Entries Tagged 'Manny' ↓

In the next few days Manny will reach the magic plateau for getting in the Hall (not like he didn’t belong there already, mind you). Ramirez currently has 496 home runs; this tally becoming evident when in the eighth inning his blasted shot went over the wall like the 495 before it.

I’ve always been amazed at Manny’s power. Even to opposite field, this guy has always been a true power hitter. And, it should be mentioned, without being brought into the scandal of steroids. In Tom Verducci’s piece for SI.com, he points to Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas, two players in particular who have risen above the scandal and become the true Hall of Famers in an otherwise scandalous era. While I’m not 100% convinced that Griffey is safe from eventual scrutiny (or found documents suggesting he did something), I do believe that it’s time to recognize that there still exists (and always have) players who can play at such a high level without succumbing to the evils of PEDs.

I’m not sure that Manny will play out the full extent of his next contract, regardless of where he signs, but I am pretty sure that he’ll get to his personal goal of 600 home runs.

Manny has decided to hire Scott Boras.

You know… I just don’t see this as a good thing. Someone ought to tell Greg and Scott (recent agents) that they’re going to lose about four million dollars in ‘09-’10.

Oh, and the fact that he is being so on time and nonchalant had me guessing something was up before he ever opened his mouth. I see a $25M/year, 3 year deal being offered from either the Yankees, Angels or Dodgers in the next year.

Manny is a lock for the Hall and he’s never been implicated in the ‘roid era. He may be smarter than you think.

Time will tell.

PEDROIA AND BECKETT AND EVEN J.D. AND OMG.

The Sox aren’t headed anywhere. They have home field advantage to play the opening game Wednesday night at Fenway Park in the 2007 World Series.

The ALCS was all about the home crowd. If you succumb to the notion of visiting teams during any regular season game that the home crowd is nice, but “we don’t need it”, then you’re fooling yourself. The crowd may not be as electric as they are in the post season, but they’re behind the team; especially in good times.

Beckett is the MVP, deservedly so, but the rest of the team including J.D. Drew, Lugo and the defensive skills of  Coco Crisp were enough to go against the other team with the best record in baseball. The difference? Boston won one more game. That’s it. What separated the entire season is one game. How amazing is it, then, that the Red Sox found themselves in the World Series based on the fact that they won the season series against Cleveland. If it had been the other way around and Cleveland was working with home field advantage, would they be headed to the Fall Classic?

Dice-K had a gutsy first three innings. Unfortunately, that’s all I can say about that specific performance. What irks me and others is the perceived lack of intensity. I believe inside he’s intense and he’s serious about winning. How else do you accomplish the level of success he’s had? You don’t. Interestingly enough, J. D. Drew shows the same perceived lack of intensity. Yes. He wants to win. Yes. He plays hard when he’s trying. But, unlike Dice-K, Drew’s intensity is measured by his bat. A pitcher has the chance for 10 strikeouts or be shown on camera pumping their fist about 100 times during a game. A fielder gets to show off if  a) the ball is hit to them or b) they get into a position where they can perform at the plate in a meaningful situation. Go back and watch J. D. Drew on any tape of any game he’s been in and you’ll see that other than when he’s at the plate, the man is playing hard. It doesn’t make me any more of a fan, but it does make me take a breath and think about his season.

Ellsbury will be a star (if he isn’t already).

Pedroia made himself heard last night and shoved a big, fat “FACE” smackdown to anyone who doubted his ability. Good for him. I’m not the tallest guy either and I can certainly appreciate where he is and what he’s been able to do.

Papelbon got his first-ever six out save AND his first-ever post season save. That dude is really good. Wow. He can dance anytime, anyplace so long as he pitches like that for us until he’s lost the gas in his tank. He will be a Hall of Famer.

And now… we wait. They need the rest. They’re tired and they’re happy. They’ll actually relax a little before the media day and the onslaught of public scrutiny hits them one more time before they get a short off-season. Let’s just hope the World Series sends them off to that short rest with a big smile.

It’s the Transformer interstitial that drives me crazy, not the “Cleveland Rocks” song playing every 45 seconds.

Even with a back-to-back-to-back home run derby, the Sox can’t collect ANY more offense… What a waste of talent. During the regular season they hit .278 as a team. That was 5th best in the AL. This post season? Don’t want to think about it, but I would guess it’s around .220 or slightly lower.

Here are my questions so far:

1. Why not Ellsbury in right? You have a righty on the mound and he could do some damage.
2. Why go through even ONE more batter with Wake? Even though Delcarmen gave up the home run, it was time to pull Wake the minute they realized he was going up in the zone.
3. Why not pinch hit for Mirabelli? Wake is out of the game — go get ‘Tek.
4. What the hell do you do for an encore after three straight losses? Their backs are to the wall.

It’s not looking good, but then again, it didn’t look good in NY in ‘04. Can they do it again? Maybe those home runs were what they needed…

No way does Francona trust Gagne in ANY game, no matter WHAT the situation… He must be put on ice for the remainder of the post season.

I’m one of those people who decided to stay up and watch the whole thing. I wanted to see how badly the bullpen was going to fall apart once Gagne caved in. You’re wondering what would have happened next if Gagne hadn’t come in? Well, Lopez proved his instability for us. I actually said out loud to no one in particular that the kid was going to collapse. Lester? He was warming up at the time as well. What would have happened if Lester had just simply come in for long relief without the call to Gagne? I know hind sight is 20-20, but that was not the right call. I personally don’t want to see Gagne come into the game unless it’s 20-1, either side.

Schilling and Carmona were dead weight as well. They both came out of the game, having little impact on all of this. (In other words, they were both completely ineffective.)

Congratulations to Manny (23) for breaking the post season home run record formerly held by Bernie Williams (22).

Congratulations to Ortiz for tying the post season record for consecutive times safely reaching base (10).

Congratulations if you stayed up even though the bullpen was sleeping.

MAN that stinks.