04/23/24
March 19, 2009
Manny Being ... er, Bradman?: Manny Ramirez tries his hand at cricket. You're not supposed to use that side of the bat, mate.
Oh... yeah.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:35 AM on March 19, 2009
Here's Manny trying to swing a cricket bat while he has a bad hamstring that is keeping him from full participation in spring training. What more evidence do people need to understand that this guy, while one of the greatest hitters in the game, only plays when he wants to, not when he is needed. The man is a selfish fraud who, with the urging of his less-than-ethical agent, got out of a valid contract in Boston by repeated misbehavior, both on and off the field. How long will it be before Joe Torre says "enough, already" and either disciplines Manny or leaves the team in disgust?
posted by Howard_T at 11:52 AM on March 19, 2009
What more evidence do people need to understand that this guy, while one of the greatest hitters in the game, only plays when he wants to, not when he is needed
Ummm....excuse me but aren't we just in spring training? What exactly is the dire necessity for the Dodgers to actually need Manny right now in spring training while other players are off getting injured while playing in the WBC? As long as the man is playing baseball when it matters most, he can go play cricket, lacrosse, field hockey or danai jai alai for all I care.
From what I know about Manny Ramirez, the man can wake up in the middle of the night at the age of 55 and still hit a major league curveball without breaking a sweat while eating a mango and humming the tune of El Cantante. He's that good.
posted by BornIcon at 01:28 PM on March 19, 2009
I'm with Papelbon, Manny was a cancer and will be for any team on which he plays ... baseball or cricket.
posted by scully at 07:59 PM on March 19, 2009
I'm sad Manny is gone, but I'm not sad the whole Manny Saga is gone. I believe Manny when he says he felt smothered in Boston. And this story shows the difference between Boston and L.A.
Manny has a sore hamstring, yet here he is playing Cricket. In Boston the press would be playing this up. If he can't hit for the Dodgers, if he needs to rest his hamstring, why's he playing Cricket? But in L.A. no one bats an eye. They're just thrilled to have him. If anyone else did this? Maybe someone says something. But with Manny, it's just part of his charm (for now).
How long will it be before Joe Torre says "enough, already" and either disciplines Manny or leaves the team in disgust?
I have no idea what Dodger fans that point to his 2 months (or whatever) in L.A. as proof it was only in Boston that he was a problem are thinking. He was playing for a contract. But I think Dodger management has played their hand well. Manny, again this year, is playing for a contract. As long as they keep him in that mind set they'll probably get good Manny.
posted by justgary at 10:02 PM on March 19, 2009
What exactly is the dire necessity for the Dodgers to actually need Manny right now in spring training while other players are off getting injured while playing in the WBC?
Spring training matters. Teams can't afford to dig themselves a hole in April because their players weren't ready for the season.
posted by rcade at 11:53 PM on March 19, 2009
I dig Manny. He has a palpable love of the game. My favorite baseball play in recent memory is, you all know it, the outstanding catch, followed by two cleats up the outfield wall, a high five to a fan, and a throw out of the runner. How does one beat that for sheer fun in a job? Unless your a Mythbuster. Which is a different blog.
posted by bobfoot at 12:01 AM on March 20, 2009
As long as they keep him in that mind set they'll probably get good Manny.
Isn't this situation already telling of his devotion to the team? He seems unhappy with the contract, and maybe this instance is some manner of rebellion. I agree the Dodgers did well, I expected a number bigger number - both in years and dollars.
Manny seems to be the type that gets into a mindset, sometimes uncontrollably, and acts based on his current state of mind. If he's not happy, it shows. He can't just 'suck it up' and do the job, he has to whine and loaf until he gets his way. The Dodgers and their fans will eventually see through this, and the scrutiny will only increase if the questionable behavior continues. Like A-Rod, Manny now has a microscope pointed on him and every sub par effort or slow jog to first on a ground ball will only bring his 'charm' into focus.
posted by BoKnows at 01:06 AM on March 20, 2009
I agree the Dodgers did well, I expected a number bigger number - both in years and dollars.
I think they could have gone lower. There was zero market for manny. But he would have either sat out until he could get something better or been unhappy had they not given him something at least similar to what he would have gotten in boston had he stayed.
Like A-Rod, Manny now has a microscope pointed on him and every sub par effort or slow jog to first on a ground ball will only bring his 'charm' into focus.
Maybe so, but his best chance is in LA. If he hits like he did last year, I don't think you'll hear many complaints about his jogging to first base. Of course, it could turn bad. The team gets off to a bad start. Manny is actually human this year at the plate. That would be a recipe for trouble.
posted by justgary at 02:11 AM on March 20, 2009
Spring training matters. Teams can't afford to dig themselves a hole in April because their players weren't ready for the season.
It matters if you're someone that's not in Manny's caliber. Spring training helps most players get into game shape but when you're a beast like Manny is, Spring needs to train for Manny.
posted by BornIcon at 06:21 AM on March 20, 2009
Right, guy's never been a problem anywhere and he's never been accused of dogging it and nursing phantom injuries. Does this mean Manny Ramirez now has the BornIcon Seal of Approval™ like Bonds, TO, etc. and it is now impossible to criticize him without hearing about how we're haters?
posted by yerfatma at 08:23 AM on March 20, 2009
Does this mean Manny Ramirez now has the BornIcon Seal of Approval' like Bonds, TO, etc. and it is now impossible to criticize him without hearing about how we're haters?
Oh, stop it! Cut the drama in half and settle down, you're hilarious though. I dig that whole trademark thing though, something to look into. Thanks~
You can criticize any one you wish but don't expect everyone to just follow suit. I just don't think Manny blowing off spring training is really that big of a deal. Just about anyone that has followed Manny's career knows that he does not like spring training but once the season starts, he's playing when it matters most. Besides that little debacle that transpired when he left Boston, the man was and is probably still beloved there for helping them win 2 World Series.
posted by BornIcon at 08:30 AM on March 20, 2009
It matters if you're someone that's not in Manny's caliber.
That's ludicrous. Ramirez will be 37 years old this year. Assuming that in the post-juice era we won't see any more players getting better at that age like Barry Bonds did, his conditioning will play a major role in whether he delivers over the two full seasons of his contract.
There aren't many legendary players who keep delivering at that age and beyond. The ones that did, like Nolan Ryan, were conditioning and preparation freaks.
posted by rcade at 08:39 AM on March 20, 2009
So at 37, you don't believe that Manny will continue being Manny, by producing big numbers, for 1 or 2 more years? Age can creep up to just about any athlete, I honestly believe that but I don't think that it just happens overnight. Just last year, Manny was able to produce for the Dodgers big time. His 396 batting average, 17 home runs, and 53 RBI was by far, the best numbers for any Dodger...even at age of 36.
posted by BornIcon at 08:56 AM on March 20, 2009
I think that if he shares your belief that older world-class athletes don't have to practice, his numbers will drop like a rock.
The hyperbole you're engaging in here -- "spring needs to prepare for Manny"; "wake up in the middle of the night at the age of 55 and still hit a major league curveball"; yadda yadda -- is empty cheerleading. I like Manny, but you're wedded to some pretty shaky logic when it comes to the guy. Playing cricket while you're missing spring training games due to an injury is foolish.
posted by rcade at 09:17 AM on March 20, 2009
Manny is being held out for a hamstring injury, the serious of which we really don't know. I know players with minor hamstring injuries or players just coming back from injury often take batting practice for a few days prior to returning to fielding and base running, so maybe that's consistent with the severity or stage of the injury here. So I'm not sure that taking some swings with a cricket bat is all that inconsistent with his injury -- note that the article states he did not bowl or play the field.
posted by holden at 10:49 AM on March 20, 2009
he did not bowl or play the field
Can't do it. The Shane Warne reference is just too easy...
posted by owlhouse at 05:43 PM on March 20, 2009
I think that if he shares your belief that older world-class athletes don't have to practice, his numbers will drop like a rock
But that's where you're mistaken. I never said that an "older world-class athlete(s)" do not need to practice. What I said about Manny was that the man is capable of getting out of bed and can put the bat to the ball. All athletes need to practice, they aren't just born with these tremendous skills but with Manny Ramirez, the guy has been playing baseball most of his life, he is one of the greatest baseball players to come out of D.R. Just because he aged a bit from last year, he's suddenly going to forget how to play the game of baseball?
Before Barry Bonds was ousted from the game and even at the age of 42, the man was still able to produce. I would have to put Manny in the same conversation as Bonds for the way they both made the game look so easy to play....sans the allegations on Bonds' side that is.
posted by BornIcon at 09:26 AM on March 26, 2009
Manny is awesome! He just seems to have this outgoing personality (when he's not looking for a new contract that is) and people seem to gravitate towards him. I'll have him on my team any day.