Did Manny's comments bother you?

[bigmike]

I feel like this could be a great discussion thread of what it's like to be a die hard fan (which we all know the feeling) and things of the like.

Did Manny Ramirez saying that it's not the end of the world if they lose bother you, as a fan?

Fuck, I forgot to add a poll.

[we are cured]

more fans should step back and examine the amount of passion and interest they place into their sports teams. there are obviously more important things going on in one's life and the world than whether or not the red sox win or lose. let's face it, if they lose, you still have to wake up and carry on the next day.

that being said, while what he said was true, ramirez picked the worst time to say it. the fans are paying a premium to watch playoff baseball and deserve 100% from all the parties associated with the team. manny made it sound like he didn't care about this - whether or not it was the truth, in professional sports its the perception that counts.

[HoustonCalling]

as a non-Boston fan i found it to be funny. if it came from a Yankee player i would probably be upset with it. as a fan, you live and die for a team and you want to know that the players feel as passionate about winning as you do.

in the grand scheme of thing, what Manny said makes sense, but when your getting pad what he does you would rather him not be making those comments. how a player acts and what they say effects not just the team but an entire fan base and city.

waiting for a manny being manny comment...

[LeftWideOpen]

this is a *non-story*

this is manny ramirez we are talking about. and reporters are blatantly leaving out the rest of his interview, where he said:

On the records he has set during this postseason: "It's good, but if I would known that I was going to be in the World Series and not have those records, I'd trade them in a heartbeat. Who cares about the records, man. We just want to go out, have fun and win."

On the ALCS, and being behind: "We've got a great team over here and the other side is playing great. They're pitching the way they should and they're coming through with big hits. What can you do? You just think about Thursday and you just try to come and play hard and have fun. It's not over yet."

that comment was blown WAY out of proportion.

[LeftWideOpen]

and i think it tells you something when the hyper-vigilent Boston media isnt even picking up this story. This is ESPN having a slow news day and begging for things to spice up the Sox/Indians coverage.

[bigmike]

I've been watching this discussion on Mike and Mike and I'm 100% with Mike Golic and I would classify myself as a die hard fan.

Golic said that for fans it's the feelings of "oh, I'd give my right arm to be playing baseball for a living" and for the actual athlete, this has been something they've been doing for 20-25 years.

We'll use Mike Golic as an example. When he was 12, he probably stuck out as just be a better athlete -- bigger, stronger, faster -- then most kids his age. And he had a goal of wanting to play football by the time he was probably entering high school. So he was working towards an NFL career from lets say 15-16 years old onward. That's at least 5-6 years before he even makes it to the NFL. So for an athlete, their particular sport has been their job for long before they were getting paid to do so. It's hard to be appreciative 100% of the time.

Manny's comments were bad timing simply because they're losing, but they're not losing because he's not performing. And while it doesn't give the impression that he's giving 100%, I'm sure this attitude of his isn't something that just switched on after their most recent loss to Cleveland, so he's produced at an all-time great level while not taking the game for more then just a game.

[bigmike]

this is a *non-story*

this is manny ramirez we are talking about. and reporters are blatantly leaving out the rest of his interview, where he said:

On the records he has set during this postseason: "It's good, but if I would known that I was going to be in the World Series and not have those records, I'd trade them in a heartbeat. Who cares about the records, man. We just want to go out, have fun and win."

On the ALCS, and being behind: "We've got a great team over here and the other side is playing great. They're pitching the way they should and they're coming through with big hits. What can you do? You just think about Thursday and you just try to come and play hard and have fun. It's not over yet."

that comment was blown WAY out of proportion.
I don't think it's a major story either, but really like you said, there isn't much else to talk about today, so I thought it's a very interesting topic to talk about. To sort of delve into the art of being a fan vs. what an athlete feels day-to-day doing what is his job when that 'job' is something most fans would kill to have the opportunity to do.

I found it interesting, at least.

[HoustonCalling]

i don't think his comments here intended to be the way everyone is portraying them. besides he's having a great post season. if he was 1-18 this series with no RBI's, it would be a different story.

[LeftWideOpen]

I don't think it's a major story either, but really like you said, there isn't much else to talk about today, so I thought it's a very interesting topic to talk about. To sort of delve into the art of being a fan vs. what an athlete feels day-to-day doing what is his job when that 'job' is something most fans would kill to have the opportunity to do.

I found it interesting, at least.

yah its an interesting discussion .. but i just take issue with espn's portrayal that this is all manny ramirez and that hes acting up again. that couldnt be further from the truth and its just an unnecessary distraction for the team now.

[HoustonCalling]

random question... someone on Mike and the Mad Dog called in yesterday and said that during Pedroia's first at bat, he attempted to slap the ball out of the glove of the first baseman when running to first (ala A-Rod) any truth to this?

[bigmike]

Wow. Wade Boggs on Mike and Mike is brutal. Someone should cut this phone call off. He's making no sense.

[ashesofapril234]

Wow. Wade Boggs on Mike and Mike is brutal. Someone should cut this phone call off. He's making no sense.
Couldn't agree more.

[LeftWideOpen]

Wow. Wade Boggs on Mike and Mike is brutal. Someone should cut this phone call off. He's making no sense.

lol seriously .. but thats wade boggs. as soon as i heard them introduce him, i knew not to take anything he said seriously. he probably spent the whole interview munching on chicken bones.

i loved how he got sidetracked and started ranting about a-rod not producing in the playoffs, without naming names of course. and his whole point of "who cares if a guy hits .220 in the regular season, as long as he hits .480 in the postseason!"

well, wade .. if your guys are hitting .220, you arent going to get to the postseason you dumbass.

[bigmike]

lol seriously .. but thats wade boggs. as soon as i heard them introduce him, i knew not to take anything he said seriously. he probably spent the whole interview munching on chicken bones.

i loved how he got sidetracked and started ranting about a-rod not producing in the playoffs, without naming names of course. and his whole point of "who cares if a guy hits .220 in the regular season, as long as he hits .480 in the postseason!"

well, wade .. if your guys are hitting .220, you arent going to get to the postseason you dumbass.
Hahah. Exactly. It's at those points in time when I wish I was one of the talk show hosts so I can say that. I hate when guys get on rambles and no one says anything to them despite the ridiculousness that spews from the caller.

[STSakaTRUTH]

This doesnt bother me... as they say its Manny being Manny. What does bother me is the optional workout yesterday... 3 position players didnt go....Ortiz didnt go, which i understand.. they want him in bed resting his knee... BUT for Lugo and Coco not to go is just ridiculous!!! They are playing AWFUL... they should def be there. Them not going says a lot about them.

[preppyak]

random question... someone on Mike and the Mad Dog called in yesterday and said that during Pedroia's first at bat, he attempted to slap the ball out of the glove of the first baseman when running to first (ala A-Rod) any truth to this?
Depends on how you look at it. I mean, the A-rod one he clearly slapped at the glove with his one hand and knocked the ball out. In Pedroia's case, he was in between sliding and standing up into first base, and to me it seem like the indecision/stumble kind of put him in a position where he landed on the first basemen's glove. I mean, if he was trying to knock the ball out there, I think he would have landed square on his face afterwards because he would have put more force into the slap.

At the end, he was out either way, so it is a non-issue

[Killadelphia]

No because it is the truth. He didn't say he doesn't want to win, but if they give their best and lose, it's not the end of the world. Baseball will be played again.

[kaskomm09]

I feel like this could be a great discussion thread of what it's like to be a die hard fan (which we all know the feeling) and things of the like.

Did Manny Ramirez saying that it's not the end of the world if they lose bother you, as a fan?

Fuck, I forgot to add a poll.

First off, I think this is an awesome topic/discussion and was intrigued by it on Mike & Mike this morning. I'm in the camp that it's a non-issue and not just because it's Manny and it's not his fault (his numbers have been there). One of my best friends growing up is involved in professional baseball and I've gotten so many stories from him that I see the game completely differently. The players don't care all that much -- they are doing what they like and making money. Baseball is such an individualized sport (there's not nearly the teammate interaction that there is in the other major sports) that this doesn't really bother me.

Wow. Wade Boggs on Mike and Mike is brutal. Someone should cut this phone call off. He's making no sense.

Wade Boggs is awesome. I hope people know how big of a boozer that man is. Rumors have it he once drank upwards of 60-70 beers on a cross-country day trip from NY to Seattle. Dude is the man.

[Drew Beringer]

Nah, Manny's comments didn't bother me. Fuck ESPN.

[crit]

No. Two reasons:
1. It's Manny.
2. .429, 1.894 OPS, 4 HR, 11 RBIs, 10 BBs.

[Talib Scottie]

I would die to hear A-Rod say that, maybe then he wouldn't press so hard and just hit the damn ball.

[kaskomm09]

For those of you saying it doesn't bother you bc it's Manny, (a) would it bother you if Manny was struggling this postseason? and (b) at what point, if at all, would it bother you regarding any other player and their performance?

[Talib Scottie]

It's not like he said he wasn't trying.

I mean, to me, he basically said they are confident, they are going to give it their all and there's no need in worrying over the outcome.

[LeftWideOpen]

im gonna say no and no because i dont think the comments were out of line in any way.

i also think its worth noting that in the same interview he said he'd give up all his records for another WS title. Manny is a laid back dude and the media, mike and mike especially, were just taking advantage of that to liven up a radio show and make a story out of something that has no legs.

[Talib Scottie]

and oh yeah "we're not going to give up."

[imirish06]

I don't mind but I was really annoyed with Golic today on Mike & Mike.

[jklo16]

It didn't bother me at all because I live in Ohio and am a die-hard Indians fan. In fact, it reminded me of why I'm glad he doesn't play for us anymore....though we could still use his bat from time to time.

If I weren't an Indians fan it wouldn't bother me because it's obvious he isn't going out on the field "not caring". He has been solid throughout the season and playoffs. They are just words.

[kshtoinks12]

It bothers me more as a fan that they let him play outfield.

[CarlMonday]

your act is tired, and nobody likes you (in life)

[Rockybehri]

This is a joke. Manny is ruthless, and people just can't understand it.

[asmolitor]

a) manny's postseason stats.
b) manny could care less about a lot of things. he's good and he knows it. the outcome of a game doesn't rest solely on him.
c) the same wade boggs who supposedly drank like 50 beers in a day as the legend goes?

[asmolitor]

First off, I think this is an awesome topic/discussion and was intrigued by it on Mike & Mike this morning. I'm in the camp that it's a non-issue and not just because it's Manny and it's not his fault (his numbers have been there). One of my best friends growing up is involved in professional baseball and I've gotten so many stories from him that I see the game completely differently. The players don't care all that much -- they are doing what they like and making money. Baseball is such an individualized sport (there's not nearly the teammate interaction that there is in the other major sports) that this doesn't really bother me.



Wade Boggs is awesome. I hope people know how big of a boozer that man is. Rumors have it he once drank upwards of 60-70 beers on a cross-country day trip from NY to Seattle. Dude is the man.

haha, i really hope someday this is proven. but i imagine all the fried chicken before games got him a little thirsty. and in boggs' world, a little thirsty = two cases.

[KarolaBloch]

Doesn't bother me. Mainly cause I feel he has a reputation of being lazy, and that's how people are taking it. I don't think he is lazy, sure he isn't a very spectactular left fielder, but he works really hard at batting. I don't really know any Boston fans who got bent out of shape over this. As the commentators said during the game last night, its being taken the wrong way.