In LA, you can't help getting caught up with the Dodgers if: A)you love baseball B)live down the street from Chavez Ravine and C) are a Mets fan. I have nothing to gain from cheering the Dodgers on, but I absolutely love it when this guy has a good game. Can't explain it. Must be the fire fumes getting to me after watching a Jets preseason game on tivo and then switching over to the Dodger game in time to see a Manny highlight. Total nut job + best manager in MLB= I can't take my eyes off these guys. Too much fun.
Manny's an idiot and a d-bag, but I do love watching him play baseball. It amuses me. And it's much easier to let it amuse me now that he's not doing these things to entertain the most annoying fan base in baseball.
Rant Fuck Manny Rameirez he is a lazy piece of shit who shouldn't have gotten a free pass for failing a drug test. If he actually put any effort in at all to fielding, being a good teammate, or just anything other than hitting, he would be one of the greatest ever to play the game. However, he is just another terrible example of a professional baseball player and a guy who doesn't deserve to be a millionaire. /Rant And a few side notes. What does your "A-B-C" listing have to do with anything, and calling Torre the best manager in MLB is also a total joke. With that team in that division, a ferret could bring them to the playoffs.
50 games is a "free pass?" I agree about Torre though. How did he get lucky enough to step in that shit twice?
He got the standard 50 games anyone else would get--no more and no less. I watch just about every game, he's been hustling in the field since he got to LA and while not great, actually knows where to throw the ball and has nailed a few guys. Also, his teammates rave about his work ethic in the batting cage and the young guys have all benefitted from his presence. He's not one of the greatest all-time hitters by accident, he works at it. "That division" has the Dodgers at 80-56, Rockies at 75-60 and Giants at 74-61, will certainly send two teams to the playoffs and have three well over 500. Do a little homework before you post.
I meant from the fans and the media. He was embraced even while he was suspended. Palmero was basically kicked out of the game, and many players are not looked at in the same light after their PHD use came into light (Clemens, McGwire, Sosa, many many more). Manny got a free pass from all of that. I mentioned he had an work ethic regarding batting, but I will completely disagree with you saying he hustles out in the field. Everything is a light hearted jog, and if you think otherwise you are just lying to yourself. The guy does not care and he never will about anything regarding the game other than hitting. Of course the young guys are gonna love Manny, because he act younger than they are. He does not show them how to be a professional what so ever, and I would like to see a quote from any player bashing the future HOF on their team. That doesn't happen. Nobody knew the problems in Boston until the Youk fight and when he attacked the personal assistant, but there were thing happening all the time (which was told to the media AFTER he was traded). The Rockies are way overrated, and SF is a good team. However I would still say that is a very weak division. I've done my homework, and I don't agree with anything you posted. The only divisions weaker IMO is the NL east (and that's still debatable, NL East and West are equally disabled this year) and the AL central (weakest division in the league).
ARod and Pettitte seem to have recovered from their PED outings pretty well. Hell, no one even talks about Pettitte anymore in terms of his PED use. Manny did not get a "free pass." He lost 50 games of the season. If that's a free pass to you, I'd love to know what job you have. As for his fielding, I haven't seen any of Manny's games in LA, but I always said he was underrated as a LF with the Sox. Hell, I even argued with Sox fans about it. He's not a Gold Glove outfielder by any stretch of the imagination, but he's decent. Given his bat, I'd take whatever defense he provides whatsoever.
I can't think of any instances where he's hurt us in LF this year. Juan Pierre was better in LF while Manny was gone but like you said, with Manny's bat and he doesn't hurt you on D, it's a non-issue. That's why Pierre doesn't play more.
