What is Digg?146 Comments
- rustygb, on 08/15/2008, -5/+32"Blow up your franchise?" Are you kidding? He won Boston their first two World Series championships of the modern era. He was the fiercest hitter in the AL for nearly a decade. He owes Boston nothing. Especially given Boston's track record of running its recent heroes out of town (see Nomar, Lowe, and Pedro). Loyalty is a two-way street, and I'm sick of the Red Sox Network (ESPN) crying about it.
- Platanoranger, on 08/15/2008, -4/+23I suggest the first base coach hold a bag of his money. That way he might have a reason to haul ass.
- hammer310, on 08/15/2008, -8/+23Many people say it's just Manny being Manny, but when he goes in the locker room and takes a nap when the game is going on that's just a bit too far. Plus the fact that he doesn't put forth any effort in the outfield, he's a horrible role model for other players indeed.
- VicHislop, on 08/15/2008, -0/+13Did you actually read the "stupid" article prior to burying? I'm just curious, because your conclusion doesn't seem based upon anything contained within it.
- FreshHaikus, on 08/15/2008, -1/+11What the heck? Did any of you even read the article/follow baseball at all?
Not only are the Dodger's not paying Manny $100 million dollars, but they are actually paying him $0 (the Red Sox agreed to pay the remaining $7 million on his contract just to get him out of town).
The precedent the article talks about is the fact that Manny was able to strong arm the Red Sox into trading him (and getting rid of the two club options for the next two years) so he could get a new, long term deal from some sucker. (The Dodger's arn't even frontrunners to sign him).
Basically, this is something you see happen all too often in football but never baseball. - sketcher67, on 08/15/2008, -2/+11We're cheering because the Dodgers still haven't paid him ***** and we're getting W's out of it.
- David513, on 08/15/2008, -0/+9Jayson Stark is an idiot. He talks of loyalty and such, but baseball is a BUSINESS, just like driving a truck or selling advertising. If a competitor comes along and is willing to offer you more money, what's wrong with taking it? If a FedEx driver takes a job at UPS for more money (or vice versa), it's just competition. It's the same in baseball. If the Dodgers are stupid enough to offer him that kind of money, Manny Ramirez is perfectly reasonable to take it. He doesn't owe anything to his former co-workers (aka teammates) or his former employer (aka "the franchise"). The sooner people get over the romantic notion that professional sports are about "loyalty" and such tripe, the better. It's just an entertainment business. The Dodgers seem to be making a stupid decision that will hurt them (and maybe the marketplace) in the future, but Ramirez is smart to take the money. There's no reason to criticize him about it.
- sketcher67, on 08/15/2008, -1/+10I hate watching ESPN baseball for that same reason.
- serif69, on 08/15/2008, -2/+10"Manny is an *****."
"Oh, that's just Manny being Manny!"
"Oh. So Manny is BEING an *****. I get it." - chezidom, on 08/15/2008, -1/+9its not that easy biach
- VicHislop, on 08/15/2008, -0/+7The headline (as usual for Digg) is misleading. The Dodgers haven't paid Manny $100 million. The entire article spoke to the question of whether any team would pay him that sum after this season, and the consequences that would arise if a team (foolishly) gave out such a contract.
- VicHislop, on 08/15/2008, -4/+11Jayson Stark is a Boston fan? General managers (of other teams) from around the league are Red Sox fans? Really?
I'm sorry but it's absolutely disgraceful that Manny decided to essentially opt-out of his contract in the middle of the season. By making up injuries, refusing to play (particularly in the last series against the Yankees), and generally being uncooperative, Manny not only failed his teammates, but also completely disrespected all that have ever played professional baseball. - MoralThreat, on 08/15/2008, -0/+7As a Giants fan I have no problem with this.
I have a problem with my team sucking ass. - Clinojim, on 08/15/2008, -1/+8Wow, Manny sure did dog it for the Red Sox this year, he only hit .299/.398/.529 for them before the trade. If that's a loafer trying to suck to get out of a contract, I'll take 8 loafers for my team please.
- BigPapi, on 08/15/2008, -0/+6It wouldn't do any good. He once left a $40K check in the glove compartment of his Lamborghini and forgot about it.
- Belittle82, on 08/15/2008, -9/+15This makes absolutely no sense. The Dodgers aren't paying Manny at all. The Red Sox are paying him for the rest of the season even though he is on the Dodgers.
Don't blame Manny for a broken system. - serif69, on 08/15/2008, -2/+8***** the first base coach, they'd have to make the whole ball out of money so he'd actually track something down in the outfield.
- Clinojim, on 08/15/2008, -0/+5Exactly, poo pooing the dodgers for trading for him, or for the dodgers fans for cheering for him really reeks of sour grapes, and maybe even damage control considering how well Manny has been playing since the trade.
- KittySpark1es, on 08/15/2008, -0/+5I think there's just a lot of people who are just upset that he's doing so well in LA.
- rustygb, on 08/15/2008, -2/+6Exactly my point. The Red Sox did the best for themselves by ridding the team of a few hometown heroes. Manny did the best for himself by insuring that he would get a new contract. The behavior on both sides is exactly the same.
And if you really don't hate Manny, maybe you should call off the attack dogs like Peter Gammons, who said that what Manny did was WORSE THAN TAKING STEROIDS. Talk about ridiculous demonizing. Give me a break. - ajwinder, on 08/15/2008, -3/+7Oh come on, Manny disrespected the Boston Red Sox. It's nothing everyone outside that state has done already, probably many times in their lives.
Get over it. But hey, at least I got my daily confirmation of how ridiculous and petty people from Boston are. - j0se, on 08/15/2008, -1/+5Hes doing good with the Dodgers. But I really don't think the they will keep him for next year. He's going to want to much and the Dodgers are known for building a young franchise with their farm system. It would be great but I don't think they will cop out.
- inactive, on 08/15/2008, -1/+5Buried because I hate sports whiners.
- GregFD3S, on 08/15/2008, -2/+6Manny listens to his MP3 player when he is in the outfield.
- FreshHaikus, on 08/15/2008, -0/+4You don't get the appeal of porn?!??!
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____ - DinosWillDie13, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3The Dodgers aren't paying him anything right now. They just took him off the Red Sox hands. The are not setting a precedent.
And there is no way in hell he will get 100 million over four years from anyone, especially not the Dodgers. Buried for the misleading title; I thought this was actually news. - EtherGnat, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3"and people wonder why tickets are expensive..."
You've got it backwards. Tickets are so expensive because that's what people are willing to pay. That along with all the other revenue streams (TV, merchandising, etc) allow clubs to pay so much for players. - inactive, on 08/15/2008, -1/+4Racist? Go ***** yourself. Calling a guy a piece of ***** for giving up on his team is not racist.
Clemens retired after playing out his 1-year contract, then came out of retirement and signed with the Astros, he didn't screw the Yankees.
Damon didn't quit on his team, he left after the season, via free agency.
As for Manny, I guess you see nothing wrong with just quitting on your teammates and fans. - freebird09, on 08/15/2008, -1/+4True. As a Sox fan, I can tell you I couldn't be happier to get his lazy ass out of Boston and have him replaced with a great ball player with a true love for the game and not just the money.
- ModernDayDarwin, on 08/15/2008, -1/+4That's funny, if a competing business comes along and tries to offer me more money I have to tell them sorry, but I'm under a non-compete agreement and will not be available for 3 years.
- rightbrainnow, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3Ive got my fingers crossed that nobody says this is just "Manny being Manny".
- VicHislop, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3That still doesn't make any sense. Manny was hitting very well when they traded him. Meaning he WAS producing, albeit when he played. That is the important part. He was being paid to play and he quit on the team. In the past, fans and the team were fine with his actions as they were generally innocuous (going into the wall to make a phone call, bringing an iPod out into the field, staring at home runs, et cetera). This time, he quit. Of course he is going to be run out of town. No player who respects his teammates or the sport does that. (Although I will concede that the team did allow him to do the same thing previously when he just shut it down for the rest of the season when the Sox were out of contention.)
There aren't any "cry-babies" here other than Manny himself. - geoff1210, on 08/15/2008, -1/+4I always hated him, he didn't hustle, he didn't have sportsmanship, and he didn't care. These past two seasons were worse than normal. Last season he took a few weeks off, because he could. This season, he just stopped producing all together, and thats not because he wasn't in his prime. He is doing great now in LA, meaning he just stopped ***** playing in Boston. We paid him a lot of ***** cash to play baseball, and he didn't, but you have an issue with sox fans calling that unacceptable?
He hit the ball well, but I would take a player like Pedroia over him any day. - thinkindiff, on 08/15/2008, -0/+3They haven't paid him a cent. It's quite an investment.
- geoff1210, on 08/15/2008, -1/+4racist? are you sure thats the right word for what you are saying?
also, These past two seasons were worse than normal. Last season he took a few weeks off, because he could. This season, he just stopped producing all together, and thats not because he wasn't in his prime. He is doing great now in LA, meaning he just stopped ***** playing in Boston. We paid him a lot of ***** cash to play baseball, and he didn't, but you have an issue with sox fans calling that unacceptable?
yeah, he won us two rings, but that doesnt mean we are obligated to put up with a player not playing.
"Oh, wait, we won last year? Ok Manny, just ***** around a bit and hit the ball if you feel like it. Whatever, we can shell out 20 million for you to nap if you'd like." - jmpeagle, on 08/15/2008, -1/+4yeah...he's picking on those billionaire franchise owners
- BigPapi, on 08/15/2008, -3/+6Yeah because the Red Sox would be in such a great position if they still had Pedro, Lowe and Nomar. Pedro was asking for a 4 year contract even though his x-rays clearly showed that he wasn't durable enough honor it. Two years later he's out for a whole season. Nomar's departure was a shock, but getting Doug, Cabrera and Roberts won us the WS. Even though D-Lowe helped us win the WS, he was a ***** head case for most of the season. If he didn't eat the same meal at the same restaurant on any day that he pitched in Boston, then he would freak out.
The people in Boston don't hate Manny or feel like he owes them anything. They're just disappointed that he didn't want to be here anymore. - opensourcer, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2treating him so well while you can't discipline him is just not good for the clubhouse atmosphere. He is not respecting his teammates, his team, and the game of baseball. Those are the things that contribute to his paycheck. Where are the classy ballplayers?
- BigPapi, on 08/15/2008, -4/+6Not to mention that Manny pushed one of the front office staff members because they couldn't get any tickets to a game for his family. As a Boston fan, I loved seeing him play but was both sad and relieved when he left. When the trading deadline came near, he made it perfectly clear that he wanted out. There wasn't much the front office could do at that point because there was a good chance that he would sit out the rest of the season if he felt like it.
- natenovs, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2" If he didn't eat the same meal at the same restaurant on any day that he pitched in Boston, then he would freak out."
who the hell cares? you red sox fans think you own these guys... - jdpafundi, on 08/15/2008, -1/+3Haha nice analysis there. I'm sure everyone will agree with you that I'm paying to watch people play catch.
Way to be oh so tough on the internet calling me a bitch. Funny thing is, I'd snap your bony body in half in a matter of seconds. Now go out and call someone a bitch to their face.
Another fun fact, I actually DO play sports AND watch them. AMAZING! I'll tell you what is pointless, commenting on a sports article when you think sports is pointless. - blahhhhhh, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2Boston is paying his contract to play for the Dodgers for the rest of the season and we gave up absolutely nothing! Your team would do the exact same thing if they had the chance. Thanks again Boston! We really do appreciate it:)
- shutaro, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2This is just Manny being Manny.
- David513, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2That's one of the reasons why I prefer college sports. Although a number of top college athletes will eventually be pros (and some even get money under the table while in college), most of the kids are there because they want to be playing for a particular school. There's more genuine emotion and more of a reason for a long-term connection to a team, IMO.
- revdrtomb, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2The Red Sox network is NESN, not ESPN. The team didn't run Pedro out of town; it made him a generous three-year offer that he turned down to take the Mets' four-year offer. (And in the end, Boston's concern with Pedro's arm holding up through the four years was accurate.)
Manny was great, but the person who carried that team to its '04 World Series championship was Ortiz, not Manny. Ortiz had almost every game-winning hit during that playoff run. Last year, they both had big hits. - WhoDoneIt, on 08/15/2008, -2/+4Who's the sloppy guy with the keyboard?
- WhoDoneIt, on 08/15/2008, -2/+4"It would, in effect, be an open invitation to every selfish superstar in baseball to pull a Manny. Act up. Stop hustling. Stop trying. Refuse to play. Make up an injury. Whatever you have to do to get back out there on the free-agent market. It's all worth it."
Simple solution. Don't pay the ***** this. Let them whine, let them cry and let them leave the sport. See if I care. There will always be great players coming onto the roster. Up and coming stars. You CAN set an example by refusing to pay that much. It won't take long before they realize if they don't play fairly, they won't have ANY money at all. - SnapETom, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2More ***** from ESPN. Of course Stark would write something like this - he's a typical Boston/NY bitch.
A couple of weeks ago, Nomar called out the Boston front office. When you're a superstar in Boston and you don't fit in with the FO's plans, they start to push you out. It happened with Clemens. It happened to Nomar. It happened to Nomar. It happened to Damon. It now happened to Manny. All Manny did was be more vocal about it and call out the FO. Now guys like Stark just take what Manny does on the surface and not examine the Boston FO's actions and motives. - sharternarter, on 08/15/2008, -1/+3Whoever wrote this article is a ***** moron. Playing baseball is his job, he does it for money. He doesn't love your team, he doesn't give a *****. He loves your team about as much as you love the company you work for, and if another company is going to pay him more to do his job, then he is going to leave the first company and join the one who pays more. It's business.
- rockstar1o9, on 08/15/2008, -0/+2>>It would, in effect, be an open invitation to every selfish superstar in baseball
>>to pull a Manny. Act up. Stop hustling. Stop trying. Refuse to play. Make up
>>an injury. Whatever you have to do to get back out there on the
>>free-agent market. It's all worth it.
I'm all for it. Obviously players are taking a HUGE gamble by holding out & demanding trades so they do this at their own risk. Most players aren't in a position to even consider it. This situation really isn't much different than what A-Rod did in Texas, and again last year by as a Yankee by opting-out. Guys like Manny and A-Rod single-handedly carry an entire team on their shoulders (which Manny has clearly demonstrated the last couple of weeks). The Dodgers were crap in a crap division before he arrived. I say if you're really THAT good, then go right ahead and get your due.
When players have an over-inflated opinion of themselves (ahem Bonds), the market will step in and put them in their place. If any team will pay Manny $25mil/yr, knowing all the potential baggage he brings, that's the price set by the market. Don't blame the worker. -
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