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| Manny the miser
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Say what you want about steroids, but I think this kind of thing speaks much more loudly about Manny's character:
Joe Martinez, who pitched a rehab assignment for the San Jose Giants on Tuesday, made sure his temporary teammates ate well following Monday's game at John Thurman Field by paying for the post-game spread. It's not just a nice gesture, but it's one of the great traditions of minor league baseball. Whenever a major league player comes down to play in the minors for any reason, the player buys the post-game spread. It's both appreciated and expected.
Martinez, a big league pitcher for the first time this season for all of three days before getting hit by a line drive, makes the major league minimum of $400,000 and didn't think twice about reaching into his own pocket.
The above story is significant only because Manny Ramirez, in five minor league games split between Albuquerque and Inland Empire (San Bernardino) chose not to buy the spread for either his Isotopes or 66ers teammates. The above tidbit came in the form of a rumor spread among visiting scouts Monday night at John Thurman Field and confirmed Tuesday by a member of the Inland Empire front office staff.
Home Run Derby fills out the story nicely with multiple examples of big leaguers -- even guys who are considered surly, like Clemens and Randy Johnson -- going all-out to make life a little bit nicer for their hand-to-mouth minor league teammates during rehab assignments. No, Manny shouldn't have been expected to buy leather furniture like Clemens did when he rehabbed or a tricked-out bus like Michael Jordan did when he played in Birmingham, but you'd think at least he'd take the guys out for a steak or something.
(links via BTF)
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That is odd -- it would be the type of thing that he would do.
On the other hand, it may fit in with the "hitting savant" type personality. It's possible it never even ocurred to him that this is something he should do.
...and this is a surprise?
The man is a narcissist. I'm sure he's offended no one offered him a spread to thank him for his presence.
Hey times are tough we are in a recession. Maybe he should take the guys to Taco Bell for the late night fourth meal. It's cheap.
I bet there are dudes on that team who would appreciate even that.
He obviously forgot his days in the minor leagues. I'm sure he felt it wasn't worth his time associating with them since they are beneath him. I guess some would say that's just Manny being Manny. The guy is a joke.
He is a clown and now we all know he is a fraud as well as inconsiderate and selfish. I hope the media as well as the baseball writers keep him out of the HOF along with Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Palmiero, McGwire and AFraud.
I can't stand Manny and would be the absolute last person in the world to defend anything he does, but I'm just wondering...is it possible that he's spent so little time in the minors himself that he didn't know this is the tradition?
No Manny spent about three years in the minors before be broke in with the Indians in 1993. I think Manny thought they (minor leagers) were supposed to buy him dinner. SERIOUSLY!!!! What a TOOL!!!!
If Manny (or his agent?) had half a brain he'd be doing everything in his power to show people he's not a selfish jerk. Imagine if instead of stiffing them for a crappy lockeroom buffet he'd rented out a private room in a swanky restaurant and made a big public deal out of treating his teammates? We'd be saying "maybe he's not such a bad guy after all". Good riddance Manny. I'll take a team player who hustles on every play like Jason Bay over your loafing self serving *ss here in Boston any day of the week.
Manny Ramirez career OPS+: 156. similar batters: Griffey Jr., Frank Robinson
Jason Bay career OPS+: 130. similar batters: Geoff Jenkins, Ryan Klesko
Care to compare their numbers this year?
I can't resist pointing out their 2009 OPS+, which is the number sobrien used:
Manny: 194
Bay: 125
Yes, Manny missed a lot of games due to his own fault, but he's hit like a house on fire when he's played.
so, at what point does a player's personal deficincies outweigh his on-the-field performance? OPS+194...tremendous! Papelbon called Manny a "cancer"...his entitlement attitude is sickening...yup, he can flat out mash. But...again....at what point does a team say to itself that his baggage is just not worth it? Or, put another way, should a professional sports team have an expectation of moral behavior from their players, no matter how good they are? And is a lack of moral character a deal-breaker? The Giants reached that point with Bonds, there was little question that his abilities were still more than adequate, but they'd had enough. And then he couldn't get a job making minimum with any team in MLB. His baggage exceeded his considerable output. When does Manny get to that point?
There is no doubt that when the game is on the line -- bottom of the ninth, 2 out men on 2nd and 3rd and down by a run, I would want Manny at the plate. But I have to wonder how many rallies he didn't start by not running out those ground balls? If he had run hard and caused an error by the shortstop, got the team fired up in the third inning, then those late inning heroics would not have been needed! Those hard running players cause more problems for the defense then any slow trotting runner. That is the biggest problem Manny causes. He doesn't care to play all out 100 percent of the time, only when he knows that he will get on the highlight reel!
50 games without pay is enough to make anyone who had an 8 year $160m contract pinch the pennies.
I think we can safely assume it's not about the money. /sarcasm
As much as I'd like to say Manny did it on purpose my first instinct is that he didn't think of it, second is that he just didn't care. I doubt it's a money issue, I think it's an airhead / jerk issue.
manny=airhead, and everyone's surprised? did he even know he was in the clubhouse?
Why is this surprising? It is typical Manny. This is the same guy who refused to meet with Jimmy Fund kids and go to the White House during spring training just because he didn't want too.
I'm an avid red sox fan and I think this guy is a bum. He has always been a bum even when he played for the sox - not running out routine grounders and brain farts in the outfield. Now he is also a cheater and shouldn't be allowed to be part of the HOF.
Quoting OPS is a convient wayt o make Manny look like the far superior player. The advantage is significant, but any discussion of that trade should note that Manny is one of the worst fielding players in the leauge and a lousy base runner. Bay is no Endy Chavez in left, but he fields better than Manny and his base running is far superior as well. All told, the trade was value for value and the suspension really shifts it in favor of the Red Sox for this year. Players have to PLAY to be help their teams, after all.
I also read somewhere that he never has cash on him so his Dodger teammates are always buying him lunch. Imagine a guy making $25 million a year not being able to pay $15-$25 for a meal for HIMSELF. He's a f*cking retard.
We'll see how he hits now that he's off the estrogen/fertility drugs.
I want to see Manny FART INTO Craigs mouth, he would like that
Seriously kid, how old are you?
Manny wont realize what he had until he is retired and no one cares about him anymore.
It's to bad that a person with his talent does not have any respect for tradition. That is why he is in the news when there is no news. I wish him luck until he plays against the Cubs. I hope he'll grow up, he may just think that he's here to take as much money out of the US and he'll pay for the spread when he goes home.