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Manny Being Manny

11/05/08 at 06:54 PM by WFUJerseyJon

Here is yet another blog entry I've been trying to write for weeks. However between work and apartment-sitting in an apartment with no internet, I'm only getting around to it now.

With Manny Ramirez entering free agency, it's no question he will go wherever the money is, especially with Scott Boras as an agent. Despite being one of the greatest right handed hitters of all time, he has played for three teams in his 16 seasons, and always manages to wear out his welcome before his team would like. And of course, being that he's interested in the money side of things, one of the main teams in the mix for this incredibly talented clubhouse disruption are my beloved New York Yankees.

I cannot begin to describe how much this possibility irritates me. Regardless of the fact that A-Rod/Manny would be one of if not the most lethal 3/4 combos of all time, this cannot and should not happen. Forget the fact that he's a terrible teammate, that he's bat shit crazy, that he's a clubhouse disruption, or that he's a terrible fielder. These are all near guarantees wherever he winds up. There's a bigger argument to be made, and it's because of this argument that I am appalled Hank Steinbrenner and the Yankees front office are even entertaining this signing.

Manny Ramirez is a First Ballot Hall of Famer

This is incontrovertible in my mind. He has 527 home runs and counting, 2392 hits, a career .314 batting average, and many more stats that lend HOF credence to his resume. So why wouldn't I want someone with that resume on the Yankees?

Manny Ramirez Will Be Wearing a Red Sox Hat on His Plaque

Manny played 967 games with Cleveland, who he came up with, compared to 1083 games with the Red Sox (and 53 with the Dodgers). As if games played weren't enough, Manny helped reverse "The Curse" and brought Boston their first two World Series rings since 1918. He was the centerpiece of a truly historic, albeit despicable, run in baseball history, and will forever be immortalized in that uniform.

Manny Ramirez Would Be Immensely Successful in Pinstripes

Like I said earlier, teaming him with A-Rod would give the Yankees a power duo the likes of which hasn't been seen since the M & M boys. He showed, especially with the Dodgers, that he's still capable of dominating at the plate. So why wouldn't I want this future Hall of Famer on the Yankees? It's simple actually.

Signing Manny Ramirez, especially on the eve of new Yankee Stadium's opening, would ruin any integrity and legitimacy the Yankees, as a franchise, still currently have. Some sins can't be unwashed, and Manny's damage to the Yankees during his Red Sox years was monumental. What happens when Manny opens the new stadium tattooing the ball. We CANNOT have the new stadium being dubbed 'The House That Manny Built'. That is entirely unacceptable. At some point, regardless of the potential success this might bring, you have to stop and look at your organization. Certain bonds can't be unbroken, and this is the typical example of that.

So please, Hank Steinbrenner, this lifelong Yankee fan is begging you, do not sign Manny Ramirez. Starting pitching is a greater need for our team anyway. And Pinstripes would look quite slimming on one Mr. Sabathia.

Tags: Sports, Baseball, Yankees, Red Sox, Manny Ramirez

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