After being replaced for defensive purposes on Monday night Dodger left fielder Manny Ramirez didn’t stay around to watch his team in the ninth inning. Instead the unpredictable slugger decided to head for the showers and make sure he was looking good for any post game interviews. Only one problem with that theory Mr. Ramirez – your team gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lose 5-4 while you were covered in suds and warming up from a cool Philadelphia night.
It is becoming more and more obvious that Manny being Manny is really not worth all the trouble that comes with it. After an amazing stretch run for the Dodgers last year the real Manny has returned, complete with lacksadaisical play and a run in with the steroid police. If Ramirez wasn’t clearing his system of steroids this spring he was trying to enhance his chance of getting pregnant - so I will let you the reader figure out what was most likely going on. After a 50 game suspension and a weak second half, Manny Ramirez is clearly not what the Dodgers were looking for when they signed him to a two year contract that pays him 45 million dollars.
Perhaps the Red Sox weren’t so dumb when they saw the writing on the wall and managed to get Jason Bay in a trade for their one time disgruntled outfielder. Even if Bay leaves Boston as a free agent this winter the Red Sox clearly did the right thing. Now Ramirez is the problem of the Los Angeles Dodgers and I don’t see him declining that 20 million dollar option he has on his contract for next season. Good luck to Joe Torre and the rest of the Dodger franchise - you’ll need it.