What happens to young baseball players, coming up from the ranks of college and/or minor league ball that turns them into greedy, self absorbed jerks? Maybe they were coddled a bit in High School. Maybe it was college-and the big league scouts. It doesn’t happen to all of them….but it did happen to the guy the Red Sox justifiably jettisoned to the west coast today.
For Manny Ramirez, apparently $160 MILLION dollars is not enough to keep him happy! Does he realize (or care) that he “earns” more in a month than most of his fans earn in a LIFETIME?
We’ll always be grateful for his clutch hitting, especially in the playoffs…just as we are with Nomar Garciaparra’s play over the years. However, Nomar’s exit paved the way for Boston’s first World Series title in over 8 decades. Manny’s exit is likewise the best move, regardless of the outcome of the team’s fortunes this year. Although I wish the Sox had gotten more for him-and that we hadn’t tossed Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen into the deal, it’s all about the future—and Manny is clearly the past.
We fans, the media-and the Red Sox organization themselves have made a habit of excusing Manny’s behavior with the mantra, “it’s just Manny being Manny”. Holding your star player to a decidedly lower standard than the rest of the team would seem to be a problem with the rest of the squad, but his prolific production, particularly in the post season had everyone keeping those comments to themselves…until now.
Most everything Manny has said is garbage-except for his latest insult on the eve of his departure. “The Red Sox don’t deserve a player like me”
You’re right, Manny.
They deserve better.
Good luck and good riddance!
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