Manny in the spotlight

I would be concerned primarily about how his teammates feel about Manny. I think it's deplorable to have a columnist opine (Shaughnessy) to persuade the masses that he should be run out of town.The bottom line is we (and columnists) simply don't know everything about players, teams, and teammates, and should not pretend to. Manny needs to perform as a ballplayer and cooperate with his teammates and manager. Everything else is just a lot of noise...Shame on Shaughnessy and all the talking heads and fans who insist on judging Manny and forcing public opinion against him, to send him away. There are alot more important things going on in life and in the world right now than the status of a ballplayer based on conjecture, "drama" and false vituperation.

It's time. With all the positives Manny has and all the positive things he's done over the years, many say keep Manny. If this was just another "Manny moment" I'd want to keep him as well, after all loosing Manny will leave a big hole in the line-up. But his antics are likely to continue through the end of the season and maybe even into the play-offs [should we make the play-offs]. The damage he could/would do to the moral of the rest of the team may/will prevent us from even making the play-offs, let alone the World Series. Sure, without Manny there is a big hitting hole in our line up, but this team has already proven they can overcome a loss in the big hitting department while David was was out. They can do it again with Manny out. But he has to be all the way out for it to work. IMHO

He says that his job is to play baseball so why doesn't he shut up and play?

I'm disgusted beyond the beyonds! No wonder professional athletes don't want to play in Boston. The Boston media are vultures! You're just looking for big stories THAT"S IT! You don't care about the outcome or how it sends fans into tailspins. Why should you, I guess. You just write anti Manny articles by "unnamed sources"
You want to write a good article? Name your source!

With Manny gone who will you talk about? Who will you try to make the fool?
I envy the team that may get him. All the amazing baseball that Manny has brought us over the years and this is how it goes down. That's the real shame.

I'll still follow Manny where ever he may end up but it's a tremendous shame that one of the best hitter that we will ever witness will not retire, rightly so, in a Red Sox uniform.

This has become a mess. Everyone is talking bad about manny and all that. Also saying that his legacy will be tain by the last controvercy. How can you say that because if it was not for him boston would not have two rings!!!!!! I understand people are mad. but don't go that far!!

This is ridiculous. Red Sox fans have taken Manny for granted for 8 seasons. The Media has railroaded him for 8 seasons. It's the same story, different name. The fact is out there in right field...we don't retire numbers...We retire relationships and run them out of town.

At the All-Star game, when all the Hall of Famers were on the field during the Pre-Game...How many were wearing Red Sox caps?

This is Babe Ruth all over again.

I am wondering why the Marlins aren't in this discussion they are close and it wouldn't cost them any money.

Enough is enough. Let Manny be Manny some where else. He's a grown man and should start acting like it. If that's not possible ADIOS AMIGO!

I think all the "trade Manny" talk is unfortunate. Manny is a hall of fame player who is one of the best players in baseball history. Plus, as a fan, even though I realize his actions may cause some distraction, he makes Boston games much more interesting. Sports is at least 25% entertainment, so let Manny be Manny!

If Manny is lying, do tell. Otherwise, he's doing nothing that Shilling doesn't do...[open mouth insert foot] at worst. I however hear him clearly saying that he expects, as I, that the team respect his role, history and still current contributions and speak to his need and sign him ASAP.

He's earned it, get over yourselves...really!

Manny is a spoiled child that has never been told no. And like a spoiled child, he needs a time out. So the Red Sox need to send him to the Kansas City Royals to sit in the corner for the remainder of the season while the Sox are in a pennant race. The farm system is stacked. The time is now. Get rid of him!

manny is doing a lot of crazy things, but we have to put our selfs his position. i think somenthing is happening very bad between manny and top managment and thats why he is acting like, that. i think he should get a better contract too, a lot of players around they get paid a lot of money and they doing nothing. for example the japanese guy , i dont think he deserves the money that he got paid.

Manny being Manny......Enough is Enough!! As a high paying customer, we as fans pay these players their salaries and we expect a player to play when he's not hurt..Manny is an abarassment to the brilliant organization of the Red Sox and to baseball and we Red Sox die hards want to root hard for players who give it there ALL every day..and he can take his stupid looking dreadlocks and get out!!!

Trade him? No. Pick up his option? Hell no.

I was tired of Manny being Manny a couple of years ago.
I say let him go - dont pick up his options and hope that other teams dont offer him anything near as good. I cant imagine other teams wanting the his antics along with his declining numbers. What a bufffoon in the field.

$20 million for someone who doesnt even act as mature as my eight year old.....................no way.

Boras most likely is behind a lot of the latest crap.

Manny is the penultimate prima donna ballplayer, choosing to sit whenever he feels like it no matter what it costs the team. Remember that he's being paid a huge amount of money to come out every day and try his hardest. What we've seen year after year is that Manny is for Manny and any benefit the team may derive from his presence on field is gravy. He shows no heart for the game, for his team or Boston. When I tell my little leaguers to model themselves after a major leaguer I leave off Manny. I don't want my players to think that selfish behavior is a positive attribute for a team. Follow Varitek, Pedroia, Shilling, or Beckett's example, even Jeter's or Posada's. Any of these guys because they love and respect the game. But never Manny.

Whether or not Manny's knee was or was not hurt is immaterial. Assuming that his knees did hurt, they obviously were not impeding his ability to hit the baseball. If he in fact needed the days off, then he certainly could have waited until after the series with the dreaded Yankees.

I hope he ends up playing in Arizona. Let him spend a few summers in the desert.

Just let Manny be Manny. Why cannot the media do that? Personally I absolutely love Manny cause he can be himself. If you think Manny does not worth that much, trade him or don't pick up the option. There is no point bad mouth him in the media. I especially agree with what Bo Edlund posted. Shame on the media and red sox frontdesk.

Kim hit the nail on the head. Boston writers are hyperactive and stir the pot beyond excess. How many days are we going to hear this quote repeated and disected. A rift between a player and management is hurtful but the press is a 20-ton bag of salt in the wound. We win a lot of titles in this town, and that creates a fertile market for sports writers, but imagine how many we would have won without the press creating divides and heaping pressure on players and management. Just say no to the call-in shows and round-table discussions, they are a waste of time.

I, like many other Red Sox fans I'm sure, have been a long time hold out for Manny. Through the years, I have looked the other way at his antics and laughed at most of them. I thought I was finally being rewarded when everything was going so well during the last year-ish of baseball between Manny and the FO / Media.

Now,
I think enough is enough. I have no doubt this his current actions are at least influenced by the "Boras virus" and his actions are getting worse and worse.

I'm finally to the point where if he wants out, so be it. As long as hes not replaced by Bonds, I'm fine with it.

Manny needs to play ball and finish the season with the Sox. They are defending champs with a shot at repeating. If he hustled on every play he would be the best player in the majors. But he plays the clown and looses respect from a lot of fans. The Sox have been trying to deal him away for years with no success because no team wants to pay huge money for a guy who will not give you the basics.

Additionally, and in a different era, in his time, the press said alot of caustic things about Ted Williams, so this is not new - however, the question must be raised when considering that the vast majority of media "journalists" writing about this are white: would they be writing and behaving the same way if Manny were white? Where are the journalists of color, and what are they saying? I'm not crying racism, certainly not overtly, but I am not going to ignorantly accept the views of a caucasian journalist either. And are there cultural differences at play here? Has anyone ever bothered to ask that, while questioning the behavior of an athlete of color? I'm so sick of the stupid, homer, provincial "journalism" of his region.

Manny has had his butt kissed for 8 years with the Manny being Manny nonsene. He's almost another mascot like Wally. Has Boston ever loved a lazy punk more than Manny? No. We used to love Trot Nixon's grit and hustle. Now we love the court jester.

If given a choice between the Sox and Manny, I'll side with John Henry and Theo.

The second the Red Sox break up the Big Papi/Manny 1-2 punch (or 3-4 punch), you can deed the AL East back to the Yankees.

Baseball players play baseball, but they are also mentors and idolized by children. When a player makes a point to publicize his ignorant attitude such as Manny does, it is deterimental to the team, the organization and a terrible example for the youth who worship these players. Manny skipped baseball games - games he's paid a ton of money to play - with lame excuses. He blew off a Yankees game last season too. Hockey players get their faces stitched back together and barely miss a shift but Manny gets a free pass because "my knee hurts". I say don't bother to trade him. Save the money and pick up some young blood. Let the other teams in the league show him that he is not worth anything near the $20 million that he thinks he deserves. I'd pay JD Drew $20 million a year before I'd give Manny another dime.

"At the All-Star game, when all the Hall of Famers were on the field during the Pre-Game...How many were wearing Red Sox caps?"

This pretty much sums it all, i was thinking the same thing. boston media has done this before and doing it again. shame on you!

WOW!!! Out of the woodwork come the Manny apologists! What a surprise...not. Do you nitwits understand that these columnists DO have access to the Red Sox players? Do you? Does it register through your blinders that half the comments being made are those of Manny's teammates, OFF THE RECORD!?!?! Do you know what that means, or are you just assuming these columnists would risk their entire careers and LIE?? Come on, you people have obviously never played this wonderful game, because if you did, you'd understand how special it is, and how anyone that could ever NOT want to play, is sick. Manny is sick, and he's a child. He's a sick child. I have one at home, I don't need to watch another one on my favorite baseball team.

I have had it like anyone else....but I want the Sox to win this year and let's face it....it just isn't going to happen without Manny. He blows up this time of year all the time. We all remember the trade deadline where everyone thought Manny would be gone...then returned to a standing O....and Manny loved Boston again. This will all blow over and we just need to focus on the race. Manny and Papi are the best combination in baseball. Let's move on and hope he does not completely melt down.

Someone should give him a right hook. Spoiled little brat.

The evidence seems to be mounting that Manny can no longer "get around" on a good fastball. Last night he looked like the old Manny against Ponson's 88 mph junk. If nothing else, the rest of the season---regarless of where Manny is playing---will be ve-r-r-ry int--er-est--ing.

I just wish for once the underwear-sniffing sports media would just stick to reporting on games and performance and stop trying to manufacture drama. What is all this "he's not worth it" crap? He's TOTALLY worth it you jackasses! Look at his numbers..look at the two World Series banners that eluded the likes of Ted Williams and Carl Yazstremski. If the price for championships is indulging Manny's annual hissy fit, I'd say we're getting off cheap.

Why not move Manny to Seattle,then he can join a team of loosers and only play when he wants. Many of Seattle pitchers have figured out how to sit out a game. Manny should get along well with CEO Lincoln.

Manny's bad rap is in part fabricated and then magnified by the media. Manny made a point yesterday that no one can touch -- He's a BALLER!!! Dude has over 500 home runs and thousands of RBI's. He's got sore knees for 2 lousy days and Shaughnessy wants to get us to believe he's quitting on the team for the rest of the season??!!! I think he's earned the right to have sore knees at age 36, Dan. Dan must be friends with this McCormick guy because he wants to run Manny out of town sooo badly. And this "I'm sick of them; they're sick of me" comment is being milked for every last letter. If I was the villian of every single newspaper article from the town I played for I'd be sick of it too, wouldn't you Dan? Maybe he was talking about everyone, not just the team. But we'll never know. No one followed up on this question, they've just been interpreting it in whatever way suits their own point.

Here's one for you.Manny to the Cubs.They certainly could use his bat.Play right field in lieu of Fukodoma (stats .277,7hr,33 rbi)....Don't know what Chicago have to offer to make a trade like that to work,but they certainly would love his bat........100 years is a long time...

Let's not forget that the Red Sox finally won a world series after how many years of wimping out against the Yankees and Cardinals. Do you really think that the Red Sox would have won in 2004 and 2007 without him? The guy is the best right handed hitter that I have ever seen, regardless of his foibles. Red Sox whiners (fans and owners) are going to turn into losers again if they let him go. Do you people really think that the Red Sox owners ( public relations fanatics) have clean hands when it come to running their businesses? Just look at the prices that you are paying for seats and food. Who are the real suckers here?

After having observed professional baseball since the 30's and read the many newspapers current in each era I reached an 'unscientific poll' conducted by myself.

Sports writers and 'talking heads' in the Boston-New York market are at the epicenter of human egotism. Never have so few had such an impact on so many and done so with no known basis of fact. Speculation and pontification are their trademarks.

These inciters who 'scald' both teams and players are the very people who show up at every game and gain free parking, free tickets, usually an airconditioned seat in a press box, free food and any other amenity that the press 'requires.' In short they are simply 'wanna be's' who probably make their little league teams. Now they have become experts on everything from the draft, the salary cap,to the lineup.
And NONE of them have a dime invested in the enterprize that they criticize on a daily basis.

If they truly wish to contribute to baseball both inside the 'proclaimed center' of baseball and the remaining unwashed in the rest of the nation they could begin a campaign to require that baseball players once again look like baseball players. Manny could be their poster boy of what a 'slob' looks like.

Now there is a crusade worth contemplating.

My moles around baseball are telling me that there is a very real chance Manny could move. Look to potential 3-way trades between the Sox, Pirates, and either the Mets or Phily.

It is ridiculous, but for different reasons than you state.

1. Manny is not Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth was sold (for peanuts) to our biggest rival. Manny is being paid big-big bucks to stay in Boston, to play ball, and to win. He is not being sold down the river for less than his full worth. I wonder why winning seems less important to Manny than it is to the other players on the team.

2. There is no doubt that Manny has played a key role in the Sox' success over the years. Nobody would dispute that. On the other hand, the team and the fans have had to endure lots of distractions resulting from his 'Manntics.' Sure - the comedy value of Manny helps keep the team loose, especially when things are going well. But we are in a real fight right now, and we need all hands on deck. We've had too many real injuries to deal with this year to have 'soreness' cause key players to miss key games. When the Sox agreed to pay Manny his huge salary they thought they were getting someone who expects to win. Manny doesn't. If that doesn't bother you, it should. I, for one, have seen too many Red Sox teams crumble because their players couldn't remain cohesive when things were tough. If Manny is wrecking the other players' mojo, then it's time to make a change.

3. Manny seems to lack toughness. All major leaguers play hurt. If Manny is ducking hard-throwing righthanders for whatever reason, that's a problem because it gives our rivals an unnecessary advantage.

4. I do reserve the right to judge Manny. If there's an injustice involved, call me on it. But in lieu of being wrong, I stand by my guns. Manny is a player on a team. And the way we've won these past years is by having TEAM mean more than INDIVIDUALS. Too often Manny is consumed by Manny. It affects his play and that of the team. That's where I draw the line.

5. We're not making Manny a fool. He takes care of that all by himself.

6. That said, I think it's true that we will have Manny throughout the end of the season. We will never get any value for him in a trade, and it doesn't make sense baseball-wise to let him go until we can find an appropriate replacement for him (which may require re-tooling other parts of the team too). So, in the meantime -SHUT UP and PLAY BALL! We are not out of this thing yet. You may get one more ring before you finish your career as a Dodger, Manny. Don't let that chance slip away, because if you do, then your legacy really will stink. Instead of putting you up there where you belong with Williams, Yastremski, and Rice you'll be stuck with all the forgotten players who earned tons of money but couldn't keep our love and respect because you let us down in the end.

It has always been said that Sox management will not discuss contracts during the season. They have always had this stance, no matter who is involved. Manny wants to play ball. Sounds pretty simple to me. You know Manny's gonna play, and if they come to terms on how they are going to approach this we can set this aside, work on winning another WS. Manny's going to want to do his best in order to get the best asking price and to win another ring. The Sox would be crazy to trade him. Tell me one person out there that can replace Manny's bat, and then tell me that team is willing to trade that person for Manny. It's just not going to happen.
Trading for prospects is out of the question when you are in a pennant race.

Ok, Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees because the Red Sox were sick of his antics and they thought his production was in a decline. He goes to New York, they build the new stadium and so on and so on....

Red Sox fail year after year....Dan Shaughnessy comes in and INVENTS the curse of the bambino to excuse these failures and makes a pretty penny..

Now, the Red Sox will say good bye to Manny Ramirez because they're sick of his anitcs and they think his production is in a decline. The New York Yankees, historically smarter than the Red Sox, will sign Manny and treat him like a king...as they do all their greats. He will open the new stadium and absolutely destory the Red Sox...

Red Sox will fail year after year....Dan Shaughnessy will write about it, make more money off our misery...and laugh his way to the bank...allow with every Yankee fan

Oh man, can't wait for this....

Manny is paid well for his productivity and needs to fulfill his obligation through the 08 season, and through the post-season.

Manny - focus on the team. Your future is not in any jeopardy.

I believe Manny's knee would be helped by daily rehab workouts from 5am to 1 pm on days when he felt too injured to play the day before.

I have a Marine friend who would be glad to help out.

I posted on another spot, but will post this again here. I used to be one of Manny's biggest supporters, but when I hear him say he is "tired of it" it makes me sick. The guy is making 20 million per year, he has been allowed to slap a teamate, assault a Red Sox employee, intentionally tank in a game (three strikes down the middle in a big game)...skip games with no injury. The "taking a break in the monster during pitching changes" does not bother me, I actually think it is kind of funny, but then to say the owners stab him in the back after they pay him 20 million to smack fellow employee's around? It is not the media running Manny out of town, it is Manny and his sneaky little agent. Manny wants the big payday again, and he will do anything to get it, including tanking games.
I heard Philly might be interested. Trade him to Philly for either Burrell or Rollins (since it appears Rollins and Manuel do not get along too well, and Philly has wanted to trade Burrell in the past as well). Then turn around and trade Youk and Hansen for Texeira (as the previous rumor suggested). I would only make this deal if you could sign Texeira to a long term deal. Over the past 3-4 years Texeira has matched, if not exceeded Manny's numbers, plus he is younger. Even Burrell has equal numbers to Manny this year. Try this lineup:
1. Pedroia
2. Drew
3. Ortiz
4. Texeira
5. Burrell
6. Lowell
7. Tek
8. Lugo/ whoever they play here
9. Elsbury/ Crisp
In my opinion, that lineup is stronger than the current lineup for the Sox. And this isnt a pie in the sky trade here...the Texeira one was not denied by Atlanta....and Manny used to play for Charlie Manuel....it could work?

I believe Manny is positioning himself to be a free agent for 2009. thats his whole game plan. He really thinks he'll get a big 4 year deal and is doing all in his power to make sure hes free after this year. This all started after his meeting with Boras. Theo, take whatever you can get, just move this slug.
He has not put up big numbers this year, has lost bat speed, thats why he doesn't want to face hard throwers.

So many great comments!

My own speculation--and why not speculate--is that Boras has much to do with this current turn of event. In order for Manny to win free agency, and for Boras to market his client to the highest bidder, Manny has to do whatever he can to be let go. Peter Gammons made a similar point to that effect last night.

If this is the case--again, it's pure speculation, but it sure smells like Boras--then what we may be seeing here is the dirty underside of professional baseball's business of free agency. It's nasty, and my guess is that the Red Sox won't, as MR put it, "pull the trigger." Why? It'd be a tactic to stick it to Boras.

There's more to the game than what's played on the diamond.

I guess last year spoiled me. I had gotten acclimated to Manny's annual whining. To suddenly have a happy and content Manny mugging for the cameras and actually speaking to the media was a little disconcerting. I'm pretty sure I even saw him interviewed in a suit and tie at one point (hell must have gotten at least a couple of degrees cooler that day). Yep, Odd year...

It's not the first time he's complained and pouted... and if the Red Sox decide to keep him around, I'm sure it won't be the last. Give him a four year contract and we can all look forward to another three years of no shows on opening day at training camp, and at least one tantrum a year about how unfairly he's treated by management.

Yeah, I think he'll continue to put up the offensive numbers, and I think we'll see more clown-like dug out antics that make us laugh and shake our heads, he might even hustle a little more in the field... but is it really worth it?

I gotta say "NO"... "Hell No!" The Sox are busy putting together a playoff run and he's pulling this crap. He's acting like a spoiled child. He's proven he's not a team player:
1. Resting the bat on his shoulder for three straight strikes while pinch hitting... (How dare the Sox ask him to work on his day off...)
2. Sitting out games where he might have to face pitchers that might negatively affect his batting average... (c'mon Tito, it's a contract year).
3. Throwing temper tantrums and fists in the dugout... (Where the hell are those tickets anyway.... And geeze Youk, can't you keep your emotions in check it's not whether you win or lose it's how you play the game... Thanks soccer-mom Manny, we'd hate to have our Red Sox get emotionally involved in the game.)

I'm pretty sure if these were the kinds of stunts I pulled at work they would fall under the "Unacceptable Behavior" classification in the HR handbook, and I get paid far less than Manny. Hmm, Maybe if I act like a jerk the boss will trade me to a company who will be willing pay me more... Wait... no he won't, we both live in the real world...

I have a feeling the letter he wants at the end of this year will read something like this "Thanks for the memories Manny, but based on this years performance evaluation we're going to have to let you go...."

So many great comments!

My own speculation--and why not speculate--is that Boras has much to do with this current turn of event. In order for Manny to win free agency, and for Boras to market his client to the highest bidder, Manny has to do whatever he can to be let go. Peter Gammons made a similar point to that effect last night.

If this is the case--again, it's pure speculation, but it sure smells like Boras--then what we may be seeing here is the dirty underside of professional baseball's business of free agency. It's nasty, and my guess is that the Red Sox won't, as MR put it, "pull the trigger." Why? It'd be a tactic to stick it to Boras.

There's more to the game than what's played on the diamond.

Luis:
The "Japanese" guy you are speaking of is not even the highest paid pitcher on his own team, even though he is pitching like he is. Dice-K "only" gets around 9 million per year. People think he is paid more because the Sox gave up alot to get him. But to say he isnt worth it, when he is 11-1 with a 2.63 ERA?
Please do not compare the dollar value of Dice-k vs. Manny when looking at salaries. Manny gets paid 20,000,000 per year to sit out games and tank others. Dice-K gets 8,000,000 to win more ball games than any other pitcher on his team.
And if I hear one more person say that the Sox dont treat their "Latin" players well..I am going ot scream. All those callers who call in on WEEI and say "look how the Sox treated Pedro, the same thing is happening with Manny". Yeah, and HOW exactly is Pedro pitching right now?

I like Krukie's slant on this. Trade Manny straight up for Pat Burrell. This guy (Manny) is a little child and needs to be gone. He's certainly not anyone I would want to go to war with. Theo & Terry have put up with too much already and insulting John Henry was the topper. GET HIS REAR END OUT OF HERE NOW!!!

Draft Shank Jr and sit Manny.

I still say the CUBS could use him.I'm a mega Sox fan,but if they can't do it,I'd love to see the Cubs there."REVERSE THE CURSE"..........."BURY THE GOAT".....LET'S DO IT FOR THE "LET'S PLAY TWO" fella Mr.Ernie Banks............The Cubs need a big bat like that in right field..........Manny needs to get away.He's bad for this team,causing animosity galore......He has the Sox distracted,for sure......We don't need this.But maybe the Cubs have something to offer for him.............Wake up Cubbies!! Bring on Manny!!!

..............its simple. Shut up and play baseball for $20,000,000.00 a year (take a look at all those zero's) Manny is just a spoiled, selfish hitter. I would never call him a player because in order to be a player, you have to be part of a team.

I believe we shouldn't bow down to Manny's demands. He wants out of those two option years, so he is causing all this drama. By giving in to these antics, the Sox will be setting a dangerous precedent. If I were GM, I would punish Manny by picking up his option. If he comes back next year and starts to pull the same garbage, suspend him. Sooner or later, he will realize that all he is doing is destroying his own legacy, something that Hall of Fame voters will be sure to take note of. Yes, his numbers are Hall of Fame worthy, but his character is totally bush league.

From a pure business standpoint, moving Manny makes sense....but not this year. He is 36, and not getting a day younger. Picking up the option means $20M for one player. One player at 37. It also makes sense NOT to sign him to a 4 year deal. He is great hitter, but I doubt his best days are in front of him. Instead, it makes more sense to spend $15M a year for a 4 year deal on a younger player who is on his way up.

Jason, your last line, "...performance evaluation, blah blah blah," wouldn't the Front Office be a little late. What does Manny have to do, slap Theo across the face in front of the NESN camera? He made it perfectly clear, did he not, when he said, I"m tired of them, and they must be tired of me by now, they're not stupid, I want out next year?" He's gone after this year, the Sox have no choice unless you want to see him go to the plate and repeatedly leave the bat on his shoulder like he did in NY with bases loaded and 2 outs. Hopefully he's wind up in the national league so the Sox have to face a revenge minded Manny. He's destroy Boston pitching.

Ramirez, with all his talents, is the biggest jerk baseball has ever known. He has no respect for the uniform or the game. His posing at home plate after a homerun (but only against pitchers that he can be sure won't stick a pitch in his ear the next time up) is the epitomy of his arrogance. In short, he is a self-indulgent punk.

Now what if Manny hit that HR last night in the 9th with 2 men on?????? There is NO replacement for him(on and off the field).....Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater

Ramirez, for all his talent, is the biggest, self-indulgent jerk in baseball. He has no respect for the uniform, the game, or the traditions of the game. His posing at home plate after hitting a home run (I notice he doesn't pose when the pitcher is one who will possibly put the ball in his ear on his next plate appearance) shows what a self-aggrandizing show-off he is. If I were a very wealthy owner, I would sign him to a long-term contract and keep him on the bench well into his 40's.

so last night against the angels.. i believe that that home run in the ninth was just to kinda say to the management i can hit home runs whenerver i want to.. even though he grounded out to short his last at bat with two men on. i think maybe a good trade would be to send him to baltimore for sherrill millar (love to see him back in boston!) and two top prospects....

Dont we have something else in the media than just reading about how awful manny is?Even when manny is trying to put his bat at work?Heavenly sake just give him a break I dont know much about baseball and since I started watching it and especially last season when Red sox won the world series I have never stopped watching the game.It is unfortunate it is too soon that I will be swichting to a different channel to watch manny play somewhre else .because he makes the game lively.Go manny whereverGOD LEADS YOU and enjoy playing baseball.Its not going to be the end of the world.

I think Manny is a disgrace to baseball, send him back to the DR and lets see the millions he will get to PLAY ball. I am a yankees fan and I am delighted that Manny being Manny is tolerated by both management and fans of Boston. He would last about a week in NY. Remember Raul Mondese I wonder what his income is these days. I bet its in the millions..GO YANKEES.

Well,it looks like after Manny's last night perfomance,that all is well,momentarily,in Beantown.Does he tease the fan or what!...Manny's problem is only that he wants to be wanted....Do you remember Richie Allen,what a natural he was.Read his Bio..... I really like Manny,but I don't like him too much recently.Enough is enough,but we are stuck with him I guess.......I thought Tiex would have been a nice aquisition,put him at 1st and Youk in left or right.Youk can play the outfield....had 4 assist last year in left,I believe,in limited chance,too.......But the truth of the matter is Manny will be with us for some time.....at least,this year

Not sure what game you were watching, but I'm pretty sure A-Rod got hit and Youk got knocked down. But, hey, what's a little Boston-based revisionist history? Nothing new there.

"Youk got hit again. A-Rod got knocked down."

Interesting, since Joba has never actually hit Youkilis, and A-Rod didn't get knocked down. You got that backwards, Steve-a-rino.

Twenty Million dollars a year and the media can't make any negative comments?
Maybe a job flipping hamburgers would be more to his liking, oh but he may have to work every day.
Home runs or not, he is a buffoon, get rid of him.
Surely there are young ballplayers out there that would love to take his place and would give the team and the fans their money's worth. Home runs are great but at twenty million a year, what does he make for each homerun.
As he said..my job is to play baseball....so stop the childish antics and play baseball like the rest of the team.