The Jason Bay file: (More than) 30 things to know about the newest Sox slugger

"On pace" for RBIs doesn't really mean anything, when you are going from a team like the Pirates to a team like the Red Sox, where he will have many more RBI opportunities. This is a good example of why RBIs are a largely useless stat.

How is he defensively?

Jason Bay is a bum compared to Manny. BOYCOTT FENWAY!!!!!

Candian, eh? Maybe he can help out the B's, too!

Nice stats. I can't beleve 2005 Canadian Athletes of the Year, 2 of the top 3 slots were a baseball player and a basketball player.

First thing we need to know.

he's boring.

i got high hopes for Bay

"Super important stats"?? Now that's hard-core journalism!

thanks for the memories and the rings, Manny.
que Dios te bendiga en los angeles.......

3000 miles isn't far enough! But glad to get rid of him anyway. Out of the country would have been better.

...and thing number 31... he respects the game, his teammates, elderly team staffers, probably hustles, is not ungrateful, is probably not lazy, probably will not desecrate the Green Monster by urinating in it, and will play when called upon. In short, he could spend the rest of the season serving as a batboy and he would be an improvement over the low-class piece of excrement that has been defiling our hallowed left field for the last seven and half years.

I hope he ends up like a JD Drew... Someone who can hit well in necessary situations.

In the Red Sox organization, just like in any family or group, there is always an "identified patient"; the one who is at any given moment easy to scapegoat. It is Manny's turn this time. I understand that his antics don't help, but things are never as black and white as the media and some fans seem to think. In realizing that Manny's behavior this year might not have been the best we all hoped for and expected from him let us not forget all the contributions he made to the team. And is spite of all the Red Sox "tolerated" from him over the years,
let us be mindful that there is enough "blame" to go around -enabling and giving mix messages is also part of a dysfunctional "family." I wish Manny luck, he has given much to baseball and he deserves good years ahead. I am sorry that things could not work out for all involved here with the Red Sox.

A great trade , that racist manny ( with his white devil comment ) will not be missed, Welcome to Bay !!!

addition by subtraction. the malcontent is gone - he didn't want to be here anymore and had become a distraction in recent weeks - since the incident in houston. It was time for manny to be manny somewhere else.

with ortiz hitting in front and lowell behind, he will get more quality pitches to hit. He can play LF in fenway and is not a defensive liability. More than anything, he seems to enjoy playing the game unlike the guy he is replacing. Will he be a hall of famer like manny? who knows, but ramirez didn't want to be here. He will do fine in LA because he will fit right in - they don't care either.

BOYCOTT FENWAY ? ......YOU ARE A FOOL !

G'day, Bay. May I say, play the way for pay, that any Ray or Yankee'd slay! I pray!

manny is a bum and it seems like bay will be a much better teammate. His numbers aren;t that much different for a 4th of the money.

Yah, but can he not accumulate roaming charges while making cellphone calls from inside the Green Monster during pitching changes?

Great move, Theo. Well done.

Rather than letting Not-Much-of-a-Manny pout for the rest of the year and get nothing, we get a very good player under contract through 09.

Vaya con Dios, Manny. One has to feel sorry for Joe Torre.

Chatham

I think Manny itīs one of the best players ever, but he is not all Red Sox team, we have Papi, Youk, Tek, Lowell, Drew and three future stars Lowrie, Pedroia and Ellsbury... Thankīs Manny and Go Sox!

Hopefully this Canadian acquisition will be better than the last...

As much as I was against letting Ramirez go, and despite this TERRIBLE deal - I'll be pulling for Bay, because the way the Nation have been whipped up by the press, they're not going to give the guy much of a break.

Yay.

Yay @ Yaysox

Boston Baysox.

Yay.

"Jason Bay is a bum compared to Manny"

right, he actually makes much less money and plays 100 times harder and his stats this year are right there with Manny's. Not to mention, that your hero Manny, probably would have tanked it the rest of the season. Please do boycott Fenway. We'll have a much more enjoyable time there without the Manny sycophants

Good trade. Manny played too many games,i.e., entering the outfield wall to pretend to make a call, pushing down the travelling secretary, the dugout fight with Youk, using the press to whine, playing in the outfield retrieving the ball against the Angels, jogging to first on a double play ball, sitting out a game with Seattle and New York because he didn't like the pitchng match-ups. Manny was a cancerous disruption who needed to be surgically removed from the team. Craig Hansen for all the speed in his fastball could not locate it. Teams just waited him out. With a short left field, Jason Bay's legs will hold up. He steals bases. That's a big upgrade. Emphasis will now shift from reporters stalking out Manny to interviews with Terry Francona on pitching match-ups and lineup changes.

Very good - the second best (after Teixeira, though you never know) hitter available now is coming here. The only problem with this trade for us was the inclusion of Brandon Moss. Not good- should have been 3 from the Dodgers, 1 from us as we are paying $ too.

Bay, Shmay. We wouldn't have had 04 and 07 without Manny. I'll miss him and my kids are devastated.

Manny...so long, it's been good to know 'ya. Go kill em in the senior league.
Jason, can we call you JayBay, since we already have a Jason that we're very fond of? I think you'll be great here. Can't be any worse than Mike Greenwell.

Good lord.

They paid two prospects plus money.

He looks like the best one on one trade the Sox could do, and a direct fill in.

It is shocking but too bad.

I am forced to remember Nomar in 2004:

Three seasons: 1. Nomar on the DL; 2. Normar on the field; 3. Normar traded.

Season 1 and seaons 3, the Sox were clearly the best team in baseball. Season 2, the Sox were .500 or worse.

The Sox have good management

The Sox were a better ballclub at 4:01 this afternoon with the subtraction of Manny. Jason Bay will make this a much better team simply by playing the game the way Manny refused to play. By giving everything you have and leaving it all out on the field. By running out every ground ball and not stopping to watch every long drive to see if it clears the fence or not. By not slapping your teamates in the dugout and assaulting the man who's trying to find you 16 tickets for a soldout game. And not taking yourself out of the lineup during a pennant stretch with a sore knee. And not rolling around on a ball laughing as a player rounds the bases while the opposing team looks on and chuckles in disbelief.
Bye-Bye Manny

Ding dong the punk is gone!!!!

Good luck JASON!!!!

gimme a break he cant hold manny s jock manny is a hall of famer bay will flame out in three four years tops no manny not title that simple , and we would not have had the two we had without him , and for bay lol

I will miss his bat and some of his amusing antics. I won't miss his whining about his contract in mid season! Bad attitude and poor decisions to express his dissatisfaction to the press the was he did (and has done in the past before)!
Manny needs to grow up! In my opinion he should do this somewhere else! He's just not worth it anymore!

I thank Manny for his time in Boston, but I sure wish he didn't end his tenure in Boston this way. He had a legacy that would have cemented him as a hero forever and the MVP that brought the Sox their first ring in 86 years. Look at how tarnished those rings are now over the course of two weeks. Getting $200 million to play a kids game and then biting the hand that feeds because you think you can get $25 mil next season instead of a guaranteed $20 mil. Sad. No GM in his right mind will pay Manny that much for his now average production and half-arsed defensive ability. Henry and the gang have gone above and beyond with Manny, especially since 2004. To call them out like this and accuse them of how poorly they treated him, Pedro and Nomar is a pathetic joke. Peace, Manny.

The BoSox wont be the same without ManRam, ok thats obvious.Bay dont hit as hard, but that is it. He is another hard working player who is gonna give you his all EVERYDAY just like YOUK,LOWELL, PEDROIA,DREW,PAPI,PAP,BECKETT,LESTER, ELSBURY, and TEK. I mean these are guys who come to play all the time and through injuries. Look for boston to make run with this change.Nice to able to focus on winning and whos on the mound, not wheres manny, or is he ok to play against THE YANKEES.

Does anyone know if Manny even knows where LA is?

Manny hits good pitching and good pitches, when he shows up.

No sure what Bay brings to the table, but his rep is that he's coachable and he's coming into a great situation here in Boston.

Good move,

Manny....Don't let the door hit you on the way out! You were a stiff of monstrous proportions...

manny now joins derek blowe and no more garciaparra and joe snorre.....good luck clown and thanks for the rings.....Oh yeah cut that rat infested mop on your head.....

Lemme get this straight: Manny, Moss, Hansen, $7 million AND the two 1st round picks the Red Sox would've gotten when Manny went free agent, for Jason Bay. Right? Four things:
1. Couldn't the Red Sox have coexisted with Manny until the end of the season? He's been a pain before but still played.
2. Jason Bay better be one helluva player,
3. Who's batting cleanup? and
4. When John Henry is personally offended by your behavior, you're not hanging around very long.
I hope you sportswriters are happy now. You don't have Manny to kick around anymore.

People fail to remember that he was GONE after this year anyways - regardless. So we could just not pick up his option and get nothing, or we could get a player that is above average for 1/4 the price. Bay doesn't need to replace Manny's production. The player(s) the Sox can afford this offseason with the freed up cash is just as important. So all the Sox really lost was 3 months of Manny. Thay may be enough to cost them the playoffs, I don't know, but they got a good (not great) player to show for it instead of 2 draft picks and 3 months worth of Manny's talking to ESPN Desportes like the two year old that he is about how his $20 million from the Sox means nothing because he has no peace...........PUHLEEEEZE. Good @#(& riddance

We all knew what we were getting into with Manny years ago when he came to Boston. He came, he complained, he loafed. But he also entertained and dazzled us, and won us two championships. He was central to a golden age in Boston sports history. But now he's gone so let's move on. Go Sox.

Theo we want championships does this bring us closer? .I was a Sox fan before the nation was created. Lived through the heart brake of 75, 78 ,86 and teasers in between. With Manny 2 championships, Without ? If Jason Bay can protect Ortiz we will see. Theo let , Tim McCarver and that Yankee suck- up Joe Buck play a role in all this,that should concern all real Redsox fans. Hope we don't have to wait another 86 years before another championship because none of the people who wanted this will be around and neither will I

We all knew what we were getting into with Manny years ago when he came to Boston. He came, he complained, he loafed. But he also entertained and dazzled us, and won us two championships. He was central to a golden age in Boston sports history. But now he's gone so let's move on. Go Sox.

Are you guy's kidding me? One man does not make a team. With Papi out look what Drew did. Manny helped the Red Sox out until it was time for him to get more money. Thanks Manny for the great years but, it's been time for you to go long ago.
Let's give Jason Bay a chance.

For a moment, just forget if the deal is good in the long term (Moss) and forget the financial piece. For the next couple of months, the Sox will be a better team than they would have been without the trade. Bay will perform better than Manny would have and so will his team mates.

If you think this team was going ANYWHERE with Manny on this team, YOU"RE AN IDIOT! He was a cancer in the locker room, and it was spreading. This was the best thing that could be expected with the little amount of time and leverage that we had.

Welcome to the BAY State!

gimme a break, you are right, he couldn't hold Manny's jock because his jock is either inside the green monster, or left on the field the last time he tried to catch up with a fastball. Does anyone else find it odd that Manny sat out games against pitchers known to throw plus plus fastballs? Its because Manny has lost bat speed, he knows it, and doesnt want to hurt his big $$ contract after this season. When was the last time you saw Manny jack one out to the opposite field? He cant, because it involves waiting longer on a pitch and making a quick swing. He will struggle in the spacious Chavez Ravine. It should be interesting watching him play the field there, its not left at Fenway.

Im glad Manny is gone. He plays when he wants and Im tired of his act. It was time for him to leave. He wanted out of Boston as well so it was mutal. Some of you dont seem to understand that. I just think a 1 for 1 would of been suitable for this trade. I dont understand why Moss and Hansen had to go as well. Hopefully they will turn out to be busts for the Pirates. Like Freddy Sanchez is this year. HEHE.

dumbest thing the red sox have ever done they lose the best hitter in this decade and they get some bum from the pirates hes nothing compared to manny hes a joke the red sox should be ashamed manny made the red sox what they are he will be missed

What a SAD day......
Manny going to be missed!!!
I don't think the new traded player will be as good as Manny.

To even think the Sox were going to be able to get any hitter that could hold Manny's jock is hoping for the moon. They got the 2nd best thing available (Texiera) and that's not bad. Obviously it was weighing on the team, with the 4 error performance and near no hit game. They needed a jolt of energy and sometimes you get addition by subtraction. All we can hope is that Bay is what we all wished Trot Nixon became. A hard nosed, power hitting, body thowing fielding, smart, solid player. If we get that from Bay then it's all paid off. Good Luck to Bay and Manny. Go Sox!!!

Manny needed to go - bitter sweet - but when he turned sour, it was over. Too bad he left the way he did. Scott Boras is what is wrong with BB and rest assured he fed Manny... Manny thanks for the memories - next time don't be such a jerk on the way out of town. See you next year on the NYY...afterall isn't thatyour dream?

living in texas and only reading the globe I believe it was time for Manny to go.
No one person is more important than the TEAM! Go SOX!!

Well its true Jason Bay will never be Manny, i think we need to give the guy a chance. I live in Vermont and watched him play for the Vermont Expos and everyone there knew he was going to be a special talent. He's got power to all fields and he gives his all on every play. I think Bay will do alot better in Boston then everyone is expecting, plus the fact he makes a quarter of what Manny does means we will be able to chase another big bat in the offseason maybe either Mark Teixeira or Matt Holliday. We will see who is laughing next year when the sox have Ortiz, Bay and one of those 2 in the middle of the lineup

Bay for Manny, Hanson, Moss, AND $$$$??! He better be a heluva player!! He is going from relative obscurity in Pittsburgh to the Boston fishbowl. Looks like his numbers are similar to JD Drew's. We remember how disappointing Drew's numbers were last year, during his first season in Boston. Bay has to keep producing like he did in P'gh, or this deal will look like a bust.

Seriously, I'm shocked people are so angry at this deal. This isn't 2004 Manny Ramirez. Bay is as good as Manny now because he is far better defensively AND on the bases than Ramirez, while having comparable offensive numbers.

Losing Hansen and Moss stinks, but it was caused by Manny's behavior, not by the choice of the front office. I used to be a big Manny fan, but I lost a lot of respect for him this season when he started getting violent (fighting Youks, pushing a 70 year old man down). Statistically, Jason Bay is at WORST the equal of Manny when baserunning and defense are accounted for.

I wish Manny the best, but I am happy to have Bay on this team instead of him right now.

Good luck, Manny. It was a pleasure having you on the team most of the time and it was definitely a pleasure watching you hit in your prime. Have fun in LA.

To even think the Sox were going to be able to get any hitter that could hold Manny's jock is hoping for the moon. They got the 2nd best thing available (Texiera) and that's not bad. Obviously it was weighing on the team, with the 4 error performance and near no hit game. They needed a jolt of energy and sometimes you get addition by subtraction. All we can hope is that Bay is what we all wished Trot Nixon became. A hard nosed, power hitting, body thowing fielding, smart, solid player. If we get that from Bay then it's all paid off. Good Luck to Bay and Manny. Go Sox!!!

having watched ted williams from the bleachers in fenway as a boy plus joe dimmagio , i've seen some great players over the years. manny was to be admired for his batting performance. it took outstanding effort on his part to develop his talent at the plate. unfortunately he did not put that dedication to his fielding and his immaturity was very evident in his personal behavior. Part of the difficulty probably lies with so much fame and millions in a few years. not everybody can handle that well. manny put some real joy in our hearts in many a game and sometimes some funny times. it was time for him to move on but let;s remember the good and wish him the best in the future

A long time sox fan. saw my first game at fenway in 1946.I've seen all the great ones over the years. Had my heart broken in1946 cardinals 1948(indians) 1949 (Yankees) 1967 cardnials 1975 Reds, 1986 mets. No champs until Manny came along. 2004 and 2007. As a member of the blohards I never miss an opening day.
Manny, thanks for the memories. Having said this, I'm fed up with Manny being Manny. When you have a cancer you have to cut it out. Maybe now we can forget the B.S. and get back to winning another world series. Go Sox.
Leo Norwalk Ct.

The marrige between Manny and the Sox was over. Manny quit on us again! For those of you who are complaining I guess you don't remember 2005 and how he tanked it. Manny was done for the year and he would have taken the Sox down with him. It's simple .He wanted more money and didn't want the Sox to pickup the option. Plus he was upset that he was scolded for shoving the travling secretary. Time to move on.

Spencer,
back away from the crack pipe. Manny Ramirez did not make the Red Sox what they were. He was a part, yes, but he did not make 04 or 07 happen.

Good pitching ultimately wins in the playoffs, and trumps good hitting. He was one player, and a real good one, on a really good hitting team. We had several years with Manny and Pedro where we didn't win the series, and it wasn't until ALL the pieces were there that we did win.

While it's sad to see Manny crap on his legacy with The Sox while he is walking out the door I cannot say it was unexpected. He has done this act every year. Like a child he pushed their boundaries until they finally put him in time out. Good luck LA, and whoever overpays him too much next year. As we can see, Theo wasn't off with Pedro or Nomar. I have no doubt that Manny will be productive, but you will never see 20 million productive from him again. All he had to do was behave and I'm certain the Sox would have gleefully picked up his option at the end of the year. Instead, he acted like a douche, and was sent to the land of the douches..

YAWN

Now I hope you all remember what you say if in 2 weeks Manny is tearing the cover off the ball and Bay is struggling, since NL hitters take some time to get used to the AL, and you are all quoting the EEI bitchfest, because I'm sure they will be all over management for trading Manny.

Teams win championships. Not players. He got what he wanted. Good luck. Joe Torre has his hands full. Dodger vs the Red Sox. Now that would be exciting.

hmm? Jason Bay for Manny, Moss and Hansen, plus paying the rest of manny's Salary? Can you say stupid? 3 players for Jason Bay. Well I hope it works out for the Sox, but I still think they got the shaft of the deal.

Clearly Manny is a great hitter. To say he made the Red Sox who they are as posted above is absurd. Last I checked there were many players on the roster. It's using the talents of all that make the team. I mean seriously, one person if he played hard, couldn't win a game. There are nine men on that field, and many more in the dugout and bullpen. Manny getting the opportunity to have RBI's is dependent upon someone else getting on base. To the poster who mentioned their kids are devastated, explain to them that no one person is more important than the team. That you need to play hard and honorably or your teammates will not trust you and would rather have someone else on their team, no matter how good you may be at one thing. Manny said all he wanted to do was play baseball for a team who had a chance at winning. Um, he was paid to do just that through September and into October. He stopped playing. It's difficult to teach kids that your actions have ramifications when other teams (knowing how he is likely to behave) still are willing to take him. I don't wish him ill will, but like the other blogs I've read, I laugh when he talks about money and respect and peace. Work a summer in a position where you work your fingers to the bone in hopes of paying your bills without a pink notice never mind affording a trip to the ball park to watch a game, then he can talk about respect.

Manny, thanks for the memories and the rings. It was time for you to move on, Boras must have influenced you these last few weeks, I personally have had enough of your lacadaisical play (no matter how well you produced) you may finish well this year, but your best years are far behind you. As ar as Jason Bay, all I know about him is what I've read and as long as he plays hard every game, I'll be happy. I didn't want to see Moss go and I believe Hansen will someday succeed, but after all is said and done, Theo did what had to be done. Good luck in LA Manny and I'm looking foward to having another "team" player on the Sox to go along with all the current players who give all they have every game. I've been a baseball fan for over 50 years and I'll always take a player of somewhat less ability who plays hard all the time over a talented player who plays when he wants.

As much as I love Manny (and his offense)... Trust me this move is a good thing..

One thing though, for the rest of Red Sox nation..... Please give Jason a fair go before you start riding him like everyone did with Drew (in 2007)....Remember it takes a while to adjust.... Playing in Boston is different to Pittsburgh.

He'll be putting enough pressure on himself .... without our help

Good luck to you Jason..... Hope you crush the ball (I'm sure you will)....

Manny may tear the cover off the ball in LA (probably will), BUT he would not be doing it in Boston. You can't look at what he does in LA as a determination of what would he do if he wasn't traded. Do you think for a moment he would have played hard for the rest of the year in Boston?

Manny was not goingto produce the rest of the season because he was too busy positioning himself for next years's payday. He had already checked out and the childish way that it unfolded over the past month is sickening. Glad to see him go. I hope he tanks in the rest of the way. He'll be in NY with that traitor Damon next year; taking Hank's money and making the NY fans furious. Good riddance.

Sox fans are getting too spoiled. Do you even consider this trade as a way to build for the future?

Bay is 7 years younger and cheaper. He is worse offensively but better defensively. He has left field power. Sox will have more money to sign for another good player. Yes, money does matter because Sox doesn't have an unlimited budget.

If any average human being behaved as Manny did in the workplace they would have been fired and likely prosecuted.

Instead Manny gets to continue to play a game for a living and make more money this year doing it than most of us will see in a lifetime.

Wake up you schmuck and realize that you are nothing more than the product of a lucky gene pool coincidence.

Manny is on his way down - he's aging and his numbers are very good, but so are JD Drew's numbers. The last thing the Red Sox need is an aging, prima donna whiner ("I'm too good for them!"). It's a distraction to the team and obviously causes discord in the locker room.

Let's face it, the Sox weren't going to pay him $20 million per year anymore so he would leave anyways in the off-season anyway ( remember Pedro). They dealt their cards the best they could and now perhaps they can focus on the pennant race instead of 'will Many play this week or will he tank like in 2005'.
Best of luck to him.

Long time Pirate fan here (imagine that) -- you got a good one in Bay...he was hurt last year, but check his stats for every other year and you see they keep improving...on a not so good team. This guy does and says everything right, and he can steal a few bases too. Average, but accurate, arm is his only clear weakness, but a smart defensive player...and no drama. He also hits good pitching...very sorry to see him go, but we need the young pitchers badly.

If there is only one postive -- at least Hansen is FINALLY gone. That kid sucks. He can't throw a strike. It was worth throwing in the cash to get rid of Boras's $$ child.

Manny geared up early this season to reach 500 HR's. Once he reached that milestone, that was it, all downhill from that point forward. His next goal was to get himself traded. Picking fights, shooting his mouth...Mission accomplished. Best o' luck in LA with Nomar, still reeling from steroid withdrawal.. Don't look at short term results for the Sox, this season is frankly is still up for grabs for any team, all have flaws, and we still have time to see the pitchers come around., and we have bookend outfielders who are excellent 5 tool intelligent ball players., and a versatile lineup who will continue to grind out at bats. The sox historically swoon right after the all star break for about a month, then a major event occurs to break them out of their funk..so we still have a legitimate chance to repeat. Moreover, next year you will see the benefit of $20 Million extra dollars put to good use.

Manny was Manny,Bay is an unknown to the consumer,i.e.fans.Cancer has to be killed or removed when it shows signs of malignancy.Well,Manny 's still alive .If Bay plays to the same level of his stats, then people will say why did manny get let go? The fact is Manny quit.Bays stats are very close to Manny's.Bay will just do it without the need for constant adulation.In the end nothing we could do here in Boston that would feed his ego enough.Now Manny's on the search for a new high in L.A.The more he got here ,the more he needed.He'll be o.k. in L.A.The even larger self destruct sequence will begin when he has no crowd to cheer him.He has enough money to insulate himself from the truth.Bay will have the same stats as Manny.Just under the radar.He'll be more valuable than the Narcicist we lost.

Manny was Manny,Bay is an unknown to the consumer,i.e.fans.Cancer has to be killed or removed when it shows signs of malignancy.Well,Manny 's still alive .If Bay plays to the same level of his stats, then people will say why did manny get let go? The fact is Manny quit.Bays stats are very close to Manny's.Bay will just do it without the need for constant adulation.In the end nothing we could do here in Boston that would feed his ego enough.Now Manny's on the search for a new high in L.A.The more he got here ,the more he needed.He'll be o.k. in L.A.The even larger self destruct sequence will begin when he has no crowd to cheer him.He has enough money to insulate himself from the truth.Bay will have the same stats as Manny.Just under the radar.He'll be more valuable than the Narcicist we lost.

Manny was Manny,Bay is an unknown to the consumer,i.e.fans.Cancer has to be killed or removed when it shows signs of malignancy.Well,Manny 's still alive .If Bay plays to the same level of his stats, then people will say why did manny get let go? The fact is Manny quit.Bays stats are very close to Manny's.Bay will just do it without the need for constant adulation.In the end nothing we could do here in Boston that would feed his ego enough.Now Manny's on the search for a new high in L.A.The more he got here ,the more he needed.He'll be o.k. in L.A.The even larger self destruct sequence will begin when he has no crowd to cheer him.He has enough money to insulate himself from the truth.Bay will have the same stats as Manny.Just under the radar.He'll be more valuable than the Narcicist we lost.

Great job rounding all that up, but just wanted to point out to Matt Porter:

...despite an average (at best) arm, Bay ranked third among NL outfielders with a career-high 13 assists. Manny Ramirez had 8 assists in 2007.

It's more likely because of, rather than despite, his arm that he had a lot of assists. Noodle-armed outfielders get run on a lot, therefore have more chances to throw guys out. Manny only had 8 assists because everyone knows he's the best LF arm in the majors and you'd be crazy to run on him. I would hope that Globe baseball writers would know something like that. Take a scan of the recent assist leaders in either league, while there are a few guns on there, the leaders tell you nothing about who has the best arms.

Hopefully, we all will be 100 percent behind this young man. No more boo birds in Boston. I am sorry Manny was not treated better, but perhaps we can turn a corner and positive and supportivie towards our new left fielder.

The media created this monster called "Manny being Manny". We gave him to the Dodgers and the media helped Theo's mission. Get rid of Manny, get something back and the media will have a field day with him in lala land. All of this is BS,
I got tix for 9/7 game with TB, anybody want to buy them??? Field box near sawz dugout, 11 rows off the field, best seats to watch this stepford group of players

Only place he could be weaker is at the plate....sadly. Better D, better base runner,and better attitude. let's see what he's got!

Money, money, money. This is America's game, don't you be fooled. Boras will add to his pot, as will our man Manny. For those of us who see anything more in it than that, we can still watch him on Extra Innings.

I like the strikeouts. 150. Great! Oh wait, he's a hitter... Seriously a guy who will whiff in key situations with knee problems. I hope we're consistent if he blames his struggles on knee problems, we should run him out of town, saying that he dogged it. I mean what is patellar tendinitis anyhow? It's not a real injury (I'm being sarcastic). Tendinitis too is not a real injury. This guy is JD Drew with more power and less defense. A lot of OF assists for a guy who's been in the league longer than three years means they run on him since he has a so-so arm.

Manny + Moss + Hansen + 7millions = Bay Bay Babe Ruth?

All because F.O can't and couldn't manage ONE TOO MANNY!!!!!

Those who cheared Manny's antics, Now cuss on him!!!!!

H
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I think JBay is going to work out fine and it's just a gut feeling. We gained hustle, six years in age and next year's contract. The only thing I regret is losing Brandon Moss, who never would've played regularly here anyway. I don't think Hansen would have worked out here either. One other thought: While the Sox were trying to accomodate Baby Huey, they were unable to address the need for another lefty
for the 'pen.

Here's a brief on Bay from a Pittsburgher:
GREAT guy. Shows little emotion, but plays thru pain (vs., say, not playing through
phantom pain), and goes on monster streaks.
Strikes out too much.
Has a knack for the big hit.
Doesn't seek the spotlight, which is one reason he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh.
Maybe lacks the instinct to destroy. But surrounded by those mad Sox players you've got, he'll contribute well.
When asked how he could improve on his excellent 2006 season, he said (something like) "It's hard enough just to stay at this level of performance. I'd be happy to have another season just like the last."
Tha's Jason Bay.

If the San Diego Padres kept Jason Bay , they would have a left fielder for years. A really fine player, and Boston will get to love this nice guy. He has plenty of ability, and will show up to play the game Bostonians want to see . I'm an old guy from Boston, seen all the greats, when I was a young guy. This guy, Bay will get the job done the way Red Sox fans love it. Good Luck to this new guy in town. Hope to see the Sox in the series.

Hey you Boston slugs, an Astros fan here. Looks like an everyone wins trade. Pittsburgh picks up young cheap guys, L. A. gets their two month rental and the Red Sox lose a distraction in Manny, then receive Jason Bay. The Astros and Pirates play quite often...take it from us, Jason Bay is the real deal. I don't know much about the Red Sox, except a bunch of white guys that can crunch the ball. The Red Sox did seem to have an attitude, an arrogance....don't believe that's Jason Bay's style, so he might not be such a good fit. Good luck to Josh Beckett. I personally can't side with the Red Sox as long as that thug, Julio Lugo, is a member. The rest of ya are a bunch of winners, so I expect to see ya'll in the World Series again this fall.

This is an awesome deal if Bay can play Defense for the Bruins.

Curt Schilling wants a fee to give up "his #38" !?!?! For the millions he got without throwing a pitch this season, he should give it up and make the #%%#^# donation himself.

from the burgh -
jbay - will do fine for the sox once he gets adjusted, he had to win the games in pittsburgh almost single handedly until this year, but im sure all you folks have heard about xavier nady by now. with protection in the lineup, less pressure, smaller field to cover, and not having to be the PR guy for the franchise, this is a blessing for the young Bay family (wife and 2 year old girl). Jbay is a class act all the way around. Im just glad my last game attended at PNC park (wed) was a little fairwell party for yet another star in the making. J shows up for work everyday and does / says everything right. I can't say GO SOX, or even root for the PINSTRIPES but at least i have 3 reasons to watch this rivalry now. Of course we never got to test Bays durability into october. GOOD LUCK JBAY -

Only the Great ones (get traded from the 412 at the Prime of their career...

Manny's gone thank god free up that money to pay players who wanna play and are not concerned with just money!Manny it was time but pushing old men and then criticizing a organization that let you do what you want and you run your mouth saying it aint bout money ya sure whatever you say.But to Bay I welcome you and as long as you play hard you will be fine!Why would you boycott Fenway Manny's act was old he is a premadonna Im glad he is gone Sox will be fine!

With Schill coming of the books and the Sox now paying 7 million instead of 20 million for a good, but not great, corner bat, it opens up plenty of cash to go grab C.C. Sabathia or Ben Sheets this offseason.

The thing that worries me about Bay is that Lefty/Righty Split. .190 against lefties? The good thing is the Pittsburgh is one of the most pitcher friendly parks in the majors, so his power numbers should go up.

I think Bay will surprise people. His below-average arm will not be a liability in Fenway's short left field, and he'll be smarter on the basepaths. I haven't seen any analysis on how well he elevates the ball, but if his swing lets him clear the Monster, he should tally a lot of dingers. Maybe some good coaching -and Magadin's a good one- can get him to cut down on his strikeout ratio of about one in every four at-bats.

Even if it happens after the season, I look for the Sox to acquire some top talent , especially on the mound. This ownership has served notice time and again that they are not interested in "rebuilding years." They want to remain among MBL's elite, and I trust them to spend the money to do it.

Manny was fun to watch and fun to laugh at. Not the best role model certainly but one helluva natural hitter and a major contributor to the World Series rings. I grew up with the Sox as a kid, but am now in Washington DC and the Nats are my #2 team. Red Sox nation should be glad that Manny is gone -- the time has come and the window was closing. It will be interesting to see what Joe T. does with him and Iwhether the cross country flight makes his knee feel better.

Bay has some big shoes to fill, but my guess is that the rest of the line-up will step up a notch and Tony can focus more on getting to the WS again.

I agree with those who say, give Jason Bay a chance. He will probably never be the hitter that Manny was in his prime. But in the coming years, Manny won't either. Jason Bay plays hard, hits well, has power, and will fit in well with the new Red Sox mentality of playing intelligent baseball. Plus, his best years as a player are probably ahead of him (unlike Manny). The hardest thing for him, probably, will be making the adjustment from playing for a low-profile team in a small market to the big stage playing for the Red Sox. That adjustment will be easier if fans don't ride him too hard.

Good luck, Jason.

To make the money that Manny makes and to have an attitude like he has.....
Is he serious ?? Who does he think he is strolling to first base ???? Good riddance to bad rubbish !!! We can do a hell of a lot better with $20 million
than waste it on that malcontent !!!!

I wish Manny the best as I was a big fan of him until what he did in houston this year. I laughed off all his stupid antics because he produced and helped win the sox 2 world series. Now I am not such a big fan of him because once a player thinks he his bigger than the team(the sox dont deserve a player like me) he needs to go. Oh and without the Sox Manny you would not have your 2 rings. Lets remember in 04 without Papi being clutch, Millar with his keen eye, roberts steal and Bill Mueller's big hit off of Marino Manny would have only 1 ring. This is a team game and Manny is an I player now maybe for as long as he has played, but he sure could produce. The Sox put up with what they could and now he is gone and frankly I am happy not to lose one of the greatest players but to lose one of the most selfish ones.

To JayBay: I will be there in Fenway august 30 and 31 against the White Sox and you will being hearing a loud cheer from me. I hope he does well and shows us how a real ballplayer should play. That is hard all the time as long as he does that I will be a big fan. From everything I have read in the last couple days on him I will be a huge fan. All I ask from Red Sox Nation is to give the guy a chance to perform since he is a good breath of fresh air. He should do very well with Papi in front of him and Lowell behind him.

Go Sox and you are very welcome Jason Bay.

Manny was an elite hitter that we in the Nation were allowed to enjoy over the past 7 1/2 years. We allowed him his quirks, and questionable defense because he produced on a regular basis and was just "Manny being Manny"...a different soul...then he started his downward spiral...he will be missed for what he helped the Sox accomplish (04,07) but it truly was time for him to go.I'm just sorry that he choose such a disappointing manner in which to leave. Many have posted their displeasure of Manram and his latest behavior....some warranted...some not. But the bloom was off the Red rose... and now we can all get back to the business of enjoying our beloved Bosox and the newest member JayBayState....
Good Luck Manny...see you in Cooperstown...Good Luck JayBay...see you in Left !
Good Luck JayBay

G

Bay can be the equal or better to Manny stats/base running/fielding but really should we be giving up cash/hanson/moss? Bay w/ no pressure situations in his major league career could kill us down the stretch. I do like younger and cheaper and hustle so i'll give him a fair shot to prove us wrong. Schill is a bum ragging on Manny...can we just pull a Packer move and give him cash to go away? I hope Bay doesnt take 38. Dont blame Manny for smacking Youk for being a poor sport for his own stats. If Youk cares about stats over winning (who throws helmets about strike outs when the team is up by several runs?) then trade him for a catcher and get someone ready to replace Tek full time

Getting rid of a 36 year old Manny? Are you kidding me? This is wonderful news.

It's a slap in the face to little leagers who routinely give their mother the finger for being 2 minutes late for dropping them off at practice. I hope Youk knocks the snot out of him on the way out the door.

Welcome to town, Mr. Bay!

GREAT TRADE
HOPE THE KNEE HOLDS UP

Manny is a debilitating malcontent who will demoralize your club house with his "me first-me only" attitude. I come from the land of the prima donna and only BillB and Red have slain that dragon in my house. From Yaz to Boggs to Clem to Pedro (too many others to mention)- these people are hangers on who win on the backs of the team players around them. Forget about the Series, you got Manny during his annual belly up stretch. Forget stats, and he has them all, teams win in team sports and Manny couldn't spell team if you spotted him the Tea.

I for one am a bit relieved that Manny is gone. i couldn't imagine if he played the rest of his days here and have the number 24 retired. Manny couldn't hold Dewey's jock as an overall player.

Manny will be missed!

Jason will do okay, but he's not Manny.

And let's all remember, Manny helped "Reverse the Curse"! Respect him for that if nothing else.

And now we have to rename our cat! How about Tito?

Manny Who ?? We don't deserve a player like manny. We want one that isn't all about Manny.....Manny = Great hitter NO respect

Manny is one of the most feared hitters in baseball! He changes the way pitchers pitch to the sox. Ortiz will get walked intentionally now. You will see. Jason Bay is a good player and definitely not a hall of famer. He will be a good solid role player for the sox. Bottom line. The Sox gave up way too much and overpaid for manny. The sox only gets Bay? Pays $7 Mill and loses two prospects. Plus, If the FO kept Manny for another couple of months and lose him to free agency, they would have gained a couple draft picks. To me they lost way, way too much for trading manny. The Yankees are ecstatic to see this guy go out west to another league.

Thank GOODNESS Manny is gone. He's been complaining since he started with the Sox. Good riddance, someone else can now deal with his ludicrous antics and bad attitude.

Hurray for Jason Bay! He's got heart! Something I'm sorry to say Manny lacks.

First off...Welcome Jason Bay!!
A few tips for playing in Boston:
1. No matter what you do or how you play, people are still going to complain, give you a hard time and be obnoxious. Welcome to Boston.
2. Don't beat up the traveling secretary...I hear he took boxing lessons in case of a rematch with Manny.
3. Play nice with the boys in the dugout.
4. Unless your leg is falling off...run your A$$ off to first base! My grammy with her walker could have made it faster to 1st than Manny most of the time.

Now...to all you "fans" that are complaining about Manny being gone and Bay replacing him. Stop whining! For every good play he had, there were at least 3X that you were cursing at him for not running to first, not running to get a ball, yelling at teammates, fighting anyone who said something he didn't like, not playing cause he didn't feel like it, showing up late to spring training, not showing up at all to meet the Pres...I think you get the point. He was a sinking ship and was just going to bring everyone else down with him. Let LA have him! We already got the best that he had to offer.

Trot Nixon clone for Mr. Selfish in a heartbeat.

When will the sox have their Old timers game. Let's see Padro won't come back. Nomar won't come back. Roger won't come back. Mo won't come back. Wade won't come back. Now Manny won't come back. Are we seeing a pattern. The players can't always be wrong. There is no reason that the sox management has to vilify players who were great players in order not to resign them. We can accept the fact that the sox management no longer feels that a player is worth resigning without portraying them as the scum of the earth.

OK. If my boss paid me 160 MILLION dollars over 8 years to play baseball every day, I would not have the audacity to call them dishonest or the impudence to say they did not deserve me. If you pay grown men a king's ransom to play a child's game (albeit a great child's game) you are going to get petulance and overinflated egos. Boras put Manny up to this. I am not sure Manny could have masterminded all this on his own. Remember Manny met with Boras on the West Coast trip, right before all the crap about his knee. I will miss the guy and his production but man do pro athletes piss me off.

Bay's a good player but the Sox and their creepy high-schooler GM and Lizard-skinned owner lost me when they traded the franchise away. All Bay needs is one slump and the hack-loving columnists and the bigmouth $8 M blowhard from Medfield will be chasing him out of town on a rail

From the Burg:

Give Bay a chance and I think he will grow on you. He is a class act and a hard worker -- you won't see him dogging it on a grounder. He is very good defensively, except for his below-average arm, which shouldn't be an issue in Fenway. He has power to all fields, draws a lot of waks, can steal some bases.... sometimes he does have trouble laying off the outside breaking ball.

Here is one Pirate fan who is very sorry to see him go. Good luck Jason. You will be missed.

To RedSox Nation.....if you are also RedSoxNation128XXX

and you said yesterday if Manny was traded you'd give your tickets back this year.

I'll buy them from you, contact me at billy.walsh@hotmail.com

GO SOX! 2008 WS CHAMPS!!

For LC - my nephew is upset with the trade too - but now's a good time to explain to the kids that good role models don't slack, or slap teammates and push down 64 year old guys.
Nobody's that good. Hopefully Manny gets it someday, but it's not our problem anymore.
Welcome JBay!

3 fer 1, get yer 3 fer 1 here!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!

SUXS ARE DOOOOOOONE!!!!!!!

Bay is not Manny...Manny will be missed.

Okay, stop the &itching...Manny is one of the greatest Red Sox and a HUGE part of the recent success. BUT change is a natural process when things are not going right and this was needed. Do you want to continue reading about Manny being Manny or the pennant race. We have players that will deliver continued postseason success. Bay will contribute and eliminating this distraction will elevate the team. Good job Theo.

Don't worry, Manny won't be gone for too long. He'll be in pinstripes next year.

Hey, Great trade for me. Now sitting in my cottage on P.E.I. (that's in Canada, folks!), I'll get some Red Sox stories, i.e., Jason Bay stories. All they worry about up here are Canadian athletes. The front page of sports is always about Hockey, all summer long! Except for Canadian baseball players.
Hal from the Cape

Bay is much cheaper, they have control of him next season, he plays better defense, he's much younger, and he'll actually hustle...

Manny's a lazy old dog with fleas at this point, whose numbers have been dropping the past three seasons...

Good work Red Sox--you had no choice.

Manny leaves this town a disgrace--and it was his own doing. He can now take his side-show to LA, where it belongs.

Welcome , Jason Bay! I hope you won't be overwhelmed by the Red Sox fans in New England. We mean well. We love our Red Sox, we know the game, and we appreciate players who love the game and play the way it should be played -- with 100% effort. Give Boston a chance and I'm sure you'll love it here.

Let's face it. It was Manny and Money. He wanted the Sox to get rid of him because he didn't want them exercising the $20M options the next two years. He thinks he can get a 3 or 4 year deal worth more money as a free agent next year so he purposely acted like a little spoiled child and didn't care if it brought down the entire team. Now he got what he wanted, he'll be a free agent next year. I was always a Manny backer but when he started sabotaging the team for his own desires, I wanted him out. Personally, I hope he really does blow out one of his knees and no one will offer him a long term, high dollar contract.

24 happy team mates can't be wrong!

BayĨ[Šo°ÚĄI

How is this a good trade for the Sox. They give up their sure fire HOF'er a marquee albeit marijuana hazed slugger, Hansen who is blossoming, and Moss a great 4th outfielder, plus 6-7 mil for a 30 year old Canadian.

I'll miss the Manny days.

Sox got hosed ehhh!

He was great for awhile, antics and all. Very sad that his ego was more important to him than the wonderful legacy he would have left in Boston.

That said, the importance of team chemistry cannot be overstated. If you are not 100% focused on one thing every game,every play, every at bat, then you don't stand a chance in MLB. Talent only gets you so far, it's team, and all that it implies, that gets you to the playoffs.

I'm disappointed we couldn't pry Banjar Singh away from the Iraqi Islams to accomodate his request t play in Iraq. Just kidding I hope Bay outperforms Money Ramirez for the next four years and beyond when Money Ramirez is retired.

The sox needed pitching and they get rid of Hansen. Also Moss? plus 7 mil to the dodgers to pay for Manny... For a guy that played with the Pirates... one of the worse teams in a league that looks like the minors compared to the AL East ... Is Dan Duquette in the office?

"He wore No. 38 for the Pirates and No. 2 for the Padres. Curt Schilling said today he would give up his No. 38 -- for a fee, which would go to Schilling's Curt's Pitch charity."

Is there a bigger scumbag than Schilling in the Majors?

Bay is gonna be a stud here in boston....getting rid of such a high risk cancer like manny and getting nearly the same production when its all said an done is a win-win for boston...its a shame this is all about manny leaving and not jason coming....yesterday was like a birthday..i had a bottle of champagne ready at work to share when the news broke...thanks theo...lets win another

Manny was never a good red sox. he was always about himself, and never the team or the fans. if you like manny, you are a sucker, because he doesn't give a cr*p about you. i'll look forward to booing him when he plays for the yankees next year.

On the surface this does seem like a bad deal, but if the management felt after conferring with the veterans that there was a real chance Manny would sabotage the team, they basically got Bay for Hansen Moss and $7M. Manny had already checked out. I guess what doesn't make sense to me is if it really was just about the money, why didn't management call Manny and Boras in and say "we promise we won't exercise the option if you go off for the next 2 months and prove you're worth that $100 million here in Boston and get us to the playoffs."

The playoffs without Manny (if we even get there) scare me.

Being a die hard fan,,I am happy he's gone ,,yes he was good WHEN HE WANTED TO BE,,BUT HE ALSO SUCKED EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME IN THE SEASON,,,WHEN WE MOST NEEDED HIM FAREWELL MANNY ,,WHAT DOES MANNY BEING MANNY REALLY MEAN ANYHOW?
READ IT RIGHT MANNY BEING MANNY ALWAYS MEANT MANNY DOING IT HIS WAY NOT THE RIGHT WAY,,dON'T GET WRONG I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM,,EVEN IF HE GOES PINSTRIPES HE WILL ALWAYS BE LOVED B ME,,BUT I WANT MY TEAM TO WIN,, NOT BE IN THE HEADLINES OVER ONE PLAYER,,LIKE A-ROD ,,ENOUGH SAID LET'S MOVE ON

First of all I'm not too psyched we got rid of the best hitter in baseball for "some guy" regardless of attitude. and second, this article should have been titled... 30 usless things you'll hate yourself for reading.

.. Oh wait he played hockey as a kid... well that changes everything. It's a great trade when you look at that way.

WELLCOME TO THE BAY STATE (MR. BAY ) AND GOOD LUCK.

Mr. Bay - Welcome to Boston and the World Champion Red Sox. Manny who?

The way to look at this is that Manny was released for behavior detrimental to the team, the Red Sox just got to say who the team was that picked him up. They then traded Moss and Hansen for Bay, not such a bad deal, a player in today's market worth $12 million per year for under $10 million for a year and a third who will not be a malcontent or distraction.

Somebody should trade Curt Schilling's face. Terd.

Well, all good things must come to an end. The Sawx have had many great players over the last 90 years but not even the "splendid splinter" gave us two World Series titles. Thanks for the memories Manny...don't let the door hit you on the way out!

You gotta expect Bill James, had a say in this. James has always said that right handed hitters are statistically better at Fenway. I'm guessing, but Bay is also a sweet line drive hitter and hitting the monster won't be to hard for him to get hits. He's faster than many but at the cost of fewer HRs you need to take your pick, but he'll be just as likely to score some runs as plate them. He also has an incredible arm, maybe not as good as Drew's so he'll probably stay put.

2 more team killers gone. Too bad about Moss, I thought he had good potential. Hansen needed to go... badly, he couldn't hold on to anything for us. Red Sox West is building again.

Manny is a Man /child without a Nation!

God Move Theo - Manny needs a Nanny

My 12-year old may have said it best:

"Dad, I'm glad he's gone. I wouldn't want that jerk on my LIttle League team."

You doubters are mental. Jason Bay is a HUGE pickup for you guys...he is better then Manny in a lot of ways. You will NOT see Jason Bay jump and lay on a ball and laugh and then throw it to the infield IN A REAL GAME like Manny did. Manny is lazy, a pot smoking fool with a head full of sh#t locks!

THE BRUTE

RAMIREZ... MONEY BEING MONEY... OOPS MANNY BEING MANNY

WELL MAYBE I WAS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME... MONEY BEING MONEY

NOW MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SOME PEACE AROUND THE CLUBHOUSE AND FOCUS ON WINNING BALLGAMES INSTEAD OF WHINNING TO THE PRESS...

MANNY WILL GET WHAT'S COMING TO HIM... HE'LL BE A DH FOR THE NY YANKEES NEXT YEAR GOOD LUCK TO THEM...

I'm so sick of the "my kids are devastated" comments. Maybe its time to teach your kids a lesson about life. If you want your kids to work hard and show respect towards others, Manny is not exactly the best role model. Don't get me wrong, he's mostly harmless when compared to other "troubled athletes" but he's a clown. I can also assure you that the Red Sox weren't thinking about "your" kids when they made the deal, nor should they.

Manny Lohan will be perfect for LA. And LA perfect for Manny Lohan.

Between games he can hang with his whining, complaining, spoiled bitch chicas Paris, Nicole, Kim, Lauren, and Heidi. Let's see what he does when they hand him a leaf blower....

Can't wait for the reality series Manny Being Manny....

Manny Manny Manny

sorry the days are over for you and you are a dodger fan well I am not and plus Bay is about 8 years younger than you less money and puts up about the same numbers as you so I think bye manny and hi bay or i manny way hola bay!

I think that Jason Bay will be a great addition to the Red Sox, but was he really worth it for Manny? Manny is a hall of famer. Will Jason Bay be able to fill the shoes that Manny left behind? Another question is, what will happen to Ortiz? Everybody knows that they where the best 1 2 punch hitters for many years. Can Jason Bay keep that goin?

Aw, you're all sad because Vicki Guerrero sent Batista...uhem, Manny, to LA...so sad you can't read, or think critically....good luck with that....

Jason being Jason just doesn't sound as fun...gigantic shoes to fill for Bay and a tough market may make this season go down the drain, but on the other hand '04 we lost NOMAH and had a parade in Octobah!

Manny will be sorely missed, not his clubhouse behavior but everything else!

Welcome to Boston Jason, get ready to tear it up! JayRayBay, thats a lot of ays...

I am looking forward to watching Jason Bay at work and hope that the Boston fans will welcome him with open arms. Based on all the things that I have been hearing about Manny, I think that Jason will be a pertinent component within the atmosphere in and out of the clubhouse. My wishes go out to you Jason. Good luck.

The obvious sad truth has BORASS fingerprints all over it. New agent for Manny. Red Sox options are gone which means BORASS can get a nice chunk of $ and Manny can get 4 years instead of ONLY $20 mill. By the way, BORASS would have gotten ZERO without this trade. Do you think he encouraged Manny's borish behavior? It's a shame, we got ripped off (Moss, Hansen, $ and Manny's bat)

"Super important stats: Bay is hitting .421 lifetime (8-19) against Andy Pettitte, .429 (3-7) against Mike Mussina and .500 (1-2) against Joba Chamberlain."

Seriously, what is the point of even putting this in here with such small sample sizes? There is absolutely nothing "super important" about these stats...

I loved the Sox before Manny and I will love them after. The nation is not one man.
Manny is right we don't deserve him. We gave Manny 20mil a year, two world series rings and a ton of adulation. Oh how he suffered.

This is a game. A game we love to watch but it is still only a game. Part of the game is making deals to try to create a better team. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. It is all part of the game. Who knows what Manny will do in CA. Who knows what Bay will bring to us. We will watch it all unfold because we love the game. Keep it in perspective.

A good time to trade Manny. Yes, he contributed in '04 and '07, but who knows, if someone else with his salary was in there we probably would have won as well.

His outfield playing sucked, he was slow, lazy, a distraction, and his bat has slowed down considerably. That tough 0-2, 1-2 hitter is now washed up.

I enjoyed having Man-Ram around these years, but it was just time to part ways. This team was NOT going anywhere with his attitude lately....Boras orchestrated this entire thing, just so he and Manny can cash in this off season......This was a necessary trade and if you follow baseball you know that you got a very good player at a very reasonable price through the 2009 season in return.

Were not not greedy, two world series is enough. let's wait 86 more years for two more
Red Sox Ticket prices up, attendance down. Why?
How does the rest of the team really feel? Their hopes,smiles and giggleing gone.
They'll produce now, won't they?
I see the Fall future clearly. Nl vs Al. (West Bay vs East Bay) LA vs Bos. bottom of the ninth,2 outs,3-2 pitch. (As always, the traded from Boston comes back to haunt us,pick a sport). Manny swings,makes contact, stands and admires his 502 ft. shot, before he runs. Sox lose!! Manny being LA wins. like all New England sports it's in the cards. We don't know why he slipped in left field and smiled. maybe because he was embarassed and felt like a jerk. maybe his knee did hurt, justbecause MRI didn't pick it up, he's lying about not feeling right to play. [It would have been nice to see a first baseman say that years ago. In fact the first inning when he took the field ,I saw him limping and actually said what's he playing for ? You watch he's gonna blow the game because he can't move fast. I'm glad Nation finally forgave him after all these years. ] We don't know what was said to the back of his head (and not to his face)when he countered in the dugout.
Did you see an older gent fall or did you just hear and read it from fresh meat acts of news gluttony? What about the FANS, what do they want? I'm hungry,I think the "my feelings are hurt gods" are cooking up some "cut my nose humble pie".
Thanks for making everybody feel wanted and important during your stay here in Boston Manny. Remember when we were all bragging we were from Boston because the sox nation engine was running on all cylinders? The price of fuel goes up so we get rid of the battery. See ya in the Fall.

all i know is that if we still have to eat part of manny's salary, we might as well had kept him until the end of the season and roll the dice. everyone was freaking out about his attitude, but aside from his "zen" season last year, he has pissed and moaned every year. and you know what? he still helped win us two championships. the sox made a huge mistake.

DIRT DOG! I think that is how Jason Bay will turn out.
A younger Trot Nixon-like attitude and hustle...
Nice move, Theo...

I'm gonna tell my kid and grandkids about "The Hero", Manny Ramirez.
The greatest clutch hitter of my lifetime, to date.
He delivered Red Sox Nation a CELEBRATION! Let us never forget!

Happy trails, #24...and I hope YOU never forget, either!

They ran on him in 2007 not because of his arm but because he could not plant his right knee. He said he just had no strengh. but that has been fixed.

even if bay is mediocre and manny tears it up in la, this deal had to be made. how are you going to play a guy, or play with a guy, who has such a negative attitude toward his team, and who lets it affect his play so obviously? one thing i think we can all agree on is that the sox don't deserve a player like manny......

Here's all joke for y'all (from a lifetime Buccos and "new lease-on-life" Sox fan)
Q: Why play great for the Pirates?
A: To get noticed by the Yankees or the Red Sox.
Good luck Jason. I still miss Tim Wakefield.
Boston fans, Jason has class. Welcome the hustling workhorse Jason Bay.

I agreed that MR. Henry made a mistake of letting go Manny, I see that all of us are going wait for along time before we can see another championships. Don't get me wrong all the other player are good too, but not like Manny so what if his play's around, lease he does his job as a good slugger!

By Manny have a great time, I'll be watching you there. Sorry Boston it looks like we all going back again no championships....

In my opinion, Manny Ramirez is the most dangerous hitter in baseball. (I am a Yankees fan). I think you will see Ortiz' numbers come down significantly now that Manny isn't hitting behind him. Look what J.D. Drew was able to do with Manny batting behind him. I'm sure Jason Bay will be good, but he is no Manny.

The Red Sox were idiots to let Manny go. Sure he's a head case but in the end he was always a consistent producer. We don't have prayer this year with out him. So what if he needs a little stroking to keep him happy - at least he gets the job done.

In contrast it will be interesting to see how they handle Veritek when his contract is up. He is the consumate professional and a good guy for the clubhouse. Problem is for the last 3 years he has been down right awful at the plate. Seems like the only time he gets a hit is when we are already up by 12 runs or no one is on base. Great defensively / calling pitches but we need more - big guys are supposed to be able to hit.

Welcome to Boston Jason!

Bay seems like a worker, which is a good quality in Boston. I wish him luck and hope he can deliver the goods here.

As far as Manny, don't let the door hit you on the way out. Sure the guy is one of the best players to ever swing a bat. But he and he alone allowed his talent to be overshadowed by his behavior. As fans, we have a right and expect more from the players we help to pay. With great opportunity also comes great responsibility. Manny never seems to grasp that reality. Perhaps if someone had set him straight years ago it would not have turned out this way. Now everyone loses as a result.

wyomingkid2, are you nuts? Manny was treated GREAT in Boston! With all of the crap he pulled, the fans stayed with him up until the last few weeks. He's lucky that he produced all this time, or the fans would have had it in for him ages ago.

I'm grateful for the memories he gave us, but it's time to move on. Obviously, Bay's never going to fill his shoes offensively, but now we've got a guy who's going to give us 100% all the time, not when he feels like it.

intresting trade, for manny alone prolly a good one but giving up a middle relevier when where already hurting there is questionable espically with the talent we have in outfield

BORAS IS A CLASSLESS BUM!

Everyone thinks Manny is solely to blame for his disgraceful antics. Not so fast! Boras instructed Manny to behave as he did. It was all a ploy to get Manny out of his contract so they could strike a big free agent contract at year's end. This is a classless act by Boras because he's tainted Manny's career in a Red Sox uniform. What a shame...or sham. Boras should be banned from the game. He borders on collusive acts and is a disgrace to the game, its fans and its players. I'm reminded of the Gordon Gecko character in the Wall Street movie. "When is it enough?" Yeesh!

Any Red Sox fan who actually thinks Manny will be wearing pinstripes next year is wishful thinking. No way that happens. No way and no how. The Yankees will be much better off with Xavier Nady in left field and thank you very much. You know, Xavier Nady who is probably just as productive as Json Bay and BETTER then him in the clutch.

Sox Nation will all miss Manny IMMENSLEY. You are all still groggy with championship euphoria.

Give the knucklehead his props for being the first guy (I think) to rip the team BEFORE he left town instead of the usual sour grapes AFTER. Manny does have a large set of stones....or he really is as ignorant as he seems.
Seriously, thanks for the rings Manny, and good luck in LA (but not NY next year) but your time had definitely come. Manny's production will certainly be missed but may be balanced by better chemistry/mojo. Lost in the shuffle is Moss, a good young outfielder on the rise-yes, likely a fourth outfielder w/ the Sox but also with some high trade value under other circumstances. Also, w/ the Sox scouting and development, the two compensatory draft picks will be missed.

Boycott Fenway? Red Sox Nation, you're an idiot. You probably blame Jack McCormick for what happened on 6/29. Get a life.

I've been a Sox fan since 1947.... Forget Manny. Bring on Jason!
We gave up some potential in Moss and Hansen. But, let's support
the hardest working front office in baseball.

For those of you who think the Red Sox were trying to fill Manny's shoes, you're sorely mistaken. No available bat (except for Texeria, and then what would we have done with Youk?) was going to replace Manny's, and the Red Sox knew that. This is addition by subtraction--we get a sold player--both offensively and defensively--while giving up a 36 year old head case. The price was high and I commend the Pirates' GM for getting as much out of the Red Sox and Dodgers as he did. It sucked having to give up both Moss and Hansen, but Hansen needed a fresh start somewhere else and there wasn't any room in a crowded outfield. They'll get the playing time they deserve

Congratulations to the Red Sox Braintrust for making this trade. Character builds teams, characters destroy them. No matter what talent an individual brings to a team sport, there is no ultimate success unless the individual can place the team above himself. Bay's numbers are right there with Manny's and his upside is greater than Manny's. Plus, he seems to exhibit great character. Sure, we may not have won in 2004 and 2007 without Manny, but we weren't going to win this year with him. Way to go Theo. Go BoSox!!

Call me stupid, but I'm psyched. The ballclub has been in turmoil over this for long enough; had to get this done while the Sox still have time to make the run their talent is capable of, without (imagine preferred expletive here). I'm cutting Jason Bay plenty of slack: he'll have to adjust to an entire American League's worth of unfamiliar pitchers in the thick of a pennant race, and he is likely to struggle for a while, particularly against junkballers and lefties; he's had some knee problems and needs to fill in a couple of key holes in his plate coverage if he's to cut down on the strikeouts. But everything I read about him says this is a four-and-a-half -tool,led hard-working, coachable, quality ballplayer coming into his prime--who's just been traded to a lineup full of good hitters to protect him and a ballpark made for righthanded power hitters and likely to make an assist-champion out of him in left. Dave Magadan can help a lot, too, I'd anticipate--as could JD Drew, who can speak from heavy-duty recent experience about what a difference it makes to go to the opposite field when they take away the pull stroke with outside changeups.
Hindsight will be, as always, 20-20 on this deal, and may well make these words
foolish, but I'm feeling good today--looking forward to the stretch drive. Here's to
the ALL-Hustlin' Sox. Best wishes Brandon Moss, may your career take off in Pittsburgh's outfield. And welcome to Red Sox Nation, Jason Bay.

How soon before Bay makes a defensive gaffe does some hack beat writer come out with a byline titled - "eBAY!!!"

Hey Red Sox fans, you got a good player who will always give full effort! 2007 wasn't as good as normal for him because of his knees, but he still played in most of the games and never made excuses. He has recovered very well this year.

From everything I've read he's a great teammate. He is extremely popular with Pirates fans who miss him for both his on the field and off the field contributions.
Many of us wanted him to play his whole career for the Pirates.

Go J Bay!!!

WELCOME JASON PAPELDREW!

JBay is the anti-manny. He is a class act all the way, and a very solid ball player. This guy never complains, just plays hard every game. I think you Sox fans will like him. We Pirate fans will miss him.

To whoever wants to boycot the Red Sox I say PLEASE DO IT!!!! Maybe then I could get lucky enough to get tickets to see them. Your loss my gain

I miss Manny already!!! He was real talent and entertaiment!!! Common... Jason Bay is just not gonna cut it... he looks like JD Drew...BORING! how lame the Red Sox management team is!...just remember that without Manny it would probably be 90 years w/o a championship by now.

I hate the game of baseball, it is boring and they are all a bunch of cry babies. (great guys for the most part but major complainers for the $$ they make -- we don't complain as much as them and we don't make $20mil a year) You don't see the Patriots complaining about their broken bones and all the drama--- Theo and the Club made a great move getting rid of Manny he may of been a great home runner but he's a LOSER and the team is not JUST MANNY there are a bunch of other great guys. They can now get to playing baseball instead of putting on a soap opera.GO RED SOX you are better of as a team without that self absorbed egotistical loser. The game will go back to being boring again but that is the way baseball should be.

leave it up to the mediawhore schilling to say he would give bay number 38 for a fee.I dont care if it is for charity schilling hasnt done squat to help the team so who in the hell is he to say this crap?Plus the crap he said about Manny on dennis and callahan shows he is a shallow narrowminded bum

Hey Jeff, #41 No need to bag on Manny's dreadlocks. There are no rats in there. Oh I'm sorry are you bald?

Yesssssssssssssssssss! All the way with Jason Bay ! See Sox Nation ! He already has won you a game ! Manny was done . Its August and he had a BOO BOO on his knee and he was done . Watch his traveling circus out in LA ! He can have fun with another Primadonna - Nomahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ! Have fun boys !

Joe Torre ! Have a good time out there with 2 " non team '' players ! How does a guy like Torre go from such a class org. like the Yankees , to La La Land !!!!
( '' Down you fellow Sox fans " Down !!!!!!! ) I am just stating the facts . We wouldnt hate the Yankees so - if they sucked . We hate them because they are great . A class organization . We just learned we had to be one too if we were to beat them !

What a great raw talent Manny is.

Too bad his character and hustle are his questionable attributes.

Saying that, I don't think all of his antics were mean-spirited. Just plain silly!

I wonder what immense career he would have had if he hustled like Youk or Pedroia or Lowell or Teck? How many homers? How many doubles rather singles? How many more World Series rings?

Can't make a guy always do his best. But when you are gifted and are paid millions, HE should!

What a great raw talent Manny is.

Too bad his character and hustle are his questionable attributes.

Saying that, I don't think all of his antics were mean-spirited. Just plain silly!

I wonder what immense career he would have had if he hustled like Youk or Pedroia or Lowell or Teck? How many homers? How many doubles rather than singles? How many more World Series rings?

Can't make a guy always do his best. but when you are gifted and are paid millions, HE should!

Lets be real people, we all know that Manny is a great hitter. However being a great hitter does not make you a great ball player. Manny does not hustle in the field or on the basepaths. Mannys antics at Fenway are more like a clown than a Hall of Fame ball player, he is and has been a disruptive figure in the clubhouse. When your team mates feel that your antics are disruptive to the team and the clubhouse then it's time to leave town. good bye Manny I wish you success, but I feel the Sox are a better all around team without you. Jason Bay played a great game on 8/1, made a great catch that Manny could not have gotten close to. Had Manny been in left field that run would have scored, Sox would have lost 2 to 1 in 9 innings. Joe won't put up with Mannys antics.

Yeah its obvious that the problem isnt just manny-
All the organization did was enable him for 8 years and now, all of a sudden, its a big deal that he dosent put in the effort every day. That's nothing new. The problem were his numbers were starting to decline, and management decided that all of a sudden it wasnt worth keeping him around on his terms, so they MRI his knee and
get fans to hate him, and boom- hes on his way to the dodgers.
This is nothing new- the same thing happened with Pedro and Clemens- management just enables them, and when they start to have problems, management changes their standards "all of a sudden" and ships them away, where they SURPRISINGLY have NO PROBLEM growing up.

Many of these comments puzzle me. How can you expect the veterans in the clubhouse to put up with the "Manny being Manny" antics. The lack of hustle, lack of respect for the game, the threat that he would sit out for the rest of the season. He basically held Boston management hostage. If the leaders in the clubhouse wanted him gone, that should tell you something. Terry Francona deserves saint hood for coddling Manny and bending over backwards to accomadate him. Theo once again got rid of a cancer and luckily got value in return(see Nomar). Plus the Sox now have extra money to spend in the off season in free agency. It wasn't an ideal trade but management did the best they could due to the circumstances. I think Jason Bay will surprise alot of people and fit in nicely with the club. Now if we can just get a middle relief guy on waivers, the team should make the playoffs. Remember, everyone wrote off the Sox when Nomar was sent packing. That deal did'nt turn out too bad.

the only drawbacks to th3e sox recent sucess are all these fair weathered fans saying boycott fenway and screw manny . manny did wonders for the franchise and without him the drought maybe still going at 90 years but f.o decided it was time to part ways and made the the BEST POSSIBLE DEAL with the situtation at hand

Manny was acting worse and worse. His teammates know how bad it was, though they're too classy to say so to the reporters.

Jason Bay has been doing great, as has the rest of the team now that the distraction from Manny's behavior (which most here don't know the half of) is gone.

But, please, stop with the "JayBay" - it sounds terrible! :)

Manny is the best player that was in the trading deadline, but also the biggest dumb ass i have ever seen. faking an injury, shoving old men and fighting with teammates. The best thing for the redsox was to get him out of Boston. Bay is a upper level player whose numbers mirror that of Ramirez for 1/3 of the money. This was a decent deal for both the dodgers and the red sox. Jason Bay will light it up in Boston and the Red Sox fans will be happy to have him around in the future.

At least Bay wants to play. America's GAME !!!! Kids grow up longing for the chance to make a living doing what they love. I love the sox and always have, and was a big Manny fan. I still wish him well, but, and this is a big but,......PLAY THE GAME !!!!! Do the best you can. Don't hang your teammates out to dry. Bay isn't the primadonna in the clubhouse. He's gonna earn his keep.

I have had the opportunity of meeting Jason Bay in Trail B.C. I believe he is a true ambassador to the sport, a role model for kids entering into the sport, and an all-round gentleman. Best of luck mate to you and your family for all your future endeavours !

So all you guys that thought Boston couldn't win with Jason, I think he hit the game winning homerun tonight to come from behind and win their first playoff game in 08?? Oh right I guess you like him now!! Go Bay go!!

I read the first 80 comments this morning, Fri., Oct 3.Always interesting to see what was said, who was wrong, who was right etc.
Brandon (C0mment #1) I agree with you, however "on pace" for 33 hr , 97 rbi. Final combined nos: 31,101. Pretty amazing. # 34 says Bay "will flame out in three four years tops" Huh? Bay is 30; Manny's 36. Frank (#73) was right on target. So (probably) was Marc (48) , Scott (49), jesgirl80 (55) and Scott (64). I completely agree with Janmello (70) and JMV (76). Ah, the attitudes and actions of the rich and privileged. Think Wall Street and CEOs - and Manny and a lot of other athletes ("I need more than 8 mil a year, I have to feed my family.) It's verrrrrrrrrry extended