07-28-08 Manny Chatter

As opposed to Manny which I don't think it's a tempest in a teapot I think it's a real full blown hurricane going on down that's the issue that's an italics it's bold. And it's probably all caps.

He -- he doesn't want to be here. He doesn't want to be here -- only differences I think. That's been happening for like what's that about things that have gone -- for three or four years how would you want it to be here army truly wanted to be here. For a long time and in Theo Epstein hasn't won him to be here for awhile I think the difference is the owner. John Henry was always a big a huge. Manny Ramirez. And I think it came down to a John Henry woods stepped in and say now. You know you you you can't trade Manny for that I I think. He has changed yet that's a big difference.

You know a lot of his ground we don't have to go back over everybody knows what happened last week starting with you know sitting out final game of the Seattle series. And the off day sitting out the first game of the Yankees series. Being sent for the dual MR -- MRIs on both knees. Can a team make a player taken MR I just wondered I I don't know the time maybe. It's obviously they can right there they -- I mean if he said not of one Billick. They know Shaq element. All of away -- from Mass. General I always wondered about it but anyway they sent him out made him take the MRIs. MRI's came back quote unquote clean. You know everything's okay. Doesn't mean he doesn't have tendinitis in his knees that just means that the others no structural damage or anything like that. It was interesting the reaction he got this weekend because. I think Saturday and Sunday. Maybe for the first time since he's been here. Manny didn't get the love that he usually gets at Fenway Park. It was different for the first time ever even after -- Youkilis. Jack McCormick. And then you know.

Devils who is barely register. Those who is barely registered in terms. In -- You've heard people. Getting more criticism that -- You know Mo Vaughn when he was having some issues here Mo Vaughn was booed louder than that Nomar Garciaparra was booed louder than that Jim -- count as your boat than. He's been. Most ever has he has that but I think for the most part. There are people who world. Defend Manny for the most part they're people say you can't move on from Manny beat. Without do. I heard everything. It's the guy who brought -- two World Series titles. Hello who along with David Ortiz gives the Red Sox to just a devastating 34 ponds. And David Ortiz won't be the same if you don't have Manny on and on. I'll tell -- this many QB 95 years old. And I nursing home. With Kevin Youkilis at -- in ninety year old Kevin nucleus is there were 95 year old Manny. And Manny can take Kevin Youkilis and jello. And they still blame.

I played Duca and what you don't know it's it's yeah. You know Duke let's hope to god knows bingo games so Manny has was forced to do something you people make excuses for Manny. What he does and yeah there are some folks there who booed last -- well and Saturday but they don't represent the majority. I am not suggesting. I think the percentages of change to be okay now -- 15% of the people.

Arguments. Well prepared and and I don't even. You know when I said the percent -- percentages of changed I don't know what the numbers are I think I think that there is more. Indifference not a man he's act than ever before not among the fan. Because I'm really sorry to say at this -- Matt. What the fans think doesn't matter it's what -- thanks Terry Francona thanks and the players in the clubhouse and I think. I I sense. That what's -- this year has pushed things beyond. What they've been willing to take I think it's been an accumulating thing from from the -- you know slap in the dugout I think Jack McCormick thing. Bothered guys that clubhouse now one. A lot despite what Julio Lugo tells him in herald today I brought it really got to. And I think this thing on Friday. I think a lot of guys were saying when. You're not going to play well maybe is cumulative. And that's.

going to say because if you look at it Matt remembered many pushing traveling secretary before. But everything else you've done before everything refusing the planet and a team before. I'm tired Youkilis out thanks not I know her well. Not while hitting. I had disputes with teammates before here. He had a problem with Curt Schilling in 2005. Believe. It wasn't in front of the net and Cameron. He's had issues with teammates before he says he's had issues with management before. He has refused to play before so the one new thing is is watching Jack lukewarm.

I am I just I I get the sense -- and you hit the exact word it's been a cumulative thing. I also think and and I'll steal Bill Parcells -- here I think he's been trying to shoot his way out of I think it's part of of -- of systematic campaign. I don't think many thought about I think Scott forest. And I'll I'll I'll put this in Scott Boras is lap without any evidence just an opinion on my part. Scott Boras is a new -- not the agent who it was a Boris who did the original contract but not Scott it was too. And Scott Boras doesn't get a dime if the Red Sox picked up the next two option years -- not a -- He doesn't get paid a penny and Phillies to negotiate a new contract from. I think he desperately wants the Red Sox tend not pick up either option. And I think Manny has been on a campaign this season to make sure they don't pick up the option this year.

Well and I disagree with that one -- Scott -- needs the money I am not suggesting that Scott -- though when I hold bake sale and I couldn't stop horses good ending any really is a great agent if your player and you want to get them back DelHomme. Dollars out here from the team got worse as the guy he will get you more than your market. Across the board he just does. He has taken a couple of losses one of the losses was the Daisuke character. He probably that is not let Daisuke and I and I think the ticket to -- but Scott horses. Is a smart. And I -- I know I think this is -- but from them you need to do that he doesn't need you have Manny. Shoot his way out of town to become a free agent he knows the.

The Red Sox aren't going to pick up that option or not they're not -- pick -- the option years also. About it it's just pours this is still a character from any repairs to act like. Oh I can't believe I I don't know I -- think it's been different this year IR -- listening is different I know all the McCormick thing apparent. I. Refusing to play. 2000 anybody know we've seen absolutely and let Manny. Not not. Taking his duties in the field seriously laughing during a triple you haven't seen that before you don't think crazy things in the baseball finally he's convinced the Marleau -- a suggestion not a rat out a not you'll never I don't Ron. Stops before. The key is just an accumulation get to a point. Well.

And I think that the Red Sox are at that point I don't know I think I Boris against Morgan is organizationally. I think they're at the point where -- well look I know for a fact we all know for a fact. That this ownership and this management didn't want to Manning. The money -- Kubel waivers they wanted somebody to take him and that contract off their hands nobody was willing to do it because financially it makes its. -- been happy if somebody took him off their hands and they spent their money the way they wanted to. But I I I honestly think at this point. I I know Terry Francona has put out a lot of little brush fires that we never hear about we never see and I know that. You know it it's like part of it probably as big -- part of his job it's -- in the dugout and and X and Nolan and hey let's get a pinch hitter ready probably as much a part of -- if not more than anything -- I do think he Gainey get to the cumulative thing where you know it it it's almost like okay I just don't want to have to deal with this and and and I I haven't talked to Terry in two weeks I'm not trying to put words in his mouth. Just looking -- at from the outside and reading his comments in the paper I sense some real frustration on his part like. --

To do this again once again and the frustration is not knew that something that Terry Francona has dealt with. Since he took the job here in 2004. The question is what do you do from here. And to me I think is simple I sorted of a few weeks ago BP. I think. I'll sit back I'll enjoy. Manny Ramirez on the field for the rest of the 2008 season. He had he had three hits last night okay enjoyed the three. He'll hit more home runs. He you'll. You have more goofy plays in the field. The Red Sox will most likely be in the playoffs. When they're in the playoffs. I'll root for the Ortiz Manny combination in the come up to cause problems for opposing pitchers and opposing managers. Absolutely but. This is my position. On June 28 2008. This is it. We can -- the Manny farewell tour right now I'll give your rocking chair I'll give you a convertible. I'll I'll go over all the the top ten Manny moments we go back to your high school years -- Cleveland years but this isn't. Because you've gotten everything. You needed to get. Out of Manny Ramirez and he has gotten everything for new you'll -- each other in the relationship has worked out well for 78 years. But now it is -- this feeling and it on the gaunt but not. Until the season is over not. On July 30 for.

According to -- in today's Providence journal the Red Sox have had discussions with four teams already about the possibility of trading Manny before Thursday's deadline. Not a surprise and at least it shouldn't be a surprise all four in the nationally. And that kind of makes sense if you think about it according to McCadam the Red Sox have already talked to the New York Mets we know Wal-Mart and I has had kind of an infatuation. With Manny for along time. The Philadelphia Phillies where Charlie manual has dealt with many in the past. Ball as a bench coach and briefly as a manager. The Arizona Diamondbacks. And the Los Angeles Dodgers and again you've got those two teams battling for a division crown out west. Two teams battling for a division crown out east. And you can see where -- some logic involved with knows. I'm Ken Rosenthal on foxsports.com. Suggests. That Mark Teixeira is not out of plight in this thing one of the things McCadam talks about -- the possibility of the Red Sox and Phillies just exchanging left fielders. Pat Burl coming to Boston he's a free agent at the end of the season as many as. If you're the Red Sox. You you get the same to draft picks whether you don't Simon not. In other words the autumn -- you get your same thing. Philadelphia gets what they hope is increased production from Manny and an opportunity that's funny because according to -- adamant and he's the only person I've seen rights. Manny is willing to waive his no trade because he's a five and ten guy. If the acquiring team guarantees they won't pick up his option. If he wants to be -- exactly yep if the acquiring team guarantees that he's a free agent after the season. --

Okay that is a good little -- their from the data but let's -- this Philadelphia thing. Doesn't make sense for the Red Sox.

How's that make sense who right now would you rather have. Pat burrow. Or Manny Ramirez right now.

But you're talking about the the guy standing at plate. Manny Ramirez but it's not just the guy standing well a pleasant guy standing at the plate when he decides he will stand at the play. I mean you don't make a trade you go by Thursday and and we do exactly -- you say and Manny decides now they don't like playing in the.

It's not going to decide that he's not going to decide that. Remember. You're using him. This is -- altruistic thing here I have no illusions about you know who Manny Ramirez isn't with the Red Sox are. He's a player who wants to make a lot of money wants to be a free agent. There -- corporation a a multi billion dollar corporation -- million. Who who wants to have. Wants to make a lot of money and wants to win.

So they need him right now. Not for the next three years two years after the next couple months they need him any better he needs to stage many different.

I'm not sure he needs them as much harder. Because he he has the exact same stage -- in Philadelphia. If -- in New York he becomes a free agent at the end of the season either way. He reduces either way match ergo that's what I tobacco back -- he has usage yet the states he's the winner can put him. He needs eight stage right he needs okay say eight playoffs day. Right you know his his quotes about I don't care in the playoffs or not play in Iraq that bogus. I believe Scott Boras is saying none on and on a manic. Can we we need we need to show peoples and stop on when we ask for a hundred million dollars for the next man.

What I'm trying to say is Manning needs to play to get the money that he wants right. He can't take. Fifteen games off down the stretch he can't take. Six weeks off. He wants to be -- create.

Right -- favourite is. You know. Does he understand at goalie. All the Whitey take the two games off last two games in his entire career. If this. I'll let you listen won't do it again -- picking games -- before and he'll bounce back to be productive in the post season before this keeps on I did not know noble I.

Point is if you of the Patriot Patriots and looking up there if you're the Red Sox and -- Heated battle for a playoff spot. You sit there one -- it's going to -- in -- I can't play today. And and and that's exactly what happened Friday his name was on the lineup card. And he showed up and said hey sorry skip I can't gulp and all of a sedentary Franklin --

How elated picture you know I won't happen because they've checked him there and it's not it's not ownership. And is not Terry Francona and is not Theo Epstein if the players. They've dealt with. And so it won't happen again down mr.

You think so you got the players have that yes kind of clout within could I don't. --

hand and never checked in before they had. And it and it's continued but it continues to do it but he has he has his episodes. Many moves. You make it sound like. That he has done this before he shut down for the rest of the season. That's insane and so you'll ME -- half game out of a playoff spot happen if you ever managed here it out of first if you finish a game out. And he takes two games off year in two games off there aren't this Saturday night game there and -- at the end of the season and we lost the playoff spot by one game and he sat out five games last month.

What everybody talks about Philadelphia. And when he refused attention. And and it was it 20032004. It was and since September of 34. In the pension and that at an yeah. Okay he came back from that.

He was in the playoffs. He was productive. 2004 he had incidents in 2004 of the World Series MVP in and then the 2007. Remember last year. He said I can't play I can't play the outfield -- I can DH. Last year he said. I didn't come back and I'm ready to come back into the lineup but not as -- a number four hitter put me in at number seven or number eight. But they won the World Series anyone a playoff game. Against the Angels here at home in game two so this is happening -- can still be productive after that.

I found an interest in comment from Terry Francona in the paper about this where he said we've got kind of some young guys. And we're watching these young guys and they're saying is this what it's like here you know is this what it's like all the time. And any talked about it's -- me and the coaches to make sure that they understand in other words. It's an -- that I don't want Jacoby Ellsbury to think this is what you do or I don't want Clay Buchholz to look at this. I think they're concerned about the clubhouse presence that he has become distraction that he's become what every one of whatever phrase you want to use.

you know what. I'm not concerned about that I'm not concerned it terrier as well as any shouldn't opt outs they -- Jacoby -- very. -- Lowry. Craig Hansen. Dustin Pedroia. -- other young but they're also competitors. This is. Weird. What this guy I they even know what they haven't been a baseball. Combined they have a bit of baseball for ten years bring them into my Major League --

All put them all together yeah. They know it's weird. We -- our competitor. Do you want to play that's all you want to do. So if a guy is healthy and he doesn't want to play even if you're 23 years old you know all that strange. We liked that. He's weird. I hope so they know what.

worried apparently because he's saying it publicly about what they see in what they think and what they say. I mean Terry seems concerned about. If even addressed it publicly is he did it's obvious to -- he's concerned about.

They don't with a double standard is too. Manny Ramirez is able to do this because. He produces like -- yeah and even always say well man he's not the same Manny was. You know five or six years ago you look at his numbers the numbers still pretty good and that's the only reason we're having this conversation anybody else. It to sit him out they trade them and they'd move on they can't afford to -- is -- cavalier with Manny because they need.