Manny Ramirez:A Career Tarnished

It was October 2^nd 1998, the 20^th anniversary of the Bucky Dent game. The Red Sox were playing game 3 against the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS. The series was tied at 1 apiece. The Sox were behind 2-1 when Indians right fielder Manny Ramirez hit a solo home run off Brett Saberhagen to pad the lead to 3-1. It was the 9^th inning that I took notice that not only were we in the midst of another playoff collapse but also that Ramirez was one of the best players in the game.

The Red Sox had brought back Dennis Eckersley to finish his career; Eck had not pitched very well during the season so it was surprising to see him in this situation. Manny not only hit his second home run of the day but he hit a rocket out of the park and on the rooftop of the parking garage. The Red Sox did not have anyone like him at the time. Not even Mo Vaughn was the player Manny was. When the Red Sox signed Manny in the winter of 2000, it was considered one of the greatest signings in the history of the franchise. We just didn’t know how eccentric he really was although I do remember a Harpo Marx hairstyle he sported one trip with the Indians in Sept. 2000.

I remember during his first year with the Red Sox he was sent to Pawtucket on a rehab assignment, where most players reject the idea of spending any more than a day or 2 down there, Manny milked it for all it was worth, he was hitting so well down there he didn’t want to leave. There was the incident in 2003 when he was too sick to play a crucial series against the Yankees he was spotted in a bar. He was suspended by the team for a day. This would have enraged most players, especially of his caliber, Manny just looked it this as another day off. He rarely argued close pitches was sometimes caught not running out ground balls. This was Manny being Manny.

The Red Sox finally shipped him off to the Dodgers at the trading deadline in 2008 simply because it was time to move on. It’s very different when someone like this is surrounded by mostly guys his age but with all the younger players the Sox now had, they did not want Manny as their role model.

Like him or hate him. His numbers show a bona fide Hall of Famer. If you ask me I think he belongs there. He is not going to get there though. Manny exited the game on Friday in a way I never expected him to, in shame and this will be his legacy.SHAME!!!