Boston Red Sox - New Episodes of Manny Being Manny

This has become the most publicized event in spring training every year for the Six faithful. Following the same fashion as his Dominican com-padre Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, will be showing up to spring training late. It is to no surprise to any loyal Red Sox fan. The only surprising part about this story is the source from where the information came from, relief pitcher Julian Tavarez. The news did not come from owner, John Henry. It did not come from general manager, Theo Epstein. It did not come from manager, Terry Francona. It did not come from Dominican best friend and Boston hero, David Ortiz. And it did not even come from his agent, Greg Genske. Supposedly Manny's mother had an undisclosed surgery that will be keeping Manny from participating in spring training until March 1st. It is still not sure exactly what kind of surgery Manny's mother had, and we are not sure if Manny cares if he is missing from the beginning of spring training. From our prior knowledge of Ramirez, we know that he is probably not too concerned. The question here is, why do Boston fans seem not to care that Manny is showing up late?

Boston is known for being a tough town. A town that can turn on you in a heartbeat no matter how much you have done for an organization (remember Grady Little, Bill Buckner, Nomar Garciaparra, and Johnny Damon). But when it comes to Manny, Boston gives Ramirez a pass. This is just another episode of "Manny Being Manny". He sure is lovable, with his crazy hair, his crazy antics, and sometimes he will d something that you have never seen before. Like, playing an inning in the field with a water bottle in his back pocket, or going to the bathroom during a pitching change in the Green Monster, or even cutting a ball off in centerfold. All of these reasons would have a player casted far away from New England without anyone blinking an eye (remember Nomar Garciaparra, Carl Everett, and nightlife hopping Mo Vaughn).

The reason why all of Boston seems to turn their back on the antics of their motivationally challenged left fielder is because he hits. He does not just hit, he hits better than anybody at his position. Besides Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, and Vladimir Guerrero there are not many right handed hitters that can compete wit Manny. Manny may be aloof, but for as aloof as he is there is not a more consistent hitter out there. Manny hitting .300, dropping 35 home runs, and driving in 100 RBI is as guaranteed as your taxes. As long as Manny shows up to the park everyday looking to destroy a baseball over the Green Monster, Boston will continue not to care.

The Red Sox took 86 years to win a World Series. They went through a number f heartbreaking moments to convince fans that they were cursed. Red Sox fans will never forget that the MVP of the World Series was Manny. That is the point that fans from other towns is missing in this whole Manny being Manny drama. The Sox are not the Sox without Manny. David Ortiz would not be the type of hitter he is without #24 sitting behind him in the lineup. Fans know that Manny does not go through long slumps, so even when he is struggling at the plate it will not take a month for him to figure out his swing. And when Manny is hot, watch out! Ortiz may have won the clutch award due to his late inning heroics. Manny has done well when it has counted. In the playoffs he has hit .321, 7 home runs, and 22 RBI in 29 post season games. He produces.

Manny may not be able to play the best outfield, and he may not always show up on time, or show up at all. But when he does, Red Sox fans know that there are not many hitters in the game that strike fear in opposing teams like the one-two punch of Ortiz and Ramirez. So he will get his pass this time and if he feels like doing this again, he will receive another pass because Manny can say that he did something that Yaz, Williams, Fisk, Rice, Boggs, Clemens, Vaughn, and Nomar never could for Boston. That's bring home a World Series championship. Manny will always be remembered as the wacky left fielder that could flat out hit, hit his way to a ring. So bring it on Manny, give the fans the hits, the defensive mishaps, and the humor that goes along with cheering for you every season.