Red Sox
Fast fact: Only player in MLB since 2000 with .300 BA, 1.000 OPS, 200 HRs, and 800 RBIs. Lowdown: Manny turns 35 May 30. Here’s how many players 35 or older ever had a season as good as Manny had in 2006 (.321, 35 HRs, 102 RBIs, 1.058 OPS): Babe Ruth (three times), Barry Bonds (three times), Hank Aaron (once). Manny changed gyms and started hitting earlier than ever this winter, and no one has even hinted his knee is of any concern, so maybe Manny will continue to hold off the onslaught of time. Will he play 150-plus games, as he did in 2003-05, or check out early again?
LF Manny Ramirez
Fast fact: Only player in MLB since 2000 with .300 BA, 1.000 OPS, 200 HRs, and 800 RBIs. Lowdown: Manny turns 35 May 30. Here’s how many players 35 or older ever had a season as good as Manny had in 2006 (.321, 35 HRs, 102 RBIs, 1.058 OPS): Babe Ruth (three times), Barry Bonds (three times), Hank Aaron (once). Manny changed gyms and started hitting earlier than ever this winter, and no one has even hinted his knee is of any concern, so maybe Manny will continue to hold off the onslaught of time. Will he play 150-plus games, as he did in 2003-05, or check out early again?
(Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)