Manny Calls It A Career

Sweeping its way across the baseball landscape, is the recent news of Manny Ramirez's sudden retirement. Hours after receiving notice that he had violated Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the 12-time All-Star decided it was time to call it quits. Ramirez who served a 50-game suspension in the early part of the 2009 season for violating the same rule while a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was issued a 100-game suspension this time around as a second offender. Rather than appealing the suspension that would sideline him for more than half the season, Ramirez informed the league that he would instead retire from the game of baseball. A move that adds to the existing question of whether or not he'll be inducted into Cooperstown.

Less than three months ago, Ramirez inked a one-year, $2 Million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays who were seeking a power hitter to help fill the void of the departed Carlos Pena. The signing would also reunite Ramirez with his old pal from the Boston Red Sox, Johnny Damon. The duo spent four years playing together in bean town (2002-2005) and helped put an end to Boston's dreadful 86-year championship drought, also known as the Curse of the Bambino, by winning the World Series in 2004. Both Damon and Ramirez were integral parts in the Red Sox offense which tormented Tampa Bay for so long, helping make Rays general manager Andrew Friedman's decision to sign the two relatively easy.

Ramirez who got off to a slow start this season with only one hit in 17 at-bats, was away from the team when receiving the news of his suspension and had missed his last game due to what Ramirez called a "family matter." According to sources, the banned substance which caused the failed drug test, was detected during Spring Training. Though the abrupt departure from Ramirez came as a surprise to Rays skipper Joe Maddon, the 2008 AL Manager of the Year still expects his team to win the division. "I haven't backed off on that at all," Maddon stated. Easier said than done, winning the AL East will be no easy task for Tampa Bay, who many expect to finish behind Boston and New York in the standings, and even Baltimore to some.

Better known for his eyebrow raising remarks and questionable antics which became better known as "Manny being Manny," I doubt we'll see another character like Ramirez for many years to come. Noted as one of the greatest right-handed power hitters the game has ever seen, Manny owns the Major League record for the most post-season home runs with 28, and his 21 career grand slams are second to only Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig who went on to hit 23. Throughout his 18-year career which started with the Cleveland Indians before stints with the Red Sox, Dodgers, White Sox and eventually the Rays, Ramirez hit 555 career homers which places him #14 on the all-time home runs list.

Communication Issues

Adding another question mark to the colorful career of Ramirez, is what he did when being introduced at a press-conference. For the first time in black and white, Manny showed up with an interpreter to translate the questions he was asked into Spanish as if he didn't speak English fluently. Taking it as a joke more than anything, you would have to think it didn't sit well within the clubhouse and more specifically with his manager. But with the hot headed Ozzie Guillen on the throne, he couldn't be happier. Not to mention this very subject sounds all too familiar to Guillen who was in the news recently, speaking about the MLB and their usage of translators.

As if Guillen hasn't already bitched and griped enough in the past about everything in the book, he's up to his old self again. In an pre-game interview before taking the field against the Oakland Athletics, Guillen expressed his disinterest in how the league assigns Asian born players translators and not Latinos. "I say, why do we have Japanese interpreters and we don't have a Spanish one. I always say that. Why do they have that privilege and we don't?" The Venezuelan born skipper went on to say, "Don't take this wrong, but they take advantage of us. We bring a Japanese player and they are very good and they bring all these privileges to them. We bring a Dominican kid ... go to the minor leagues, good luck. Good luck. And it's always going to be like that. It's never going to change. But that's the way it is."

I think Guillen's take on Latin players being "Taken advantage of" is wrong and poorly judged on his behalf. The reason being is obvious, as Asian players stick out like a sore thumb when it comes to the Major Leagues. Latino players on the other hand, have more of an advantage than Guillen is given credit for, granted one fourth of the players are of Latin ethnicity. Therefore there's more Latin players in the league that know English and can translate to their fellow teammates, where as Asian players take up less than 2% of Major League rosters and are a lot farther from home meaning those who understand the language are harder to come across thus resulting in the need of a translator. Whether Ramirez' latest antics were a publicity stunt or were just another episode of 'Manny being Manny', Guillen gets his wish as a Latin player was provided with a translator.

MANNYWOOD Shutdown

Weeks after removing the ever so popular 'Mannywood' signs that stood in left-field of Chavez Ravine, uncertainty was in the air regarding the sluggers final month in L.A. And for good reason, there should have been as Ramirez was released by the team and claimed on waivers Monday by the Chicago White Sox. In what many believed would be his final days in a Dodger uniform, Manny found himself pinch-hitting in a bases loaded, one out situation at Colorado's Coors Field. With a chance to get a hit and drive in a few runs that could have been somewhat of a storybook ending to his tenure with the team that embraced him when no one else would, Manny's days as a Dodger come to an end on a rather sour note.

After seeing only one pitch, home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom called a strike on a ball that appeared to be off the plate. Ramirez turned around and began arguing the call and was eventually ejected moments later. The unsportsmanlike toss from the game might have made the Dodgers' decision to release him a little bit easier as he's been notorious throughout his career for being a virus inside the clubhouse and doing his abnormal antics as seen in his final years in Boston in what became known as, "Manny being Manny." ESPN insider Buster Olney called it the most unprofessional exit he has seen in his 15+ years covering baseball and I'd have to agree.

Before departing Boston for Hollywood in 2008, Manny's final at-bat in a Red Sox uniform ended in a similar fashion. In a game against the archrival New York Yankees and their closer Mariano Rivera, Ramirez took place in a controversial three-pitch strikeout as he never took the bat off his shoulder. While watching all three strikes go right down the pipe, Manny returned to the dugout with the sound of boo's leaving the Boston faithful in disappointment.

Ramirez, who's in his second and final year of a 2-year, $45 Million dollar deal he signed with the Dodgers in March of 2009, now serves as a rent-a-player for a team aiming to gain some ground on the division foe Minnesota Twins in hopes of making the postseason for the first time in two years. With less than a month on the MLB calender and some 3 1/2 games back in the AL Central, ManRam finds himself in a familiar situation similar to that of 2008 when he single handily carried the Dodgers to the Playoffs upon his arrival. If the Dominican born slugger can duplicate what he did for L.A. down the stretch in '08, he may be in store for a lucrative contract with the Chicago based team this offseason.

While Dodger fans begin throwing away the little memories they had of the slugger faster than the team site can remove the Manny dreadlock-wig merchandise, a new chapter of the 'Manny Being Manny' chronicles surfaces. According to sources, he will join the team as early as tomorrow against the Cleveland Indians, the team he broke into the Major Leagues with. And with a hot headed manager like Ozzie Guillen under control, it's only a matter of time before the fireworks ignite between the two. The duo can either be one of the best things for the team or quite possibly one of the worst. Let's sit back and grab some popcorn and watch how this whole thing unfolds shall we? My guess is it'll end up being a recipe for disaster.

Dodger Blues

MANNYWOOD closing its doors - Just three days before the L.A. Dodgers and the rest of the major league ball clubs take the field for the first time against opposing teams, the Dodgers' clubhouse is hit with another episode of 'Manny being Manny'. Everyone's favorite dreadlock sporting slugger Manny Ramirez who's no stranger to the media, made public in an interview earlier this week when he made his arrival to the team's spring training facility in Glendale, Arizona. "I'm not sure I'll be playing next season, but if I am, I know I won't be here [in L.A.]".

Whether Ramirez is putting an end to his stay in Tinseltown because of personal problems within the organization, is not yet known. But wanting to return to the American League as a designated hitter could also be a possible indication. Given Ramirez is already 37 years old, an everyday job in the outfield could result in an increase to the wear and tear in his legs. But when being asked if he would welcome a return to the AL, Manny simply put it: "I don't know. We'll take it a day at a time. I don't know about tomorrow. I know about today. When the season is over, we'll see where it's at. If they let me play, I play." In other words, he's not too concerned with the future just yet and is taking his baseball career day by day.

As Ramirez makes his own rules and writes his own plans already stating he wouldn't be back for another go around in L.A., Dodger fans have to be the least bit concerned considering his arrival put them over the top down the stretch of the 2008 season, when the team made it as far as the NLCS. The presence of Manny in the line-up has made them an instant division favorite ever since. But at the same time, the Dodgers won't have much to worry about with a young cast of rising star players in the outfield such as Matt Kemp and Andre Either. Both of which have gave credit to Ramirez for helping them transcend their game to All-Star status.


Game Over - In other Dodger related news that has hit the world of baseball as of late, is the return of former Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne. Gagne who was at one point and time of his career on top of the baseball world and among the league's best in the closer role, is hoping to get his old job back. Gagne who has had his struggles as well as his success, is better known for his days with the Dodgers, who he spent time with for 7 productive seasons spanning from 1999-2006 before signing with the Texas Rangers prior to the '07 season. While battling injuries in Arlington, the 3-time All-Star had a short tenure with the Rangers before heading to Boston where he was shellacked. While the American League proved to be unfriendly to Gagne, he then hoped to revive his career back in the NL with Milwaukee. But again, Gagne would run into trouble as he blew 3 saves in 6 attempts, resulting in a demotion where he became a set-up man.

After becoming a free agent following the 2008 season, the Brewers resigned Gagne to a minor league deal, only to release him midway through spring training in part due to another injury. The year 2009 seen Gagne in the Can-Am League (Canadian American League) where he served as both a starting pitcher and a coach. But as recent as last week, the Dodgers have confirmed that the two have reached a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. During his stardom with the Dodgers, Gagne served somewhat as a cult object, earning the nickname 'Game Over Gagne'. Similar to the popularity 'Mannywood' received, fans embraced Gagne creating anything and everything with Gagne's face and slogan on it. But if you ask me, I think Gagne's "Game Over" days are just that, OVER.

Although it's not for sure if the 34 year old Gagne will find himself donning a big league uniform again, but if he does, it won't be in the closing role he once dominated as All-Star Johnathan Broxton currently holds that position. However, he could serve as a set-up man for the 25 year old Broxton. The Canadian born Gagne who's name was released in the Mitchell Report after testing positive for HGH (Human Growth Hormone), said earlier this week "I took the banned substance for my knee and thought it would help me get better." I think it's a bit comical and can't find anything Gagne could bring to the table, other than maybe help fill a few more seats on 'Gagne bobble head night'. In my opinion, the guy's better days are far behind him. But I guess there's only one way to find out...

MANNYWOOD CLOSED!

Like you didn't think I was going to put my 2 cents in about the whole Manny testing positive for Performance enhancing drugs speculation. As a huge fan of Barry Bonds and the Giants, I had to cope with the non-stop trash talk and steroid allegations. So now is my perfect time to cash in on the hated rival Dodgers, and their fans.

After taking and failing a drug test in Spring Training, Manny was notified in April that he had violated the league's policy and he initially appealed the ruling. Weeks later and 30 games into the season, Manny is suspended 50 games (without pay) for taking an illegal substance that he says was "Prescribed to him by his doctor for a personal health issue", called "Human Chorionic Gonadotropin" (HCG) , a fertility drug for women that has been known to be used by athletes to generate the body's production of testosterone after steroid use. I'm not sure what Manny was trying to get out of the substance, but it sounds to me like Manny was trying to become the first transgendered player in MLB History. Hints the new saying "Manny Being Tranny." There's no doubt this will effect the team, as Ramirez is hitting .346 and is leading the team in HR's (6), among other stats.

The Redsox are probably jumping with joy now that they don't have to put up with any of this, and the Dodgers have somewhat of a cushion to play with after setting their new consecutive home win record, and best current record in the Bigs. But now they'll have to keep this all up without their ringleader. However I find it coincidentally that Ramirez was suspended exactly 1 day after the team set a new modern day record in winning 13-straight games at Home to open a season. And as odd as I find that, they lose their next home game, without the slugger. & To top things off, L.A.'s very own Bill Plaschke put Manny and the Dodgers on blast, and thinks releasing Manny would be the right thing to do. Although I highly doubt that will end up happening, as Joe Torre and the rest of the Dodgers organization supports Ramirez during this hard time.

But what I'm curious about, is whether or not Dodger fans will support Manny after his suspension. Sounds a little hypocritical if they were to praise him after his arrival considering the hard time they gave Bonds...