Manny Ramirez - LA Times - Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire

I was gone this week at a training in San Diego, and thankfully, the Dodgers just kept on rolling.  Two from the Phillies is pretty good.  The offense is still strong…but the pitching is still suspect.  Even without Manny, they will need to solve pitching.

Apparently Manny stopped by to apologize to the team the other day.  I’m glad Frank McCourt made him do it.  Manny screwed up.  Living in secrets only leads to more assumptions.  At least the players could see how he reacted and make their decision on their own on his sincerity.  From the reports he was definitely sincere.  I don’t agree with what he did, but I think this is more of a baseball problem now than just a Manny problem.  Baseball has turned its head to this for a long time, so Manny is just another one in the crowd. You can throw him under the bus, which people have done, but baseball hasn’t.  The fan money coming in is still too strong for superstars.  Until there are lifetime bans, or at least 3-5 year bans, this will continue and more will fall.

I personally believe that Manny really does regret how this has affected the fans in L.A.  Despite the off-season contract hold-out, I believe he really wanted to be in L.A., and wants to say here for a little bit.  I’ve read a lot of articles for this site, and I have been able to read between the lines.  He is definitely disappointed he got caught more than anything, but Manny does live for being the hero everyone loves.   He was the hero in L.A., and he now knows how much people did adore him…before.  He will be loved again, but he knows not in the same way.  A lot of fans have crossed to the other side.  Who knows how much damage he did to his body, but the damage will be forever done in the minds of the fans.

On a side note, I had a Giants fan tell me the other day that the best part of Manny being caught is that he is still in my picture at the top of this website.  I’m not sure what I’m going to do with that now.  I love that picture, but it is kind of silly to have that picture up there when he is suspended.  What do you think?  Change the picture, or leave it?  Leave your comment below.  If anyone has a picture of Pierre from SF, I’ll definitely consider that.  He’s on-fire right now.

Manny Ramirez - ESPN.com - Gary A. Vasquez/US Presswire

Ahh, so happy days are here again. Manny is officially a Dodger, and there was collective deep breath taken by all Dodgerfans. He is legit. He’s here for at least a year, and according to interviews he wants to be here. The signing of Manny was kind of like the weather here today in the Bay Area. Stormy at first, but sunny this afternoon. The ride was rough, but everything is bright now.

Let me be the first to say I was wrong. I was wrong here on this blog stating that he would get 4 years and that he had the last leverage. It ends up both had the leverage. Manny wanted to play and saw that the money was good given the economical circumstances. Frank McCourt saw his beautiful new Spring Training home not sell out on the first game and heard everyone ask about Manny. He knew what he had to do.

I wanted to pass on to all Dodgerfans this link to Jayson Stark’s article on ESPN.com. This was by far the best article I read today regarding the Manny signing. I seriously wonder how many articles were written about Manny in the last two days (I saw at least 20-30 just on 4 websites). This truly was the news of the off-season. Everyone was interested, and everyone had their opinions. The best part of this article was the story of how Frank McCourt really wanted to make sure Manny was ready to be a leader both on the team, as well as in the community. That is very cool that he wanted Manny to give 1 Mil to the Dodgers charity. From a tax point of view it’s good for Manny and for a just good thing for the community, it’s a great thing. It sounds like Manny did want to be a Dodger and hopefully he’ll be one even longer than this year.

I do give Frank McCourt credit. He came out looking good in all this. He didn’t overpay, he held his respect with Boras, he held out for the fans, and he is looking out for the Dodgers. I really think he will be remembered kindly in the future. What other owner of late has done so much for the fans in terms of spending, a new spring training facility and fixing up Dodger stadium? He has invested wisely and I think the fans will continue to respect him for it.

Here’s the other reason I was wrong. I had no idea on the power of Manny. I did, but I didn’t, even in myself. I thought the Dodgers could live without him at one point, but he brings too much. He brings hope. He brings flavor. He brings a bat. Suddenly the Dodgers are favorites and they have one of the best players in all of baseball on their team. It’s been a long time since that was the case going into the new season. The pitching is soft, but with Manny, there is hope and confidence.  You watch, the tickets are already starting to come in for the McCourts.

The best part of the day? My conversation with a Giant’s fan this afternoon. We were talking about Manny and what a difference he will make, and he ended by saying, “We should have signed Manny.” That’s the sweet part of this living up here. The Giants lost Manny to the Dodgers. It wasn’t ever a real possibility for them, but to most Giant fans, there was the hope of a slugger. They lost that hope today and it went to the Dodgers. Once again, the fans up here know the Dodgers got the better player, and now have the better team. Happy days are here again.

Hey Ned and Frank, next time your up here, let me know.  I’ll buy you a beer.  Thanks for seeing this one through…and making sure I don’t have to change my banner image above!

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.

Manny Ramirez - Matt York/AP

So one of the benefits of living in Giants Territory is that I do get a good window of what Giants fans are thinking.  This issue of Manny has really tripped them up.

The Dodgers would be equally torn if they were looking at him for the first time.  But since he came in and basically was the MVP for the end of the year, they can look past all of his faults.

Manny is still all the talk on the talk shows up here.  I’m heard a lot of good arguments up here, most of which are really valid.  There are definitely too camps.

The first camp says take him now and pay the money.  They believe that with their strong pitching rotation (the Dodgers can only dream of a rotation that deep right now), that they just need one bat to really contend.  Many analysts feel that getting Manny would put them favored in the division, bring in ticket sales and make them a winning team for the first time in 6 years.  (Yeah – 6 losing seasons and the natives are definitely restless.)

The other camp says that Manny would not be worth the cost.  Not just in actual dollars, but in what would happen once he got there.  The Giants don’t have a strong hitters lineup.  They have Aaron Rowand and Benjie Molina, but no one that could really protect Manny.  Because of this they feel adding Manny will just be like Bonds a few years ago, where every team just  walks him to get to the weaker better.  Honestly, I think they are totally right.  Not that the Dodgers are a ton better, but they definitely are stronger than the Giants in terms of pop in the lineup.  Adding Manny to the Giants would not be the same as adding him to the Dodgers because he just wouldn’t have the protection or leadoff guys to support Manny.

Even more, if they add Manny, it would be for a long term deal, which goes against their rebuilding with youth.  I heard Dwayne Kieper (Giants radio announcer) on the air yesterday saying that they figured last year would be the worst, this year would hopefully bring a winning record, and next year they would be in the playoffs.  Adding Manny short circuits this, but also adds an aging outfielder they have to maintain and deal with.

It is interesting too all of the rumors on how Manny is in the clubhouse.  Most ball players and announcers like him, but the Red Sox players agreed to dump him last year, so who really knows.  I’m sure he’s a driven athlete (he has to be to be Hall of Fame caliber), but he does polarize, and his baggage of faking injuries speaks loudly.

I still don’t think the Giants are major players unless it is a 1-2 year deal.  Even then, I would think the Dodgers could easily outbid them for that length of a contract.

I will say this, as much as I don’t want Manny to be Giant (it would be horrible up here), I would at least have a lot to blog about for many years.  Let me know your thoughts on Manny being walked…

Manny Ramirez with MLB.com

Let me be specific with this.  I don’t know if it will be 3 yrs with an option, or just 4 years, but I do believe Manny will get 4 total years with the Dodgers.

This off-season has been all about leverage.  The Dodgers played theirs, while so did Boras and Ramirez.  In the end though – who will end up with the last leverage?  Manny.  Absolutely Manny, and not the Dodgers.  There may be a little bit of a compromise, but it will be the Dodgers who will have to flinch first.

Manny is a future Hall of Famer.  He knows it.  He wants to add to his resume, but time is on his side.  He’s already made his millions and he’s just looking for the right deal to end his career.  He can wait all season if he needs to.

The Dodgers on the other hand can say they can wait until mid-season like last year, but in reality, the Dodgers have a lot more circumstances that will affect them eventually giving in.  First, the fans.  The fans will start to put significant pressure on the Dodgers.  This may come by comments, but it will more come by staying away from the ballpark, and more specifically Spring Training.   The Dodgers invested a lot in a new facility, and in Dodger stadium, and they need a return.  Manny can bring that return.

The Dodgers will also receive pressure if the team starts out slow.  If the pitching falters, and even more if the offense sputters (even during Spring Training), the pressure will be on to fix it, and to add Manny.  The more pressure, the sooner the Dodgers give in.

Manny is the star.  He can produce.  He did produce, and he will produce.  Will he be the best left fielder in 3 years?  Probably not, but if he can rack like he did last year, it will be put aside.  That in my mind is why he will eventually be signed to his terms.  He’s told Joe Torre he wants longevity.  If the Dodgers really want him, he will get his deal.  He’s drawn this out until Spring Training, and he will keep it going as long as he needs to.

The Dodgers have given him a locker in Arizona, and they keep saying they want him, but Manny knows eventually he will have the leverage he needs.  Make no mistake, Scott Boras knows this too.

I’m calling it right now.  Manny will get 4 total years with the Dodgers.