Manny Ramirez

Brendan Ryan led off the inning with a triple which was partially due to Manny Ramirez’ lackadaisical fielding in left. It was the second play of the night where Manny took his sweet time going after the ball. The only difference was that Albert Pujols was running the first time, so it would’ve been a double either way. We ended up getting a pop up, a walk, and a ground out with the throw coming home to eliminate Ryan at third. The replay showed he was safe, but the umpire kept the Dodgers alive by missing the play. Pujols followed this up by battling to a full count, fouling off a few pitches, and eventually lined a single to center over Matt Kemp’s head to win it. It was nice to see Pujols put a charge into the ball after struggling for most of the night. It’s clear that his timing isn’t completely in sync, as he just hasn’t been stinging the ball lately. It was his first RBI in nine games. It must be nice to not be hitting well and still manage to go 3-for-7.

Continue reading "Cards Grind Out Win Against Playoff Contender"

way or the other right now is not really fair."

This is the kind of response that Manny Ramirez gave right before his deal to the LA Dodgers last season.  Responses like this lead the reader to believe that he is, to put in layman's terms, looking for better opportunities (**cough, cough more money**).  With his current $4.88 million price tag, it would be hard for the Panthers to give him a raise.  With just over $2 million left in salary, Florida has more holes to fill than just a star defenseman.  Stud backup goaltender Craig Anderson will be an unrestricted free-agent, as well as defensemen Nick Boynton and Jassen Cullimore and forward Ville Peltonen, among others.  Every one of these players plays an important role in the success of the Panthers. 

Continue reading "What Next for Florida?"

As a baseball fanatic, how refreshing is it that on an NFL sunday, baseball is center stage as the Boston Red Sox attempt to complete an amazing return from the dead, again.  The team with a history of choking is now on the edge of becoming one of the greatest comeback teams in history.

Continue reading "Sunday Morning"

For the last few day the Red Sox looked like a mirror image of the Dodgers.  Dying and quickly being pushed out of post season play.  A finally, a kid from Woodland, Ca battles his way to a two out RBI single and the Red Sox wake up.  Ortiz temporarly breaks out of his slump at the right moment and breathes life back into Red Sox nation.  JD Drew has found a home in Boston and calmly belted one over the right field fence to get the Sox back to within one run.  Drew looked very comfortable at the plate while working Howell to a 3-1 count.  You knew he was going to hit the ball hard somewhere. And he did and Boston will go back to Tampa.

Continue reading "Wow"

Most of them are selected by the fans, with the expected popularity-contest results. Manny Ramirez is starting in left field, instead of Carlos Quentin (who is younger, a better defender and having a season that's as good as, if not better, than Manny's). Josh Hamilton (with superior offensive numbers) is in center, over the better defender (Grady Sizemore, with only slightly inferior offensive numbers). Jeter’s the starter at short, in spite of being as poor a defender as ever, with Mike Young (better on both sides of the ball) on the bench. Would you take Kevin Youlikis at first over Justin Morneau? Perhaps, or perhaps not—but Terry Francona must, because The Fans Said So.

Continue reading "Gimme A Break!"

Drew moved both over with a groundout, and Manny Ramirez walked to load the bases. After Lowell drove in Ellsbury with a sac fly to short left, the Yankees looked like they might escape without further damage, if they could only get one more out.

Continue reading "More Bad Yankee Luck"

there, I'm going to commit the ultimate fan heresy and argue against ARod, and in favor of Boston's Manny Ramirez, as the greatest hitter in the game today. He doesn't have anywhere near the defensive value that ARod does, and he's more of a clubhouse canker (I won't say "cancer" as he's more annoying than destructive) but he gets my nod for a consistently good eye, consistent power, and postseason performance. 

Continue reading "Manny Ramirez: Baseball's Best Active Hitter"

uding one last night where he moved into scoring position with two outs in the ninth inning, giving Manny Ramirez the opportunity to tie the game up with a mere single. Julio Lugo also has 5 steals and even the self-proclaimed lead footed Dustin Pedroia has contributed 4 steals. In total, 7 different Boston players have successfully swiped a base so far this season.

Continue reading "The Go Go . . . Red Sox?"

rfield job and now Boston seems content to hold onto him until it gets blown away by a trade offer. Manny Ramirez, who has started slowly the last couple of seasons, is also on fire and leading the team in RBI’s and coming through with a big hit almost every time the Red Sox need one, none bigger than his ninth inning home run last night in Cleveland to put the Red Sox ahead 6-4. Dustin Pedroia is also beginning to sting the ball around the field with more authority and sooner or later Mike Lowell will come off the disabled list and David Ortiz will snap out of his funk and the offense will be back to hitting on all cylinders.

Continue reading "Red Sox Should Feel Good About The Season So Far"

n the Major Leagues where pitchers are supremely adept at keeping hitters off balance and guessing. Manny Ramirez does not just roll out of bed and hit .300. He spends hours hitting in the cages, taking soft toss, and hitting off a tee to get his rhythm down and fine tune his swing. Batters constantly watch video looking for the slightest glitch that could be the difference between a week ground out to second base or a frozen rope hit into the gap. So when players are taken out of their routine and not given a chance to find their rhythm at the plate, even the best will struggle to get hits.

Continue reading "Red Sox Hitters Just Need to Find Their Rhythm"