The man behind Manny

Agent Boras discusses the change in Ram�rez

We start our report this week with a few questions for agent Scott Boras regarding the change in Manny Ramírez's personality, his conditioning, his desire to play at least four more years - all of which occurred since Boras began representing Ramírez this winter:

Q. Manny seems to be really into his goals: 500 homers (which he hopes to accomplish before the end of April), conditioning, a new outgoing personality.

A. "Manny has a tremendous work ethic. He worked out in Arizona with his teammates. He had a very distinct approach this offseason, and psychologically, when you see results, it makes players feel better about themselves and what they're doing and how they're doing it. He's really committing himself to his career.

"We got to appraise him, and tell him body type-wise vs. chronological age, where are you? You don't look your chronological age. It's irrelevant. What you look at is what you can do, how you measure, your quickness, and you're aware of where your body is. That's really the measurement you look at."

Q. Talk about the plan you had for Manny and how it's working.

A. "He's coming off a year where, performance-wise, it wasn't a Manny Ramírez type of year. For a player, there's a burden not so much because of what he's done in the past, but he wonders, 'What can I do in the future?'

"What we do is coordinate the question. We have a formula, and if you've done it for many years at this level, then you have a chance to do it at this level in the future. But unless you've done it in the past at that level, you're not going to be one of the types who can do it.

"In other words, the past becomes something positive rather than negative."

Q. How do you convince them?

A. "We use the example that we can get players substantial contracts at 37 and 38 years of age. What we worry about is the player playing well and his conditioning. The burden of the contract is not a concern. Barry Bonds came to us at age 36 and he wanted to get a contract extension and we talked him out of it and told him to be patient and wait. He was very disciplined off the field, worked out four or five hours a day. He was a devoted baseball player and our advice to Barry was wait until you become a free agent at 38, because you're disciplined and you've built the foundation beyond what players who preceded you have done."

Q. Do you think there's any chance, holding two $20 million options, that the Red Sox will extend Manny beyond the two years?

A. "You always have to give the player a focus that is achievable. You're getting into a contractual question, and I don't know whether those are achievable or not. The evidence is very clear to us that Manny Ramírez is one of the most extraordinary offensive players in this game's history. Durability and commitment will allow this player to keep playing at a high level because he can extend the longevity of his career. He's working hard on his defense. He's always trying to become a complete player. That is his mantra."

Q. How about his personality? For so long he didn't even speak to the media.

A. "The third phase of this is his personality and his approach to the game. Who you are as a person and an individual and adding his greatness is a rare package. His personality along with his humor create a uniqueness. I told Manny, 'You're the closest thing to Yogi Berra in the modern era that we have.' Manny looked at me and said, 'What do you mean?' I said, 'When I hear you talk, every player knows exactly what you mean but you say it in a manner that's unique to you. Like last year's comment about, "Why worry about tomorrow?" Every player on your team knew exactly what you meant. It's how you said, "I'm focusing on today," that was the unique way of doing it.' "

Q. Do you communicate well with Manny and do you speak to him often?

A. "When [the Red Sox] were in L.A. [for exhibitions] we had a meeting at the ballpark. We just really focused on the goals of the day. I have a trip scheduled to come to Boston to see him. Our plan for him is in place. If you can make a player comfortable, you have the ability to make a player play well.

"This guy was doing some of these things long before I ever met him. The piece of the puzzle we brought was the mere fact of acceptance. In his own mind, he has to think about the fact he can put his career in place as one of the most historic in the game if he continues to show the desire to do the things in the offseason and the season and stay in shape. He has the will do it.

"I just think Manny has a plan. He has a real vision of what he can do. And he understands that his dynamic in the game is respected and welcomed and he adds a flavor to the game that is very, very important to their approach as a successful franchise."

Q. Will you meet with Theo Epstein about an extension, and are you worried that if Manny can't achieve his desire of playing in Boston for the next four years, as he says he wants to, that he will become unhappy again?

A. "Theo and I work in time frames. I don't think much about the Boston Red Sox goes on without them having a plan and a theory for what they may want to do currently or in the future. I communicate with Theo on a number of things and I really let the decision-making be theirs. It's rare if they haven't thought about what their future plans are for a player.

"Our focus is on Manny - to make how he plays and where he plays more enjoyable. If we're doing that, it's serving the interest of our client."

Diagnosis: no patience

With Wayne Krivsky having been fired two years and 21 games into his general managing regime in Cincinnati, it's becoming more evident that GMs are under intense pressure to turn things around quickly. The days of the "five-year plan" are gone.

"I feel horrible for Wayne," said Terry Ryan, who gave up his GM job in Minnesota after last season and has become a special adviser to the Twins. "It can be an impossible position where the owner wants to win right now, but realistically there needs to be time to get all facets of the organization together, not just the major league team.

"I felt Wayne was doing some good tings. He had a strong minor league system, his scouting was healthy. He had really revamped his pitching with [Johnny] Cueto and Edinson Volquez and Francisco Cordero."

When Reds owner Bob Castellini brought in Walt Jocketty as a special adviser - after Jocketty had been forced out of St. Louis - most figured Krivsky had to win quickly. Castellini is intensely competitive and wants a winner in a great baseball town. But his impatience is becoming the norm around baseball.

The Texas situation could be the most fluid, as new team president Nolan Ryan can't like what he sees out of manager Ron Washington or GM Jon Daniels. The saving grace is that the Rangers have decent prospects.

Houston owner Drayton McLane greeted this reporter in spring training with, "We're going to win the world championship."

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, in Year 5 out there, has done great things in improving the ballpark, creating a charity modeled after the Jimmy Fund, making a huge splash with Joe Torre as manager, and building an elaborate new spring training facility in Glendale, Ariz. But the Dodgers haven't done it where it counts most: on the field.

"It seems you have to have success right away," said San Diego GM Kevin Towers. "In my case, I was in the playoffs a couple of years right off the bat. Same with Theo [ Epstein] and Brian [ Cashman]. I think you build credibility with that early success. Now if you're not winning right away, within those first couple or three years, owners get impatient."

Should they take it now or hope to make it later

Should an outstanding young player sign a long-term deal early or wait for his big payday in or just prior to free agency?

Jonathan Papelbon: "I'm going year to year right now and that's fine with me. I have a lot of faith in my ability and my arm is strong. My agents talked to the Red Sox about something for a while, but it wasn't anything either side wanted to do right now.

"Would I change my mind? Sure, if the numbers sounded right to me. But I'm heading into arbitration next year and that could change the way everybody looks at things. There are a lot of guys who have signed deals and then their talent or ability goes beyond what they signed for. How much could Josh Beckett get right now? See what I mean?

"I think for some guys the security is very important in the way they approach things and the game. I make a good salary and I have some things outside the game that I do. I'm fine with my situation."

Two prominent agents were floored by the contract that Tampa rookie Evan Longoria recently signed (six years, $17.5 million, options worth a maximum of $44 million).

Agent 1: "Some of the recent contracts signed are completely pro-management. They completely favor the team. Look at Evan Longoria's deal and between all the options he's tied up through age 31. I have no idea why you'd do something like that when you have a player who has the potential to win the Rookie of the Year award. I understand security and peace of mind for the player, but before he's even played a game in the majors?"

Agent 2: "Might have cost himself $40 million over the length of the contract. I can't understand it. If he's the player everyone thinks he's going to be, there will be many regrets."

Etc.

Touching the bases
Apropos of nothing: 1. If it were possible, Kevin Youkilis could win the Gold Glove at first and third; 2. Another attempt to get No. 6 retired in honor of Johnny Pesky; 3. Two people I will really miss: Jess Cain and Don Gillis; 4. Never really thought of him this way, but Jim Thome is going to the Hall of Fame; 5. Dustin Pedroia has switched agents from Alan Nero to Aces (Levinson Brothers).

Best deal he never made
White Sox general manager Ken Williams had the chance to move Joe Crede a few times in the offseason but resisted the temptation even though he had prospect Josh Fields to replace him. There were talks with the Dodgers when Nomar Garciaparra went down with an injury, but the deal couldn't be worked out to Williams's satisfaction. From the category of "best trades not made," we give you a third baseman who had driven in 21 runs entering last night's game and has been a vital cog in the White Sox' good start. "I got a few inquiries, but I never came close to trading him," said Williams. "I kept saying that. And nobody believed me until Opening Day when he was on our roster." Fields, meanwhile, is playing third base for the Triple A Charlotte Knights and began the weekend hitting .292 with three homers and 12 RBIs but with a whopping 27 strikeouts.

Power search
Two power hitters the Red Sox are scouting heavily for this year's draft: Matt Marquis, a center fielder from Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J., who has a scholarship to Vanderbilt, and third baseman Ricky Oropesa from Etiwanda High in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Oropesa, 6 feet 2 inches, 215 pounds, has good lefthanded power (and is also a righthanded power pitcher) while Marquis, close to the same size, has power from the right side. Oropesa hit .547 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs as a junior.

Beane: Thomas move can't hurt
A's general manager Billy Beane thought there was absolutely no downside to signing Frank Thomas. "We had him here before and we really enjoyed him on our team," said Beane. "As a young team with young players, I think it doesn't hurt them to watch how a great veteran player and future Hall of Famer goes about his business. We felt it was a really low-risk move with a lot of upside. Obviously we feel Frank has a lot left."

Zito a costly investment
If you're Giants GM Brian Sabean or manager Bruce Bochy, you hate to hear that your $126 million investment, Barry Zito, is "going through a transition period in his career" according to pitching coach Dave Righetti. The finesse lefty has lost velocity, which has accounted for his 0-5 start with a 5.61 ERA. Righetti said Zito's fastball is straight and that he has to be fine with it to be effective, like Greg Maddux. Zito is clearly not the pitcher he was in Oakland, which makes the Red Sox' decision to opt for Daisuke Matsuzaka instead look that much better. Zito spent a lot of time working on mechanics in spring training, and he's trying to copy Maddux's approach of throwing strikes on virtually every pitch. So far, those pitches are getting hit hard.

No closing out Hoffman - yet
Padres GM Kevin Towers says it's too early to be worried about Trevor Hoffman and his two blown saves early in the season. "I think when we get to June or July, we'll be able to make a better evaluation, but right now, Trevor has gone through these stretches before," said Towers. "Right now, it's just a matter of location. He still has the excellent changeup. Right now, our problem is scoring runs. Petco is a big ballpark, but we need to hit the ball out of the park." Asked whether he had interest in Coco Crisp, Towers said, "No. Theo [ Epstein] and I have talked, and knowing the type of players he wants in return, it's not something we're willing to do right now."

Interest is gathering
Another player the Red Sox are being asked about quite a bit is Brandon Moss. Two GMs said last week they've asked about Moss's availability and have been shot down. Moss is also protection in case the Sox find a buyer for Crisp, with Bobby Kielty out after hand surgery.

Short hops
Three GMs told me there's been talk in some organizations, but no one is anywhere near serious about making a bid for Barry Bonds's services . . . Congratulations to Marlins PR man Matt Roebuck, a UMass grad and Boston native, for completing the Boston Marathon . . . Godspeed, John Marzano. You were a wonderful guy . . . Happy 30th birthday, Runelvys "We Hardly Knew Ye" Hernandez.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com