Mannygate

I wasn't sure what to expect yesterday at Fenway Park. I can see both sides of the Manny situation: without his bat, the Red Sox would, as Joe Torre said, "never have hung those banners." But the end was brutal: quitting on the team, phantom injuries, disrespect to team employees.

I hadn't decided how to receive #99 when he made his first appearance by the time we got to the game, and then I reallized that the indecision WAS my decision: I couldn't bear to boo Manny, but neither did I think he deserved my cheers, and so I remained silent. When he came to the plate in the second inning, I think I was the only silent person in Fenway Park, as everybody got to their feet (you had to, just to be able to see). From where I was sitting, it sounded like the boos and cheers were about 50/50, and so my personal indecision felt defensible.

A bromance for the ages...

Not surprisingly, Ramirez is refusing to do any interviews while in town (he never particularly liked them), but he did speak animatedly with several current Sox players during batting practice, including Victor Marinez (whose son was in tow), and David Ortiz. While this was going on, people were cheering for Manny, and an usher stationed near my vantage point muttered, "steroid using asshole."

Of course, he said this loudly enough to be overheard, and several people looked at him in surprise: "What?" he asked, "I've been here twenty years... I know what goes on." This is an especially interesting tidbit when considering what really turned the tide on Manny's public opinion ratings was his mistreatment of another team employee, traveling secretary Jack McCormick.

It's worth noting that the team did nothing to stop Manny's skid from popularity. Manny Ramirez is exactly the kind of distraction that Theo does not want on the team, while Tito spent years trying - and apparently failing - to meet Manny's many needs, both on and off the diamond.

But through all the drama, we knew we were watching something special. Manny Ramirez has one of the most beautiful, effortless, right-handed swings in the game, and though a cynic might wonder how much of that power is due to chemical enhancement (especially since that incident with a certain banned women's fertility drug), from 2001 until mid-2008, no one was saying such things. It was "Manny being Manny," and we put up with all the lackadaisical defense and the off field antics, just for the chance to watch him belt one onto Landsdowne Street.

Thanks for the memories, indeed. And thanks for 2004, and for 2007.

But then it all came screeching to a halt, and I can remember the trade like it was yesterday: I was in the car, and I heard the news on WEEI. Unfortunately, the station was going in and out, and I didn't hear all of it, so I texted my baseball crazy cousin to confirm, and confirm he did. Manny was going to Hollywood, and we were getting some guy named Jason Bay.

Bay did a pretty good job, of course: he performed at a high enough level, with no off-field shenanigans, that some of us swore never to miss Manny. Last night, WEEI handed out posters that read "Who needs Manny?" and during that game, we didn't need him, and maybe we never did (depsite Papi's cries for lineup protection)... But it sure was fun watching Manny being Manny while it lasted. Happy trails, #99, I hope LA is treating you well.

Interleague Check-in

The elderly Jamie Moyer did us all a favor last night, allowing just three hits in eight innings as the Phillies took down the Yankees, 6-3. A.J. Burnett was terrible, going just 3.1 innings and giving up all six Phillies' runs. Meanwhile, the Rays were busy losing to Atlanta, as the Braves continued to roll, and the Sox took another game from the struggling Diamondbacks, putting them just 3 games back in the AL East.

In the last ten games, the Yankees are 7-3, the Rays are 5-5, and the Sox are 6-4. The teams have upcoming series against the Mets (37-28), Marlins (31-34), and Dodgers (38-27), respectively.

[NOT] Shockingly, the Red Sox are the only team in the group to be facing a first place team, as the interleague schedule continues. Personally, I always root for the National League - unless they're playing the Sox - since an AL loss can only be good for the Red Sox's standings. John Lackey goes tonight for the Sox, while the Yanks have the red-hot Pettitte, and the Rays will run out Shields.

Redemption?

Clay Buchholz had an uncharacteristically poor start his last time out (it's worth noting that 7IP and 3 earned runs has become a "poor" performance by the emerging ace), and I'm sure he's eager to redeem himself tonight against the Diamondbacks.

Poor Arizona. The D-backs have won just nine games on the road compared to twenty-two losses, including a ten game road losing streak. On the other hand, their scheduled starter, Ian Kennedy, is 3-3 with a 3.17 ERA.

That's pretty good, but it's not the 8-4, 2.52 ERA belonging to Buchholz. I'm off to Fenway Park for tonight's game, which is why this is so short (sorry!). I'll be sure to be back tomorrow and share my reaction to Clay's start.

D-Ellsbury

Jacoby Ellsbury has played in exactly nine games for the big club this season. Yes, he has been injured. But he's rapidly getting a reputation as a "JD Drew" type player. In fact, Drew has missed just three games this season, but that's not the point: as a player, JD is viewed as "soft." He has a reputation for requesting time off for the slightest of ailments, and hangnail jokes are commonplace.

The perception in some circles is that agent Scott Boras is pulling the strings: fearful playing at less than 100% might hurt Ellsbury's numbers in an eventual arbitration hearing, Boras cautions him to take it slow.

Uncharacteristically for the organization, Dr. Thomas Gill spoke out about the situation: "It's simply not there," Gill said. "But whether it's there or not is not medically relevant. You treat it exactly the same."

The Red Sox have been more vocal than normal about their frustrations with the fragile Ellsbury, which is to say that they've actually let on that they're upset. Tito, who is famously tactful, has mentioned some concerns publicly, and the club sanctioned a "conference call with reporters to address what [Dr. Gill] called 'misconceptions.'"

This issue has divided Red Sox Nation. Essentially half the fanbase wants Ells to suck it up and get back on the field, while the other half is livid at the first half for insinuating that Golden Boy is less than perfect.

As for me...? I'm leaning toward the former: I don't want Ells to hurt it worse, but if no further structural damage is being risked (as Dr. Gill and Tito insinuated), it's time to put his teammates before his stats. The team needs him, even if he's only 60-80%. But that's just my opinion... feel free to share yours!


[All quotes in this post found on the Boston Globe Online]

Quote of the Day

Today's quote comes from the Celtics' Nate Robinson, and he's referring to the dominant performance turned in by Big Baby Davis and himself:

"We're like Donkey and Shrek."

I love you, Nate Robinson. LOVE.

Masterful Performance

If we had to take a beatdown, I'm at least glad it came at the hands of this man:


Seriously, the one time this season Masterson dominates, we're on the receiving end. If I didn't know Masterson was too nice to have an once of revenge in him, I'd say this was payback for trading him last summer.

Now, I wouldn't go back and undo what was done, but last night's performance FINALLY vindicated me for promising a Cleveland fan (they do exist!) that he'd love Masterson. Last year's trade was special in a couple of ways: it made both clubs happy (at least for a time), and it made both players tear up.

Both VMart and Masterson had an unusually high level of attachment to their respective teams, and were extremely taken aback by the trade. And last night, in a particularly ironic twist, VMart mustered one of just two hits allowed by Masterson in a complete game shutout.


I would say I'm happy to concede a game to the struggling Indians, but that would be a lie - especially since both Tampa Bay and New York won last night. I'm counting on Jon Lester to put away Mitch Talbot tonight, and get our boys back on track before interleague restarts.

Slow it down, Cooperstown.

Stephen Strasburg made his Major League debut last night. If you don't know who he is yet, you've been living under a rock, but here's some background: the young righthander was the number one pick in the draft exactly one year ago, chosen by the Nationals, and he was being talked about as a future Hall-of-Famer before he threw a pitch in the majors.

Yes, Strasburg had an impressive debut. He pitched seven innings, striking out fourteen batters, and throwing 94 pitches, 65 for strikes. According to MLBNetwork, a DC area restaurant just unveiled a new dish, the "Strasburger," named, or course, for the young phenom. But before we put in the order for the the 21-year-old's Cooperstown plaque, let's remember that this was against the moribund Pirates, that he's barely of legal drinking age, and will be dealing with HUGE expectations. Hell, he's so new that baseball-reference doesn't even have him in their major league section yet.

Yes, Strasburg was very poised; he did everything right, but for me the most impressive number was 40,315. The Nationals sold out their stadium last night, and so the accolades for Strasburg as a franchise rescuer were clearly warranted. Here's hoping Strasburg lives up to everything the Nationals hoped for - and that he plays his entire career in the National League.