Manny Finally Signed

Manny Ramirez has finally signed a contract. Finally. You know, when you look at the whole thing, this greed, and waiting that he's been doing did absolutely nothing but make him look bad. He signed with the Dodgers for 2 Years, worth 45 million. Remember the first offer, waaaaaaaaaaay back in November? 2 Years, 44.5 million was, I believe, the offer. Nice job Manny. Serious skill. You earned 500,000 dollars more. Let me ask you. What can you do with 45 million that you can't do with 44.5 million? Seriously, all Manny did was make himself and his agent look bad, make himself 2 weeks late for spring training, and show himself off as a completely greedy jerk. Seriously Manny, it's not worth it. I made a post in January about how he should be a Yankee, but that was then. A lot of people weren't signed then. He didn't seem like a jerk. I knew he loved money, but I thought he loved baseball more. Now that I've seen him sacrifice 2 weeks of spring training for an extra 500,000 dollars, which for him is like 50 cents to the most of the working world. What's wrong with him? He is a complete idiot. He doesn't care about anything but money. Now, I'm glad we never signed him. We didn't need him, and he would have just been a bad influence in the clubhouse. He would have been a liability defensively. He would have hurt more than he helped. I feel bad for Joe Torre. He's as good as anyone at handling people, and I still feel bad for him. He has to deal with a major headache. Another thing, Joe Girardi probably would never have been able to handle Manny. I'm really glad he's not a Yankee.

The guys a great baseball player, but thats all he is. The Dodgers are going to have a tough season. They don't care though, because they do need him. He, regardless of his personality, will be the reason the Dodgers are in the postseason this year.

What do you think?

Manny Still Not Signed

My first post when I opened this blog was that the Yankees should sign Manny Ramirez. At that point, I didn't realize that they couldn't sign any more Type A free agents, so they really can't sign him. However, I couldn't help notice that he still hasn't signed with anybody. Also, with all the A-Rod junk, he hasn't even been in the news. I'm honestly sick of hearing reporters say, "I think he will eventually be back with the Dodgers." He has rejected two offers from them, and I'm not even sure if they are still negotiating with him. If you ask me, they should stop pursuing him all together. Nobody else is really negotiating, and, because of his greed, he would end up not signed when the season starts. I honestly think that there is a possibility that might happen. Here are the places I think he might end up.

Los Angeles Dodgers - The only team that reporters think he will end up with. The only team that seems to be negotiating with him. I think that this will be the most likely team he ends up with.

San Francisco Giants - Unlikely, I really think. The Giants already have quite a lot of money invested in Zito, and that hasn't worked out. Yet. I don't think it ever will. However, he would really help them, and could be a big piece that would help them actually compete in the very weak NL West.

New York Yankees - The most unlikely of all the teams I am mentioning because they said they are out of it, and the 3 Type A Free Agent rule. However, like I said, it is starting to look like a real possibility that he won't be signed when the season starts. If he isn't signed, then the Yanks can take him if they need him or want him. Again, very, very unlikely, but more likely than some teams (Boston).

Texas Rangers - I don't know, I've heard it thrown out there a couple times. Texas could use him, and it's a great place to hit (We all saw how A-Rod hit there). It probably won't help that much. The only team that will do anything in the west is the Angels. 

All teams really sound unlikely except the Dodgers. However, if Manny continues all this greed and his turning to Scott Boras to try and get him his 25 million for 3-4 years, he will never get signed. He also, can't help but notice, but he also hasn't said anything publicly all offseason (except for his prediction that the Yankees will offer him 3 years). Who knows? Maybe he still thinks he can get the money and the years. He never came across as the brightest to me. If he does, he needs to get his head straight and accept anything that comes his way here on out or he won't be playing anywhere at all. The longer this goes on, the more I don't know where he will sign. The more likely it is that he won't be playing at all.

The guys a great player, but he needs to put aside his greed, forget the money (he has enough anyway, more won't change his life), and just sign. He also may need to go up to the Dodgers or wherever he wants to sign and start a negotiation himself, instead of waiting for a team to come to him. Because no team seems to be coming to him anymore. If he does these things, he will sign, and will have a great season!

So, where do you think he will sign?

Yankees Could, and Should Get Manny

Hi. My name is Dave, and this is a new blog dedicated entirely to baseball, specifically the New York Yankees. My first post will be on the Manny Ramirez debate, and, as many are wondering, where will he go?

 

Most people are saying he will go back to the Dodgers. I've heard some rumors about the Giants and Rangers, and even the Angels. I don't know about anyone else, but frankly, I don't believe any of them.

I don't see any reason why he can't go to the Yankees, especially when no other team seems to even be negotiating for him. He would be a perfect guy to protect A-Rod in the lineup, and the Yankees can have one of the most fierce lineups in Major League Baseball if Manny is added. If your top 5 is Damon, Jeter, Teixiera, Rodriguez, Ramirez, you would be unstoppable! Manny would take pressure off the rest of the order, and guys like Teixiera, A-Rod, and Robinson Cano would all improve their game. There are a few problems with it, but they are possible to get around.

The first, as people say, is his personality. No one, including me, will forget what he did to get out of Boston. But no one will also forget how he was the reason the Dodgers got into the playoffs last year. No one will forget that he hit almost .400 as a Dodger and hit a bunch of home runs, and then dominated the playoffs as well. Guys like Derek Jeter will deal with his personality in the clubhouse, and make sure he behaves. I don't think his personality should be a factor. The guy is one of the best clutch hitters in the game. Joe Torre said he was one of the hardest workers he had ever seen. The Yankees have missed clutch hits during the last 4 postseasons they have taken part in, and this guy can give it to them. You can't let this problem stop you.

The second problem, as you also probably know, is the cash. Brian Cashman is aiming to have a lower payroll than the 209 million they had in 2008. He has already hit the jackpot 3 times this offseason with the signing of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Mark Teixiera, but spent a lot of money in doing so. People will say "there is no way the Yankees can afford Manny Ramirez." I'm wondering if they thought it through.

CC Sabathia and Mark Teixiera make, on average, about 23 million a year. AJ Burnett makes about 17 million a year on average, a little less. That adds up to about 63 million spent. The Yankees shed close to 90 million by losing Mike Mussina, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Andy Pettitte, and others.  Manny has been said to want about 25 million a year. That would bring it to 88 million, about the same they had last year. However, they are shopping Nady and Swisher, and may be able to dump one of those contracts to lower the payroll so it still is less than last year. Also, if this market continues to pretty much shun Manny, he and Scott Boras may have to lower their cost, making it a perfect time to swoop in.

 

As you can see, it is possible to avoid the problems Manny might bring. And even if they do have to even their payroll to what they had last year to get him, don't you think they should? The Steinbrenners say every year that their number 1 goal is to put a championship team on the field. If Manny Ramirez can get them closer to that, then they should make that sacrifice.

 

What do you think? Please feel free to leave your thoughts, and remember this is may first blog entry, so there may be mistakes. If you find one, feel free to point it out. Thanks.