Red Sox Stink 2007

My friend Rich sent me an article back in February from Boston.com on how Manny wants to end his career with the Red Sox. Thanks Rich. You can find the article here or cut and paste the following

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/02/21/ramirez_would_finish_career_with_red_sox/

Some highlights of the article

Manny Ramirez is so happy to be with the Boston Red Sox that he wants to finish his career with them. That said, the eccentric star isn't going to ask the team to pick up his option for 2009

That is until they actually DON'T pick up his option and Manny leaves goofy-town and enters crazy-town.

"I want to stay here, but it's up to them if they want to bring me," Ramirez said. "But if they don't want to bring me back, that's fine. I know I'll be a free agent after '08 so that's another thing that I'm looking forward (to)."

Apparently it's NOT fine, you lunatic. Or is...it...not...fine. Since they "don't deserve a player like me", they don't don't deserve a player like you. Brilliant move young man. Brilliant. And something tells me they are not picking up your option for next year. Just a guess. I could be wrong, I'm often wrong, but there's something out there that is singing in my ear that the Red Sox might not bring you back next year. Not sure though. I'll ask Stewy.

There's no rush to pick up the option or extend his contract, and Ramirez has no intention of asking the team to do either.

"It's up to them to say, `OK, we're going to take (the option). It's not up to me to go into the office and demand a four-year deal, whatever," he said. "No, I'm going come here to play the game, finish my year. If they want me to come back, I'll come back."

Huh?? Is Manny bi-polar? Who was that guy in February and where did he go? Oh, yeah, he went to crazytown.

"We're focused on 2008," Epstein said. "Manny's contract provides for the first of his options to be decided upon at the end of the year and there's a time for that, but it's certainly after the season. And we're looking forward to Manny continuing to work hard and have a great year."

Or great 2/3rds of a year. Not counting playoffs.

Ramirez had asked to be traded after the 2005 and 2006 seasons. But this offseason passed peacefully, without so much as a peep of dissatisfaction from him.

If they only knew, if they only knew.

What changed?

"You start growing up and mature," the 35-year-old Ramirez said.

If by "growing up and maturing" you mean hitting your teammate, beating on an old man and tagging your managers and the OWNERSHIP in the media, then yes, he growed up and maturded.

"I want to finish my career here," he said, "but it's up to them. So if that doesn't happen, hey, I'll go and play somewhere else. I know I still can play. What else can I say? It's up to them. I'm not the one who writes the checks."

No, you are not the ones who write the checks, they do. So why not criticize them and take shots at the ones who write your checks. That way, you don't have to finish your career here. And honestly, what did this ownership do that was so wrong? Why couldn't he be at peace? Because for the first time in his career he wasn't sure where he would be playing next year? HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT NOW? Sweet mother of crap he should see what MY life is like. Or any other working slob scraping by in this hollow and bitter place we call life. That guy is so rich and yet he can't find PEACE??? Take a peace of my ASS!!!

The uncertainty of where he'll play in 2009 shouldn't affect Ramirez in 2008, manager Terry Francona said. Ramirez, the hitter, isn't easily distracted.

If they only knew how wrong they were, if they only knew.

Francona usually brushes off Ramirez's quirks. So the manager just laughed about Ramirez skipping the team's conditioning drills Thursday afternoon.

"I give Manny credit for being smart enough to sneak out of here," Francona said.

ENABLER!! ENABLER!!

"I wouldn't put anything past Manny," Epstein said. "He's certainly in great enough shape where he can play at a high level for a long time, but when something like that (option) is built into a contract it makes sense just to be patient and wait for the appropriate time to deal with it."

Like JEW-LIE THIRTY ONE!! At THREE FITY NINE.

Thanks Rich, I owe you for bringing that article up.

Manny, I love you my friend, and I think Torre is perfect for you. And I can't wait to start talking about where you will end up next year. My prediction...the Phillies.