July 30, 2005

Manny Pulled from Lineup

As per WEEI moments before the game, Manny Ramirez was first announced, and then removed from the lineup tonight.  The official word from the Sox is that there is 'no trade to be announced at this time', and Mike Cameron and Aubrey Huff - two of the most rumored names - are in their teams' respective lineups.  I have no clu what is going on, neither does anyone else.  But a day before the trade deadline, when a player who has been actively shpped is removed from the lineup, it generaly means one thing and one thing only, he's been traded.

A few random things gleaned from the EEI broadcast, my father off the NESN broadcast,  and various websites:

  • John Henry was sitting in his normal seats when the annuncement wasmade, and hurriedly got up to leave, suggesting he didn't know what as going on.
  • Manny did not take BP with the team today.
  • Various people have speculated tha Manny refused to play, which I almost completely dismiss, but... after the craziness of all this, who knows.
  • Manny doen't appar to be on the bench.
  • Every report leading up to the game had been saying tht the rumored 3-ay deal between the Mets, Rays, and So was dead.

Beyond that, I have no idea.  I'll update as soon as I hear anything.  And, to anyone who's reading who wasexpressing displeasure with Manny and hoping he was dealt, congratulations.  You've won.  Gloat over it while watching some other team in the World Series.

Yes, I'm extremely angry.

Update, 7:49pm: Kelly Shoppach is not in the Pawsox lineup tonight; Hanley Ramirez is in the Sea Dogs lineup.

Update, 8:09pm: According to a statement just released, after a meeting between Manny and Francona, Terry decided it was 'in the best interests of the club and the team' for Manny to sit today out.  There is no trade to announce.  That still seems bizarre to me, especially given that they could have just released that statement when they told us Manny was out, and letting us sit around and wonder certainly does nothing to calm down the situation.  But, what the hell do I know.  Bottom line, Manny is still a member of the Boston Red Sox, at least for now.  Good.

Posted by 12eight at 19:32:26 | Permanent Link | Comments (24) |
Comments
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1 - Holy crap. Thanks for the updates -- I went out for a run shortly after hearing Manny was in the lineup. And I come back to this. Wow.

Presumably Manny's not in the dugout? Then where the hell is he? (Comment this)

Written by: Earl at 2005/07/31 - 01:08:33
2 - No one really seems to know. I find it extremely unlikely that Tito and Manny just sat down and said 'hey maybe it's not a great idea' though. There's eiter a trade in the works, or there was a major confrontation that they're attempting to cover up. If it's the latter, I'd expect Theo to take the best offer he can secure tonight or tomorrow. I'd be willing to bet that either way, Manny's played his last game in Boston. (Comment this)

Written by: Andrew at 2005/07/31 - 01:14:21
3 - A commenter at Surviving Grady quoted Billy Beane: "The day you say you have to do something, you're screwed. Because you are going to make a bad deal."

Seems appropriate here. Yuck. (Comment this)

Written by: Earl at 2005/07/31 - 01:24:04
4 - If this is the case, I saw Manny in his last game in a Red Sox uniform last night, where he arrived to cheers and jeers. Unlike you guys I still say good riddance...nobody is worth this much aggrevation. However, you should both check out this from the New York Times: http://nytimes.com/2005/07/31/sports/baseball/31araton.html

They agree with you. (Comment this)

Written by: mrs. rad at 2005/07/31 - 01:57:12
5 - And I still ask, what aggravation? Please list for me all the event that you feel show Manny's disregard for the team. I bet that as you write it, you notice how paltry, short, and unimpressive it is.

Even the Globe struggled with doing this, including such things as when Manny broke his finger sliding hard, headfirst, into home a few years back - an example of hustle and sacrifice if ever I saw one. (Comment this)

Written by: Andrew at 2005/07/31 - 02:08:26
6 - Did you see him there at the end of the game? There he was in the congratulatory line, in uniform, shaking hands. Odd. Andrew, I love your passion talking about him. I have to say, I'd be the same way if we were talking about Johnny. Everyone thinks Johnny will be gone after this year and that will devistate me as this seems to devistate you. I was referring to Manny's petulance. But you seem to have a blind eye and that is actually endearing. You remind me of my friend I went to the park with last night. She held up a sign that said "Manny, Please Don't Leave Boston". Her and her sign are on the back page of the Herald today.

Sorry my other post posted twice. Not sure why. (Comment this)

Written by: mrs. rad at 2005/07/31 - 02:15:47
7 - Listen... I know that was supposed to be a compliment, but it came off as airly condescending, asthough Manny is my buddy and I will brook no insult. I know exactly what you were referring to, and my request stands: please provide evidence of this overwhelming petulance. I see a talented guy who is occasionally absent-minded, and occasionaly does what nine trillion other ballplayers do on occasion, which is fail to run out a couple grounders, and request a day off here and there. Francona directly backed off his "I asked Manny to play and he said no" remarks, to the point where it's clear that no one knows what happened, and moreso that it's possible that there was no confrontation at all. The whirlpool of controversy here was initiated by the media, stoked by Lucchino, and exploded by fans. I've seen Many exhibit hstle and sacrifice for this team far FAR more frequently than selfish behavior. Francona JUST NOW in his press conference essentially said Lucchino was wrong about the privacy issues. This is all about 75% fabrication. M suggestion to you is that you try - at least try - to separate the facts from the speclation and feeding-frenzy. If you do, you might find that this is a far far bigger deal than it is made out to be. (Comment this)

Written by: Andrew at 2005/07/31 - 02:24:56
8 - Wow. I'm starting to know how Manny feels. (Comment this)

Written by: mrs. rad at 2005/07/31 - 02:52:19
9 - Wow. I'm starting to know how Manny feels.

I don't even know what that means. Really now, Andrew has asked you -- twice -- to list the incidents in which Manny has caused "aggrevation" to the Red Sox. Both times you've chosen to ignore him.

We're all waiting... (Comment this)

Written by: Earl at 2005/07/31 - 06:28:01
10 - What I refer to is his constant whining to get out of Boston. What I refer to is his defiance to his managers. I've no doubt there is a character flaw involved. Perhaps he can't change.

I'll let Massarotti say it for me.

Twenty million a year clearly is not what it used to be, because it cannot buy you even a hint of compassion, pride, sacrifice or dedication. All it seems to get you is blank stares and apathy, along, of course, with an annual request to be traded. ... All of this reflects most poorly on Ramirez, who is not a bad guy as much he is an astonishingly irresponsible one.

Let's get something straight here: Ramirez never has been happy in Boston. Never, ever, ever. We might go so far as to suggest that Ramirez never has been truly happy anywhere, but none of us is really capable of knowing that. What we do know, for certain, is Ramirez has spent almost as much energy trying to leverage his way out of Boston over the past five years as he has knocking in runs." (Comment this)

Written by: mrs. rad at 2005/07/31 - 12:49:42
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