Manny Ramirez from the SF Chronicle - 2/27/09

So I’m starting to notice that the San Francisco Chronicle puts out some cool pictures in the newspaper that aren’t available on-line…at least specific to Manny Ramirez.  This picture came out on Friday, just after the Dodgers and Giants played their first spring training game together (See last post).  I like this picture because it kind of sums of what is going on with Manny.  He is bigger than life at this point, and the game seems really small in comparison.

This whole Manny situation up here in SF is comical to me.  The Giants fans are salivating that the Dodgers can’t sign him, but that the Giants are in a perfect position to jump in and grab him.  Note to Giants fans – the Giants have yet to make him an offer.  If it took the Dodgers 4 times with nothing, how long it will take you when we all know he would rather play in LA?  I just really see the fans hoping he will come, but it doesn’t seem realistic.  Manny truly is still all over the talk shows and broadcasts up here, and now more than ever since it seems the Dodgers can’t get it done.

What’s going on with Manny and Scott Boras is a classic case of bad negotiations.  I guess you could say it is good negotiations in that both are holding to their wants, but it’s bad because the deal isn’t getting done.  They are fighting a public battle and both trying to keep respect even though they don’t respect each other.  The LA Times has done a fantastic job keeping the fans in the loop.  Apparently it comes down to deferred money versus actual money.

I honestly think the Dodgers lost major money last year.  I bet with the stadium fixes, and less people coming to the ballpark initially, that Frank McCourt took a hit.  True he went after his mansions, but I wonder if that was more a matter of housing prices falling rather than bringing in lots of money. His goal is to defer, defer, defer this year, so it makes sense that he wants to really come out in the plus next year to make up for this year.  Call it a hunch, but it would make sense.

The worst part for us fans is that what are we really getting with Manny at this point?  He is now a rental for 1 year until he can opt out to try and get a better contract.  Once he opts out, we get to go through this whole circus all over again next year.  Obviously Scott Boras and Frank McCourt aren’t getting along, so what is going to change? My concern is do the Dodgers really want a player who only half way wants to be there?  What a joke to the Dodgers as an organization.  Of course we want him, but how awkward will it be?

How do the Dodgers fix this?  Keep their word and hold strong.  Either hold to deferment and say no to Scott’s offer with a new one, or let Manny go.  I told you in a previous post that Manny had the leverage, but right now the Dodgers do as the only real taker for 2 years.  If they keep showing that time is running out for a good deal, then Manny will have to jump on board.  I saw a great post to an SF Chronicle article that recommended the Dodgers lower their offer by $500,000 a day until they reach the league minimum.  Not a bad idea.

Here’s an interesting idea for a blog post (Maybe I’ll have to ask Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness or Jon Weisman to do this one), how many of Scott Boras’ clients have actually been on teams that won the World Series?  Obviously Manny did it in Boston, but really, how many have rings?  What I’m really getting at is if Scott’s clients just bring in revenue, or if they can really get it done?  I have a hunch that less than half have won because if you pay their big money, you take away money from filling in a good team around them.   Who knows?  I’d love to hear comments on that one.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 28th, 2009 at 11:41 pm and is filed under Manny Rumors, Offseason Dodger News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.