Manny's MRI clean

Phew. I daily entertaiment continues

just another example of manny sticking it to management!

Clean MRI. There's a shock. Who scheduled an MRI during the middle of Manny's annual summer vacation. How inconsiderate! You missed a good game tonight Manny.

good by e Manny

Is anybody besides me tired of the media's hyping of Manny being Manny? I think its ridiculous and I hope that RED SOX DO NOT resign him...it really it isn't worth it. The last two years (this one and the previous) we've heard more about his ECCENTRICITIES than we've seen production...find someone new, who takes the game and his commitment to the team a lot more serious than he does. He isn't amusing, he's tired and I'd wish you the media would stop playing him up.

Wow ! Thats a surprise! Ahh Manny , you ok little WHimpy Manny...?.. Mr 20 Million......????... Give it up!
Love Joe

Manny being Manny equals Manny is gone after this year.
What a disgrace. He gets paid millions and he quits on his te
ammates. Goodbye and good ridance.
I hope they sign Texeria

It's pretty obvious that Manny is trying to send a message to the red sox brass.
He is a DH except for the small left field at Fenway and that position is filled. A National League team will not sign him next year and there are very few American League teams that will pay 20+ million for a DH. Everyone including Manny realizes this.

Manny and his agent are posturing for a new contract during a pennant drive.
I feel bad for his team mates, the fans, and the front office brass that is paying
the freight.
See ya Manny. I guess it's just all about the money with you. Too Bad.

Manny just takes time off when he wants. What is he scared of Joba and his 100mph? Maybe Manny does not want it shown that his bat is this slow these days with that option sitting out there.

Hi Amalie,

Tough loss! Ugh. Well, today's a new beginning, hopefully. Speaking of new beginnings, will Manny decide to suit up and play? Think of it: While the Yankees are undefeated since the All Star break, Manny has reverted to his old, tired 'Manny Being Manny' bit. Not a good confluence of events for the Red Sox.

The Yankees? They appear serious to make a solid run at it all this season, having picked up an outfielder and 'pen help from the Pirates. Too, they are talking about J. Washburn, not to mention their signing of Richie Sexton a week or so ago. Sure, all these players may present more questions than immediate positive answers to the Yank's fortunes in '08. Still, Cashman & Co. seem to have their jaws firmly set on 2008 ending up well for their team.

The Red Sox? Are they content to go with what they have, prepared to 'take a Mulligan' (thanks, 'The Big Show' guys!) on '08? After all, they Won It All last year, and in '04. Theo, relaxed, confident and pleasant as ever, can stand at the team press conference after the game on September 28th, telling the press and Red Sox Nation, "Well, we had a competitive lineup, one we hoped would go into the offseason, but it was not to be. Nagging injuries and -- particularly since the All Star break -- an inconsistent offense helped to lead to our downfall. Of course, I never like to use injuries as an excuse."

The Yankees? Make varied major-league-level moves at the end of July to improve their chances.
The Red Sox? Appear content to bring up kids from the farm to bolster the 'pen
and other positions.

Yes, the Red Sox have a good farm system, are loathe to 'trade away the kids' for major league bodies. But, with an aging team in many respects, yet a team which is a hair away from leading its division, don't you want to pull out a few stops to add a player or more who can help the team NOW? That seems to be what the Yankees are in the process of doing. Yes, it can be argued that they have a few more serious injuries right now, so guys must be added from the Bigs. Still...

I'm afraid, as a Sox fan, that the Front Office has decided to do the best it can with the guys it has, while givng minor league players a legitimate shot at Fenway this season. If the team wins with its mix of veterans and farm kids, great. If not, the team will have learned much from the kids it does call up, helping it to better make off-season decisions in preparation for 2009 and beyond. For Theo & Co., a win-win; for Red Sox Nation, much will be asked of it these next two months. Perhaps 2008 will be looked back upon as a 'rebuilding year.' Maybe (if the team falters) a tough thing for the fans to absorb, but, in the long run, a good thing for the team AND the fans.

With nearly six days to go until July 31st, I hope I am pleasantly surprised, that the team does make a substantive move or two (or three). But I'm not betting on it.

Any ballplayer I've ever known wouldn't even think about missing a big game like this one for a 'lingering soreness' issue. I'd rather have a team full of Trot Nixons who play through the pain than a team full of Manny Ramirez's who shy away from facing Joba and Mariano on a night the baseball world's watching. Of course, my team full of Trots would be right around .500 but I'd damn sure respect them more than I respect Manny. You know Terry's thinking the same thing inside, but props to him for dealing with it, in the hopes he might get at least one more half-season out of one of the best hitters in baseball. That is, if Manny wants to give us one more half-season.

Seems as if there is more to this story to yet learn. I suppose it is possible to have discomfort in a knee and an MRI to come back negative, but I also would think it would be unusual for a professional athlete to miss two games with discomfort and to have an mri not report anything. If this is contract related, or Joba flu, or Manny being Manny...I hope Youkilis finishes up the shoving match against Manny.

20 mill a year, arguably the biggest game of the year to this point, unless the MRI comes back showing a problem he needs to be in the line up. If he plays tomorrow I think I'll be more upset. Knees don't magically heal to the point where one day you can't play and the next you can. Lets come back and win two in a row with or without Manny!

i love manny but i gotta say: he might benefit (probably not) from a big fenway booooo for pulling out of the game. let's not encourage him by reinforcing bad behavior (anyone w/ kids out there?)

Hopefully his knee will get better soon. We need all ammo right now

Manny should be dealt with even if it hurts our team's chances of winning the pennant. These childish games have to stop, Manny should be suspended without pay while we look for a team willing to trade for him like the Mets. As a fan of the Sox for over 40 years I have never seen anything like what Manny continues to do being overlooked without consequence.

Theory: Manny's "making sure" that the Red-Sox will not take the 1 year option. Scott Boros is so sure that the Red-Sox will take the options 1 year at a time, that he is doing whatever he can to make the Sox refuse to re-sign him. This ridiculous behavior is just the thing to send John Henry, Larry, Tom and Theo over the edge. Scott realizes that another "long term" contract would almost be impossible to find after the Red-Sox contract expires after the 2009 season, (with options), and Manny is 38 years old. Scott Boros is looking for a 4 to 5 year deal now! No team will give him a five year deal at 20 Milion per year, or more when Manny is 38 years old since his production has already started to slow down.

Sox management is in a bind. they can't release him now because the Yankees would pick him up on waivers. If he stays on the team, or on the bench he will be completely disruptive and ruin a chance at World Series repeat and he can only be suspended for so long under the collective bargaining agreement.

What a mess

I appreciate Manny helping us win 2 World Series Championships when I never thought I'd see one in my lifetime! But ...

... every player has the responsibility to inform the Manager & the training staff when they are injured. Manny apparently had been "playing thru the injury" for a week without Francona even knowing about it. Sorry, that doesn't cut it.

It doesn't matter if you're making $20M per year or $250k per year, the player has a responsibility to teammates, the paying fans, & ownership to seek treatment ASAP & get back to helping the TEAM win baseball games.

Manny can't win this argument ... either he has no serious injury & decided not to play (against the Yankees?!?) or he *IS* hurt & never sought medical treatment which could have gotten him into this series. Sorry but I've had enough of Manny being Manny.

In response to an earlier post, yes I have kids and I am disgusted by Manny Ramirez's latest childish, selfish acts. What kind of a teammate is this? All he cares about is himself and his selfish needs. Great role model.

I believe he also just stood there with bat on shoulder deliberately taking 3 straight strikes against Rivera in the last Yankees series in the Bronx. If I were a teammate of his I wouldn't be able to contain my disgust and anger with this sorry excuse for a team player

Good job Manny, I think you've successfully communicated your message,.... you don't give a lick about winning, about your teammates, or the fans. I guess $20M isn't enough to get you to behave like a professional, or for that matter a mature adult.

Trot Nixon: nice guy. Utterly replaceable ballplayer.
Manny Ramirez: First ballot Hall of Famer.

Every summer, Manny pulls some shenanigans. Yet all the team does is make the playoffs and win the World Series.

Maybe the problem isn't Manny, or Francona, or Theo, or the late-night bloggers. Maybe it's people who just want to cry and take their failures of a life out on someone else.

I'm sorry but it does not make sense for Manny to be playing games with the Red Sox right now. What does he have to gain by it? Not getting his option picked up AND not having another team want him next year because he causes problems. Don't buy it. There is either way more to this story than meets the eye or Manny is the stupidest player to ever live (and even if he is Scott Boras certainly is not), or Red Sox management is blowing this way out of proportion for their own reasons. How many times has JD Drew been scratched at the last minute for some type of pain, for vertigo, for an effing hang nail. Does he get accused of faking it and playing games with Red Sox managment. No. Never. I am just not buying this story. I read the things that you people write and wonder if any of you even like the game of baseball. You are filled with so much hate. Really you all need to get a life. Furthermore professional atheletes are NOT role models or heroes. I don't want to hear the "damage" Manny's behavior is doing to your children. If you have small children the only people who should have ANY kind of influence on them are you, the parents.