should just make it easier for them. Now the question is will the Yankees or the Rays win the division this year?
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