OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

[skyking26]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Manny makes me sick.

[frikativ54]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

I had a hard time finding this Gerry Callaham piece which appeared in the Boston Herald as Manny was leaving Beantown. The story was archived by the Herald so I had to cut and paste from another forum.

As far as Manny's bat goes, I will agree he's among the greatest. In every other category as a player and person, well, YOUR team can have him, and if you don't follow the Boston sports scene, you really can't appreciate the magnitude of what a cretin this guy is. Here's the column:


"No Dodging it: Manny Ramirez just a bad, bad man
By Gerry Callahan, Boston Herald
Friday, August 1, 2008 - Updated 2d 2h ago
A number of Red Sox [team stats] players were asked if they could make the short walk to a tent that was set up just outside the ballpark and say a quick hello to the kids.
There were 32 teenagers on the trip to Fort Myers this year, all big Red Sox fans, all battling cancer. Two of them had just lost a leg to the disease. Many were making their first trip to Red Sox camp, and some would never be back.
Most of the players didn’t hesitate to visit the kids because that’s what most players do - the decent thing, the right thing. Jason Varitek [stats] went down, so did David Ortiz [stats] and Kevin Youkilis [stats] and, of course, Tim Wakefield [stats], who quietly and selflessly does anything the folks at the Jimmy Fund ask of him.
They signed a few autographs and posed for photographs. They brought smiles to the faces of some kids who hadn’t had many reasons to smile. It was no big deal for the players, but a very big deal for the patients.
Of course, there was one Sox player who couldn’t be bothered to visit the kids because he never can be bothered. The kids loved him, but he didn’t give a damn about them. That’s how it works in Manny Ramirez [stats]’ world. You serve him or you serve no purpose at all.
The tent was no more than 90 feet from the ballpark, which means Ramirez could have been there in 5.7 seconds, even going his usual half-speed.
But he declined this year, just as he has declined for the last six. And, as always, no one was surprised. Why should he care about a bunch of sick teenagers when he doesn’t care about his teammates or his manager or the fans who enabled him and apologized for him for 7 1/2 years?
Well, you can say goodbye to the bad guy now. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Maybe Jason Bay will not be quite the cleanup hitter that Ramirez was (then again, maybe he will be), but we know this much before he even takes the field for the Red Sox: He is a better fielder, a better baserunner, a better teammate, a better person.
He probably won’t fake a knee injury, or slap a teammate, or throw a 64-year-old man to the ground because he couldn’t make tickets magically appear. He won’t give the manager ulcers or spit in the owners’ eye or treat the paying customers like suckers.
Just a guess here, but the kids from the Jimmy Fund Clinic are making the trip to Chicago next week. Bay will probably say hello.
There was always something uneasy about the love and adoration that Red Sox fans showered on Ramirez. The hard-hitting half-wit was born with the ability to put a bat on ball better than most mortals, but that’s where his virtues end. He doesn’t play the game right. Too often he doesn’t play the game hard. He cares about his contract and his hair and not much else.
He didn’t care about the wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center this past February. When most of his teammates, including all of the big stars, made the trip to Washington, he stayed behind. Probably no one on the team had the ability to make a down-on-his-luck Sox fan smile like Manny Ramirez did, but as usual, Ramirez couldn’t be bothered. As usual, teammates, fans and media made excuses for him. Again, the great hitter was allowed to be a rotten human being.
In a way, Ramirez represents the worst of professional sports - a man who is idolized because he has one, God-given physical skill. Some fans who would boo a player for popping up with the bases loaded had no problem cheering Ramirez days after he assaulted Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick, a terrific gentleman who is almost 30 years older than the slugger.
According to his old high school coach, Ramirez promised to buy bats and balls and uniforms - things he could have gotten for free - for his needy alma mater. Last we checked, 17 years after he left school for the pros, the kids were still waiting. Their idol, their hero, the man who has made almost $200 million since he left George Washington High School in the Bronx, just couldn’t be bothered.
Red Sox owners treated Manny the Mutt like Leona Helmsley treated her Maltese. This season, reigning National League MVP Jimmy Rollins has been benched twice by the Phillies for violating team rules. As far as we know, Manny has never been benched or suspended by the Sox. The owners literally knocked down walls for him, making the Sox clubhouse more comfortable for this spoiled child.
And how does he repay them for their love and loyalty? By calling them liars and backstabbers. By saying they don’t deserve a player like him.
And in the end, he was right about that. The Red Sox [team stats] deserve better, and yesterday they got that in Bay. Maybe not a better hitter, but a better all-around player and a much better teammate.
In a way, Jason Bay has it easy. He is replacing a Hall of Famer, but when he walks into the clubhouse today, 24 players and one very relieved manager will welcome him like schoolgirls greeting Zac Efron. They’ll be happy to see him and even happier to see the bad guy gone.
Everyone can just relax and play baseball now. Manny is where he belongs. He’s a Dodger. The team formerly known as “Dem Bums” just got the biggest bum of them all."



No matter what team you pull for, I hope if you want Manny on your team you get him, at any price, and oooooooooh and ahhhhhhhh when he hits yet another majestic and meaningless (to your team's chances) long bomb, as it'll just be you, your ticket stub, and Manny. Love the Red Sox or hate them, they are the success story of the past 9 years in Baseball in that they came from the hateful Tom Yawkey era and morphed into a genius braintrust which has rarely misfired.

A previous poster jeered me as a non-fan because I appeared to not be grateful for the 2 world championships Manny brought to Boston. Hogwash. They won 2 titles DESPITE Manny's egocentric and manipulative and destructive presence.

Another pointed to Ortiz's struggles after Manny left. Huh? The guy had a virtually unusable wrist for most of the season, and although he surely missed having Manny around, don't you think it affected him to see Pedro go too?

Unfortunately, the Sox have taken and lost some gambles. Some mega egos got in the way of good chemistry and some contract issues were distractions. But I applaud them mightily for their determination to not kiss the bums of notable holdouts like Damon, Pedro, Varitek, Lowe and others. There are a few bumbles too like passing on O. Cabrera and not keeping Millar for another year or two.

Whoever gets Manny, enjoy whatever comes your way. But make sure if you love his brand of baseball, you take the good with the bad. Try to see that the Red Sox organization knows more about Manny than the Dodgers do.

Sounds like a bitter, bitter fan/writer. I would like to know what/if any charity work Manny has done...is he always like this? Is there another side to the story? Is there a reason why Manny has become like this?

[eisenreich8]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

I had a hard time finding this Gerry Callaham piece which appeared in the Boston Herald as Manny was leaving Beantown. The story was archived by the Herald so I had to cut and paste from another forum.

As far as Manny's bat goes, I will agree he's among the greatest. In every other category as a player and person, well, YOUR team can have him, and if you don't follow the Boston sports scene, you really can't appreciate the magnitude of what a cretin this guy is. Here's the column:


"No Dodging it: Manny Ramirez just a bad, bad man
By Gerry Callahan, Boston Herald
Friday, August 1, 2008 - Updated 2d 2h ago
A number of Red Sox [team stats] players were asked if they could make the short walk to a tent that was set up just outside the ballpark and say a quick hello to the kids.
There were 32 teenagers on the trip to Fort Myers this year, all big Red Sox fans, all battling cancer. Two of them had just lost a leg to the disease. Many were making their first trip to Red Sox camp, and some would never be back.
Most of the players didn’t hesitate to visit the kids because that’s what most players do - the decent thing, the right thing. Jason Varitek [stats] went down, so did David Ortiz [stats] and Kevin Youkilis [stats] and, of course, Tim Wakefield [stats], who quietly and selflessly does anything the folks at the Jimmy Fund ask of him.
They signed a few autographs and posed for photographs. They brought smiles to the faces of some kids who hadn’t had many reasons to smile. It was no big deal for the players, but a very big deal for the patients.
Of course, there was one Sox player who couldn’t be bothered to visit the kids because he never can be bothered. The kids loved him, but he didn’t give a damn about them. That’s how it works in Manny Ramirez [stats]’ world. You serve him or you serve no purpose at all.
The tent was no more than 90 feet from the ballpark, which means Ramirez could have been there in 5.7 seconds, even going his usual half-speed.
But he declined this year, just as he has declined for the last six. And, as always, no one was surprised. Why should he care about a bunch of sick teenagers when he doesn’t care about his teammates or his manager or the fans who enabled him and apologized for him for 7 1/2 years?
Well, you can say goodbye to the bad guy now. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Maybe Jason Bay will not be quite the cleanup hitter that Ramirez was (then again, maybe he will be), but we know this much before he even takes the field for the Red Sox: He is a better fielder, a better baserunner, a better teammate, a better person.
He probably won’t fake a knee injury, or slap a teammate, or throw a 64-year-old man to the ground because he couldn’t make tickets magically appear. He won’t give the manager ulcers or spit in the owners’ eye or treat the paying customers like suckers.
Just a guess here, but the kids from the Jimmy Fund Clinic are making the trip to Chicago next week. Bay will probably say hello.
There was always something uneasy about the love and adoration that Red Sox fans showered on Ramirez. The hard-hitting half-wit was born with the ability to put a bat on ball better than most mortals, but that’s where his virtues end. He doesn’t play the game right. Too often he doesn’t play the game hard. He cares about his contract and his hair and not much else.
He didn’t care about the wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center this past February. When most of his teammates, including all of the big stars, made the trip to Washington, he stayed behind. Probably no one on the team had the ability to make a down-on-his-luck Sox fan smile like Manny Ramirez did, but as usual, Ramirez couldn’t be bothered. As usual, teammates, fans and media made excuses for him. Again, the great hitter was allowed to be a rotten human being.
In a way, Ramirez represents the worst of professional sports - a man who is idolized because he has one, God-given physical skill. Some fans who would boo a player for popping up with the bases loaded had no problem cheering Ramirez days after he assaulted Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick, a terrific gentleman who is almost 30 years older than the slugger.
According to his old high school coach, Ramirez promised to buy bats and balls and uniforms - things he could have gotten for free - for his needy alma mater. Last we checked, 17 years after he left school for the pros, the kids were still waiting. Their idol, their hero, the man who has made almost $200 million since he left George Washington High School in the Bronx, just couldn’t be bothered.
Red Sox owners treated Manny the Mutt like Leona Helmsley treated her Maltese. This season, reigning National League MVP Jimmy Rollins has been benched twice by the Phillies for violating team rules. As far as we know, Manny has never been benched or suspended by the Sox. The owners literally knocked down walls for him, making the Sox clubhouse more comfortable for this spoiled child.
And how does he repay them for their love and loyalty? By calling them liars and backstabbers. By saying they don’t deserve a player like him.
And in the end, he was right about that. The Red Sox [team stats] deserve better, and yesterday they got that in Bay. Maybe not a better hitter, but a better all-around player and a much better teammate.
In a way, Jason Bay has it easy. He is replacing a Hall of Famer, but when he walks into the clubhouse today, 24 players and one very relieved manager will welcome him like schoolgirls greeting Zac Efron. They’ll be happy to see him and even happier to see the bad guy gone.
Everyone can just relax and play baseball now. Manny is where he belongs. He’s a Dodger. The team formerly known as “Dem Bums” just got the biggest bum of them all."



No matter what team you pull for, I hope if you want Manny on your team you get him, at any price, and oooooooooh and ahhhhhhhh when he hits yet another majestic and meaningless (to your team's chances) long bomb, as it'll just be you, your ticket stub, and Manny. Love the Red Sox or hate them, they are the success story of the past 9 years in Baseball in that they came from the hateful Tom Yawkey era and morphed into a genius braintrust which has rarely misfired.

A previous poster jeered me as a non-fan because I appeared to not be grateful for the 2 world championships Manny brought to Boston. Hogwash. They won 2 titles DESPITE Manny's egocentric and manipulative and destructive presence.

Another pointed to Ortiz's struggles after Manny left. Huh? The guy had a virtually unusable wrist for most of the season, and although he surely missed having Manny around, don't you think it affected him to see Pedro go too?

Unfortunately, the Sox have taken and lost some gambles. Some mega egos got in the way of good chemistry and some contract issues were distractions. But I applaud them mightily for their determination to not kiss the bums of notable holdouts like Damon, Pedro, Varitek, Lowe and others. There are a few bumbles too like passing on O. Cabrera and not keeping Millar for another year or two.

Whoever gets Manny, enjoy whatever comes your way. But make sure if you love his brand of baseball, you take the good with the bad. Try to see that the Red Sox organization knows more about Manny than the Dodgers do.

[skyking26]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Not to beat a dead horse, but I still think the Dodgers should sign Dunn/Hudson and Wolfe and pass on Manny. He can go play for the Giants and sniff last place...

[allstarsplus]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Fair enough. I don't want to force you to tell your story. However, please understand that without more details, I cannnot revise my opinion of Manny.

I wouldn't expect you to revise your opinion. When you look at the thread about good/bad signers, people have some differing opinions about the same person and many come down to one's own personal experiences.

I have had the opportunity to meet Manny and hang out with his guys and some people tell me how lucky I am so sure there are many different perspectives.

Manny is "The Man" to so many people, but I read these comments and some old emotions have percolated to the top.

XPRESS34 brings up some valid points in my opinion, but again, this is what makes sports great when we can agree to disagree.

[xpress34]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Well, be fair, Manny wants long-term security. How many of you would take a one year deal, when there is potential to have several years worth of job security? And this is Manny's opportunity, because of his god-like performance with the Dodgers last year. So - I think it's only fair for him to get a multi-year deal.

-Frik

Les -

Nothing Personal, but Job Security my @$$!!! After what he pulled on Boston??? He has no loyalties to anyone but himself. And I'm sorry, but $25 MIL should give ANYONE the ability to be set for life but some of these rich overpaid jerks start living at a level that they HAVE to get the biggest contracts to maintain their lifestyles...

And the Dodgers offered a Multi-Year deal (2 years) to start and he and his even bigger Jack @$$ Agent Boras spit in the Dodgers faces.

Maybe he'll end up like Sosa when a few years ago he turned down a $1 MIL Guarantee (I believe from the Nationals) to come and try out for the team at Spring Training because he was INSULTED by their offer and no guarantee of a spot on the MLB roster... he sat out a year or so and then signed a $500,000 Minor League deal with the Rangers (after he had to swallow his pride) so he could get to 600 HRs... but of course he still treated the fans like dirt.

My .02...

- Chris

[frikativ54]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Frik - I don't want to get into details as Manny has no way of commenting so it isn't fair to him. I just believe you should always strive to treat people like you would want to be treated if at all possible.

Manny is Manny as his "friend" told us over and over again. I say great for Manny.

First time shame on you, and there won't be a 2nd time.

I am happy for my friend Mike (Nationals2K9) who I have helped with some Manny items and for so many others that collect Manny's items, as I do believe Manny is a great ball player.

Fair enough. I don't want to force you to tell your story. However, please understand that without more details, I cannnot revise my opinion of Manny.

[xpress34]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

He's got the third most hits in MAJOR LEAGUE POST SEASON HISTORY??

He's got the 2nd most RBI in MAJOR LEAGUE POST SEASON HISTORY??

He's #1...#1... in HOME RUNS in MAJOR LEAGUE POST SEASON HISTORY??

Yep, that's right... and he doesn't even SNIFF the TOP 10 in WS History in ANY Category...

So who won those WS??? Manny didn't do it alone....

The point being, you are comparing APPLES to ORANGES... if there had been Division Series, LCS and then WS back in the day, Manny wouldn't carry Mantle, Ruth, or even Yogi's jock... and I am by NO MEANS a Yankee fan - just a huge baseball fan...

Those guys ONLY got to play in WS games, so they have (on avg) just more than 1/2 the Post Season ABs as Manny and his Contemporaries, but their numbers (if transposed to corresponding ABs) would match Manny's numbers - or beat them in most cases (even if only by % points)

WS and PS

Batting Avg... Manny doesn't crack the Top 10 either side...
On Base %... again doesn't crack Top 10 either side...
Slug %... again, no Top 10 either side...
OPS... OOPS - no Top 10 here either Manny...

Games Played:
WS #1 - Yogi Berra (75 w/ 295 PA), #2 - Mickey Mantle (65 w/ 273 PA)
PS #4 - Manny (103 w/ 459 PA)

At Bats:
WS #1 - Yoggi Berra (259), #2 - Mickey Mantle (230)
PS #5 - Manny (378)

Runs:
WS #1 - Mantle (42), #2 - Berra (41)
PS #4 - Manny (64), #10 - Mantle (42 - ONLY WS Games)

Hits:
WS #1 - Berra (71), #2 - Mantle (59)
PS #3 (108)

Total Base:
WS #1 - Mantle (123), #2 - Berra (117)
PS #3 - Manny (208)

1B:
WS #1 - Berra (49), #2 - Frisch (45)
PS #6 - Manny (64)

2B:
WS #1 - (TIE) - Berra / Frisch (10)
PS #9 - (TIE) - Manny / Edmonds (16)

3B:
WS #1 - (3 Tied) - Speaker / Leach / Johnson (4)
PS - Manny (0)

HR:
WS #1 - Mantle (18), #2 - Ruth (15)
PS #1 - Manny (28), #3 - (Tied) - Jackson / Mantle (18 - ONLY WS Games for the Mick!)

RBI:
WS #1 - Mantle (40), #2 - Berra (39)
PS #2 - Manny (74), #9 - Mantle (40 - ONLY WS Games)

Base on Balls:
WS #1 - Mantle (43), #2 - Ruth (33)
PS #3 - Manny (70), #8 - Mantle (43 - again ONLY WS Games)

Stikeouts:
WS #1 - Mantle (54), #2 - Howard (37)
PS #2 - (TIED) Manny / Bernie Williams (85)

Stolen Bases - OOPS, No Manny either side here...

Extra Base Hits:
WS #1 - Mantle (26), #2 - (TIED) - Berra / Ruth (22)
PS #2 - Manny (44)

Times on Base:
WS #1 - Berra (106), #2 - Mantle (102)
PS #3 - Manny (183)

The other point to this being I'm not sure Manny even plays 154 FULL games in a regualr season anyway and these HOFer's played pretty much every day - and without all of the amenities today's players enjoy.

And the 'MannyGate' controversy where he couldn't even remember which knee hurt???

Mantle played on bad knees almost his entire career - imagine his numbers if he had had today's medical knowledge at his disposal??? He would have crushed every other player in baseball history.

And as far as Manny finishing in the TOP 10 in almost every Offensive Category... let's see:

Career BA:
#1 - Ty Cobb - .3664
#10 - (TIE) - Ruth / Brouthers - .3421
Manny - #74 - .3143

Career HR:
#1 - Bonds (*) - 762
#10 - Palmiero - 569
Manny - #17 - 527

Career RBI:
#1 - Aaron - 2297
#10 - Mays - 1903
Manny - #20 - 1725

YES, He has a very good shot - if he will quit being such a PRIMA DONNA and sign somewhere... if he doesn't play, his #'s go nowhere!!!

Right now he's acting like a SPOILED CHILD - and I've already said it once, but I'll say it again - he's really ruining his reputation as well with people losing their jobs and their houses daily and $25 MILLION isn't enough for him for a YEAR!!! Maybe the Dodgers would be willing to DONATE that to community projects to help save some famiies and their homes... I mean that Salary could support 500 families at $50,000 each...

And then reading about him refusing to be involved in Community Projects??? That just makes him a bigger jerk - good riddance!!!

I love the game, and I love watching amazing players, but when they become terrible human beings, I could care less what happens to them (i.e. Manny, Bonds, Sammy, Palmiero, etc...)

Again, my .02 and I'm entitled to it.

- Chris

[allstarsplus]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Care to provide details? As with the Dykstra story last night, my opinions of a guy can be greatly shaped by what you guys have experienced with a player.

-Frik

Frik - I don't want to get into details as Manny has no way of commenting so it isn't fair to him. I just believe you should always strive to treat people like you would want to be treated if at all possible.

Manny is Manny as his "friend" told us over and over again. I say great for Manny.

First time shame on you, and there won't be a 2nd time.

I am happy for my friend Mike (Nationals2K9) who I have helped with some Manny items and for so many others that collect Manny's items, as I do believe Manny is a great ball player.

[frikativ54]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Manny is a star, but I have no respect for him as a person and I can speak from experience with the way he treated me once upon a time so I am not surprised by him turning this deal down.

So I agree with the Deputy, SCREW YOU MANNY!

Care to provide details? As with the Dykstra story last night, my opinions of a guy can be greatly shaped by what you guys have experienced with a player.

-Frik

[allstarsplus]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Well, be fair, Manny wants long-term security. How many of you would take a one year deal, when there is potential to have several years worth of job security? And this is Manny's opportunity, because of his god-like performance with the Dodgers last year. So - I think it's only fair for him to get a multi-year deal.

-Frik

Frik - This market and economy has turned much worse. He got a 2 year offer early on in the process and turned that down. At the "per year" deal he is looking for, he won't get more than 2 years, but hey, that is my opinion.

Unless the Yankees come calling, Manny should jump at the 1 year deal or negotiate in a 2nd year option.

Otherwise, maybe he will sit out 2009!!!!!

[allstarsplus]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Yes.

Manny being greedy too.

Hey Manny how many folks in California unemployed would love to earn even 1% of what the Dodgers just offered you!

Add to that any money he receives from endorsements, memorabilia deals, Player's Union profit sharing, Meet & Greets, Post-Season pay, All Star money, travel stipends, interest on his earnings, freebies, and on and on.

Manny is a star, but I have no respect for him as a person and I can speak from experience with the way he treated me once upon a time so I am not surprised by him turning this deal down.

So I agree with the Deputy, SCREW YOU MANNY!

[frikativ54]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Yes.

Manny being greedy too.

Hey Manny how many folks in California unemployed would love to earn even 1% of what the Dodgers just offered you!

Well, be fair, Manny wants long-term security. How many of you would take a one year deal, when there is potential to have several years worth of job security? And this is Manny's opportunity, because of his god-like performance with the Dodgers last year. So - I think it's only fair for him to get a multi-year deal.

-Frik

[metsbats]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

Manny being stupid

Yes.

Manny being greedy too.

Hey Manny how many folks in California unemployed would love to earn even 1% of what the Dodgers just offered you!

[kellsox]

Re: OT: Manny Ramirez: 'No one wants to sign me'

A big part of Ortiz' #s slipping was that he played hurt for a good portion of last year(wrist).
Manny begged Boston to waive 2 20 million dollar team options and that was part of the agreement when he went to the Dodgers. Those were also options that he and his agent insisted on when he signed his original deal with the Sox.
Him being offered only 1 year at 25 million speaks volumes as to what some teams think of his antics on his way out of Boston, his agent misreading the market for him(thought he could get a multiyear deal for 100 mil)and the economy dropping.
If I remember correctly, at the start of free agency the Dodgers offered him a 2 year deal for 45 mil- I wonder why it's now down to a 1 year offer???