Keep Manny

The Soxaholix said it right [again]: "it comes on suddenly a couple a times a year like a case of the runs."

Does it ever. Yesterday it was Gerry Callahan in the Herald: The Sox got six good years out of him. He turns 35 in May. They shouldn’t push their luck. The night before that was Evan Brunell of All-Baseball: It doesn’t seem like a long shot. As a matter of fact, it seems like we could get some actual value in return. And today it's Himself, the CHB, in the Globe: Rats. I was pretty sure Manny Ramírez was going to win the MVP award. Too bad he was topped by winner Justin Morneau, runner-up Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and an ensemble cast of American League worthies.

What gives? Do they think Mr. Ramirez's skills are on the decline? No; all expect comparable production in future years. Do they think Mr. Ramirez is disruptive in the clubhouse? No; David Ortiz likes him as a friend as much as he likes him as lineup protection. The CHB trots out some mangled tripe about how Manny "gave up" on the Red Sox after they were knocked out. Guess what: Terry Francona gave up too. It was over. I gave up on the Red Sox by September 1st. Manny has shown that he's driven by competition, and he performs when it matters (as CHB duly notes, he was MVP of the 2004 World Series).

The other two writers focus on the craziness of this year's market. I don't know if they're channeling the "Great in '08" movement, but if this year's market is so tight, doesn't that precisely mean we shouldn't so much as budge on Ramirez? If he's a bargain I want him! The suggested trades involve prospects, second-rate outfielders, and pitchers who need "readjustment". Like Byung-Hyun Kim, maybe?

How about this: we have a future Hall of Famer still putting up peak numbers. Let's let him enjoy Brazil all winter, and then hand him a bat somewhere around February 26th, and let him do what he's done the past six seasons. If we're in tight competition, I expect him to be focused. If we're out of it in August, I expect him to lose interest. Just like me.