Just Hit

Well, basketball is over and Major League Baseball is heading into the All Star break, which means that the real baseball season is about to begin.  I know, I am waaaaaaaaaaayyyyy overdue for this year's first rabid Red Sox post, but honestly I've been a little bit preoccupied with the WORLD CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS and basketball in general (it has overtaken baseball as my favorite sport, though the Red Sox are and always will be my first love) to really dive into the first three meaningless months of the grueling and arduous MLB season.

That's not to say that I haven't been watching or that I no longer care about baseball or that there haven't been compelling storylines (the Devil Rays are a playoff contender???) to follow, I'm just pulling a San Antonio this year and coasting through the first few months of the season only to turn it on in time for the exciting part of the season.  Maybe there's been a culture change in Boston after two titles in four years, maybe it's just me that's changing, but the sense of dire urgency just isn't there.  Sox fans are still fiercely loyal and passionate, but at least this one isn't dying with every loss the way he used to.

Shouldn't I have gone through this before and gotten over this complacent feeling in time for another season of baseball as a die hard Red Sox fan?  Probably, and to be honest, I think I did go through this same process in 2005.  After the Sox accomplished the greatest comeback in sports history by rising from the dead and beating the Yankees in seven games after losing the first three in 2004, all of New England walked around with heads held high as if an 86 year-old albatross had been lifted from our shoulders, and we all had to learn how to be content yet still hungry fans. 

The solution came when the Red Sox blew chunks that year in the playoffs and seemed doomed to be one hit wonders after the implosion of that great 2004 championship team.  After that disappointment, I became hungry again to see the Red Sox win it all and prove that they were for real and that the 2004 championship was no fluke.  Throw in a bitter mid season collapse in 2006 where the Sox got swept at home by the hated Yankees in a five game series that decided the division (that series was in late July/early August if my memory serves me correctly) and I'd say that my appetite was well stoked for another championship run in 2007.

Another nail biting comeback against an AL powerhouse and a yawntacular World Series sweep of the Colorado Rockies later (sorry Asian Dave and Linds), and Red Sox Nation (hold on I just vomitted a little bit inside my mouth) were on cloud nine and celebrating Papelbon style for our unfathomable second World Series championship in four years.  After being spoiled so rotten by the Red Sox' consistantly stellar play, I couldn't help but become at least a little bit complacent with the team's success (maybe that's why it is so hard to repeat as champions in any sport), and as a result, baseball hasn't firmly gripped my attention this year until about nowish.

You might figure that if I haven't been so gripped by baseball that I must not have anything intelligent to say about this year's Red Sox teams, and you'd be right, but for the wrong reasons (assuming that I ever have anything intelligent to say, even after four years of college would be reckless and irresponsible of you).  In truth, I feel as though I do have something intelligent and worthwhile to add to the infamously eloquent narrative that is the Boston sportswriting community, so here it goes...

I'd like to ramble, if I could (please do!), for a few paragraphs about Manny Ramirez.  Since joining the Red Sox in 2001, there has not been a more controversial or utterly bizarre sports figure in Boston.  Not Pedro, not Schilling, not Pierce, Belichick, Randy Moss or anyone else can even come close to Manny.  If you don't believe me, you just don't learn (I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you all, especially Benny, that it is a tall order to argue with me about Boston sports teams, figures or events that have happened within my lifetime).

Since signing his eight year, $160,000,000 deal with Boston prior to the 2001 season, Manny Ramirez has been the focus of innumerable trade rumors, talk show tirades and vicious sports columns about his character and demeanor every single year (including this one).  It even got so bad that the Red Sox put Manny on waivers during the 2003 off season for anyone else who was willing to eat his salary to claim.  If you don't know, that meant that the Red Sox were willing to give away Manny Ramirez, the greatest right handed hitter in baseball (more on this later) away for nothing.  What were we thinking?

The answer is that we weren't.  This happened at a time when the Red Sox were still in panic mode and were still searching for a way to shake the Curse of the Bambino and finally deliver us all to the promised land.  Thankfully, nobody claimed him (goes to show how smart baseball executives are).  But seriously, what gives?  How was it even possible for such a brilliant player to be dangled out there for anyone to snatch?

The answer is that Manny Ramirez is not your father's baseball superstar.  Manny isn't Derek Jeter.  He isn't the responsible team captain who (thank (the) God(s)! ) leads by example or sets the tone for the entire club. It's hard to tell if he's dedicated to winning, or if he's a selfless player and a good teammate.  And it's true, he isn't paying attention out there in left field, and no, he doesn't even have his glove on half the time when the pitch is delivered to home plate.  He isn't Ken Griffey or Torii Hunter in the outfield, and he sure as hell isn't Ricky Henderson on the bases.  Manny is moody, and until this year, was not the guy in the clubhouse who'd gladly talk to the media. 

What is Manny Ramirez, then?  He is a cartoon character who lives on his own separate plane of existence.  He doesn't adhere to the normal rules and traditions of baseball, nor does he fit the mold of a traditional baseball star.  He is a truly unique personality, one that chafes many in the baseball world, and certainly one that isn't easy to build a winning club around.  But he is the centerpiece, and to a large extent the face of the Boston Red Sox, and his team is finally just as eccentric and successful as he is. Most importantly, he's a hitter. And boy, does Manny Ramirez hit.

You see, that's the tricky part about Manny Ramirez, and it's the reason that he's been so controversial for so long.  Plain and simple, Manny Ramirez was put on this planet to hit a baseball, and hit it hard.  And he does this better than any other right handed hitter in the game today, and when his career is over, there's a good chance that he'll be known as one of, if not the greatest right handed hitters in the history of baseball.  Sure, some hitters were and will be better than Manny in specific areas of hitting, but overall, nobody, not even A-Rod, can hold a candle to Ramirez' track record of consistency and excellence in the batter's box.

Though every other part of his game and his psyche have been scrutinized over and over again, Manny's bat has always been there and it's the only reason that he still suits up for the Red Sox this season.  I can remember growing up as a young teenager having this very same debate each and every year with one of the Auburndale crew (usually on the way to raid Kadish's fridge) and always coming back to the same point and the same opinion, which can be best articulated as follows: As long as Manny Ramirez keeps on hitting and driving in more runs than he gives up due to his poor fielding (more on this later, too), then it doesn't matter at all what else he does on the field or off of it.  

I didn't care then, and I still don't now, which is why it totally doesn't phase me when I see Manny talking on his cell phone during a pitching change or high fiving a fan in the bleachers in the midst of a double play.  As cliché as it sounds, that's simply Manny being Manny.  The personality quirks and odd ball behavior are simply par for the course, and without them, the Red Sox wouldn't have his bat driving in runs and protecting all of the other bats in the lineup too.  And even though it's a cliché, "Manny being Manny" is what makes him so damn good at baseball.

As I mentioned earlier, manny Ramirez's personality flies in the face of everything that a baseball traditionalist would consider to be the make up of a baseball superstar.  Manny's head never seems to be in the game, and one would think that the constant array of outside distractions would cripple his ability to focus on baseball and produce his otherworldly numbers.  But the funny thing is, Manny's lighthearted behavior and goofy hijinks are exactly what make him so good. 

Think about it for a minute, and you may realize as I did that the key to Manny's success and the success of both Red Sox title teams was their loose attitude and laid back demeanor.  Manny stays loose in his own unusual fashion, and in many ways, it helps him stay focused and clear on the baseball field.  Because Manny doesn't worry or stress (or pay attention) about the game, he avoids a lot of the pitfalls that swallow so many professional baseball players these days.  It sounds insane, but in my opinion, the more distractions Manny has, the better he is.  What should have been his downfall several times over is actually one of his greatest strengths.

Most logical people, sports journalists in particular (oxymoron, I know), are endlessly perplexed by this fact.  But you have to realize that Manny lives on his own planet in his own dimension, and a different set of rules apply there (a short list of the perks: urinals and cell phones inside every wall, high fives for everybody, fielding and running are always optional, every third day is a day off and it's not at all rude to admire your work after unleashing a 450 foot bomb of a home run).  While he is physically in our realm, mentally, manny Ramirez is lightyears away from us all.  He lives on planet Manny and he marches to Manny time. 

Fortunately, hitting also exists on planet Manny, in fact, it's one of the only other things out there besides him.  On his own plane of existence, Manny just focuses on hitting, and in doing so, he tunes out you, me and everybody else.  Planet Manny is the ultimate tunnel vision, and it is precisely what makes him so special. 

Aside from keeping himself and his teammates loose and laughing nearly every night, Manny's extra terrestrial behavior also has one more very hidden advantage: it lulls his opponents to sleep.  Publicly, Manny Ramirez is the quirky, goofy, arrogant slugger with just a ton of natural ability that makes him such a great hitter.  In actuality, however, Manny Ramirez is one of the most dedicated and studious hitters in the game today.

Like his teammate, David Ortiz, Manny meticulously studies his every at bat and is constantly researching his opponents to gain the biggest possible edge against them for game day.  Manny works hard on refining his swing, and he's always putting in extra work to keep his picture perfect stroke as refined as possible.  Nobody sees Manny's constant study or his unending search to perfect his own swing, but a seasoned observer with a keen eye can tell you that Manny couldn't possibly have come as far as he has without a considerable amount of hard work.  If you really think about Manny, his swing, and his style as a hitter, it becomes plain to see that he got where he is as a hitter through hard work and practice, not by simply relying on his natural talents.  Manny is so disciplined compared to some of the raw hitting talents in this league (for instance, Vlad Guerrero), that he couldn't possibly have been so blessed with natural hitting abilities. 

Manny Ramirez is such a rare hitting talent, that believe it or not, he plays mind games with his opponents (yes, I agree that it's a stretch, but bear with me).  He's one of the few (if not the only) hitter who actually sets up pitchers.  This seems almost silly, but I have witnessed him do it with my own two eyes.  Sometimes, Ramirez will take a good pitch or put an ugly swing on an offering early in the count with the intention of tricking the pitcher into making the same pitch again.  Having seen it once, Manny then waits for it again and unleashes his picture perfect swing on the ball, which usually ends up either putting a dent in the monster or breaking a windshield somewhere in downtown Boston.  I can't say that I've ever seen anybody else do that to an opposing pitcher (with perhaps the exception of Alex Rodriguez).

Speaking of A-Rod, I think it's important for me to clarify at this point that there is a great case to be made for him as the greatest righty in the game now, and realistically (this pains me through and through), he has a great shot at finishing his career as the best hitter ever, period.  That being said, at this point I have Manny slightly ahead of A-Rod for a few key reasons.  First of all, Manny Ramirez has two World Series championships and one World Series MVP trophy under his belt already.  A-Rod, on the other hand, has no postseason hardware to his name.  In fact, the only thing associated with Alex Rodriguez in the playoffs is a reputation for choking in big situations. 

For example, did you know that Alex Rodriguez has driven in a grand total of one run in the past three postseasons (that's in 13 games and 44 at bats, by the way)?  I bet you didn't know that, and I'd also wager that you had no idea that his batting averages for the last three postseasons were a measly .267, .071 and .133 (did I mention that he had only one RBI???).  To say the least, those numbers are not A-Rod worthy by any stretch.  In fact, those numbers are more reminiscent of Julio Lugo than of allegedly the best player in baseball.

Manny, on the other hand, has faired a bit better than Alex Rodriguez, to put it mildly.  In his past three postseasons (2007, 2005 and 2004), Manny has hit .348, .300 and .350 respectively, all while hitting 8 home runs, compiling 40 hits, 69 total bases and driving in 31 runs.  And, just for the record, he hit .412 in the 2004 World Series, including one nail-in-the-coffin home run in St. Louis in the final game of the 2004 World Series.

And before you even think it, the great teammates or more talent surrounding him argument holds less water than a sieve.  As good as Ortiz, Trot Nixon, Johnny Damon, Mike Lowell and Manny's other Red Sox teammates are or have been, the group of guys surrounding A-Rod (Jeter, Matsui, Giambi, Damon, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada, Bobby Abreu) is just as good if not better than Manny's supporting cast.

Next, you have to consider Manny Ramirez's super human streak of flat out ridiculously productive seasons.  For almost 12 years now (with only a little bit of variance), all Manny has done at the plate is hit at least 30 homers a season, drive in 100 runs per year, all while hitting .300(ish) or better and get on base more than 40% of the time.  There was also a ridiculous stretch between 1999 and 2006 where his low mark for OPS (that's on base % plus slugging for those who don't know) was .982, which for 90% of Major League hitters would be a career year.  

Add into all of that Manny's career total of 20 grand slams, the second most all time behind some guy named Lou Gehrig with 23, and you may find yourself drinking the Manny Kool-Aid too (from what I can tell, it's mostly Gatorade, old blunt wraps, rum, vodka and sugar infused with absynthe.  Yummy!)  Manny even leads A-Rod in some career stat totals, including batting average, OPS, RBIs, on base percentage, slugging percentage, doubles and walks, all in 300 fewer at bats than A-Rod.  

As for clubhouse presence and skills as a teammate (hold on, I never thought I'd get to say this... must savor...), Manny Ramirez is head and shoulders above Alex Rodriguez.  Yes, the intangibles count, and yes, A-Rod is actually worse.  The first warning sign is when Alex Rodriguez started being compared to Kobe Bryant (by the way, I'd like to thank Jamele Hill for constantly being my own personal cannon fodder every time I need a sports media punchline.  Honorable mention: Simmons).  Yeah, that sinking feeling in your stomach is the painful realization that despite Manny's bizarre antics and all of the baggage he has been forced to carry by the Boston Sports media (say it ain't so, Shaughnessy!), Ramirez doesn't stack up.  

Nobody laughs when A-Rod throws his teammate and team captain Derek Jeter under the bus, nor do they laugh when A-Rod shows up with Madonna to night clubs and causes a media frenzy in the middle of a baseball season.  And nobody, I mean nobody, was laughing when A-Rod pulled some stupid shit on the field during the ALCS in 2004 when he interfered with Bronson Arroyo and killing the Yankee rally in that crucial game in Yankee Stadium.  I also don't remember anybody in Yankee country laughing when A-Rod initially opted out of his contract (as a cheap sham to try and upstage the Red Sox in the 2007 World Series), essentially hijacking the Yankees and creating more trouble for a team with enough problems already. 

Now, consider Manny Ramirez and some of his innumerable "Manny" moments.  Though this isn't always true (the physical confrontation over some stupid tickets is inexcusable), but Manny's antics are generally lighthearted, amusing and not very damaging.  I mean, he had everybody including myself (who at the time was too stressed to even talk to anyone) laughing at his train wreck of an error in left field during the 2004 World Series in the single biggest game of his career and my life.  How is that influence corrosive?

So what's the point of all of this mess of ramblings about cell phone calls, bathroom breaks and hilarious bloopers that are so zany you'd think that they were staged?  The point is the same now as it always has been, even back to the days discussing the Red Sox on Commonwealth Avenue by Lyons Field, the Red Sox need Manny Ramirez.  And although Manny probably is to distracted to realize it, he needs the Red Sox too.

The reasons have changed dramatically, but was true then is still true now.  As long as Manny hits, then nothing else matters.  It used to be that we, as Boston fans forgave Manny's personality because of his bat.  I've now come to realize (and if you've made it this far a. kudos, and b. you should have too) that now the Red Sox, their fans, and the media need Manny's personality, quirks, antics, hijinks and general shenannigans just as much as we need his bat.  The red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years as a bunch of hairy idiots who had tons of fun playing baseball, how could they ever have done that (or do it again) without Manny Ramirez?

Even I've short changed Manny in writing this column by saying that he doesn't get how much he needs Boston and how much Boston needs him.  after all, he's still here, and although the Red Sox got lucky in the winter of 2003, it certainly hasn't been chance or coincidence that Manny Ramirez has been such a mainstay in Boston. 

Hell, Manny even showed up on time and in tremendous shape for baseball this year, a sign that he means business and is out there to prove to the Red Sox first and anyone else out there that despite his reputation, he is dead serious about playing baseball to the best of his abilities and he wants to finish his career in Boston.  Even though he's expensive and aging in years, his game and attitude are still youthful and his spot in the batter's box and in front of the Green Monster in Fenway Park (where Manny plays left field better than anyone else in baseball) cannot be filled by anyone else. 

Though Theo Epstein and the Red Sox are strict about handing out multi-year contracts to players in their mid-thirties, they've made exceptions before, and for the sake of Red Sox nation and the team that I grew up loving, I hope they do again.

Re-sign him