It is certainly in the realm of possibility that Manny Ramirez is indeed another waste of money for the Dodgers.
His play after the 2008 All-Star break was remarkable. Batting an astonishing .396, terrorizing pitchers with 17 home runs, as well as his 53 RBI in 53 games. He was immediately a hero, welcomed to the team, and looked at as the savior for a season lost.
During the post-season the Dodgers fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games, despite Ramirez clubbing his name into history with profound performances.
Still, people tend to forget what happened before that.
Manny was traded to the Dodgers July 31 2008 to the Los Angeles Dodgers who had to pay a total cost of $0 for the “Future Hall of Famer.” Primarily the cause for the Red Sox internal problems and success, Ramirez was starting to exemplify the exact behavior that would lead to a trade.
While that may be the past and it is 2010, it is known history repeats itself.
Ramirez has silenced himself from the media. One of the last things being said to the public was that this would be his last season playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even after the organization named left field after him and made him the second highest paid player in baseball.
The sad thing is history is truly repeating itself. Instead of leaving Boston with the kind of response he deserved, Ramirez left with emphatic cheers.
The Dodger fans have wrongly been known to be less involved in the team. The old “arrive in the fourth, leave in the seventh” still applies for some reason.
This may be the chance fans and an organization as a whole might be able to shake.
Moments prior to a game that determined whether or not they would be tied with a team for first place in the National League West, Ramirez was removed from the lineup. Joe Torre later expressed that it was “a freak thing.” He was stretching in the locker room and hurt his toe on an object.
Ramirez was taken to the hospital where X-rays showed that there was no damage.
At the moment the team is in need of pitching.
If Manny wants to be Manny again he will. Management must do what took Boston years to do: get rid of him before he divides and ruins the clubhouse and the team’s chances of facing and dethroning the Phillies in the playoffs.
Seattle may be a possibility for the prize of Cliff Lee. The Mariners may be in need of a new DH.
All may be well for Seattle and the Dodgers.
Los Angeles needs the arm that can take them into the eighth and ninth on a consistent basis. They have all ready proved they can win without Manny.
Seattle would obtain an upgrade, more fans, and it is certainly in the realm of possibility Manny will put on a show.
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