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.