Manny Ramirez - Tim DeFrisco - SI

Spring Training has been going along pretty ho-hum this year.  A few new recruits, still not enough pitching, but definitely without the Manny drama of last year….until two days ago.

I read Ken Gurnick’s article (click here) where Manny said that this will be his last year in L.A.  That really wasn’t a surprise, but it was the timing that surprised me.

It kind of hit me like a really good steak that you had at a restaurant, but now it’s been in the refrigerator a few too many days and you’re wondering if it’s still good.  It could be just as good as when you first tasted it, or it could be so bad that you have to throw it out.  Either way, it leaves you a little queasy even before you take a bite.

That’s how I feel with Manny.  The thing with Manny is that even though he comes across as a goofball, Manny is a very smart man.  He is all about calculating his money along with being a very good baseball player.  If he says something, it is only because he and his agents have already determined what to say and when to say it.  The fact that he made it known that this is his last year in his first statement of the spring is concerning.

I work with people who have given notice that they are retiring at the end of the year.  Yes, they get the job done, but if they hit something difficult, they usually don’t do as good of work, because they know it doesn’t matter and they are gone in a few months.

Why wouldn’t it be different for Manny?  He already has a guaranteed 20 million dollars, and we all know he has a history of dogging it.  If he is injured, or could get injured and then damage his ability to play next year, why wouldn’t he shut it down.  That would truly hurt the Dodgers.

One Giant’s fan did set me straight though.  He stated that if this truly is Manny’s last year in blue, then he has just given notice to other teams.  If he wants to play next year and get a good contract (both of which I believe to be true), then he has to put on a show this year.  This could truly help the Dodgers.

Either way, I’m queasy.  It may turn out fine, but why not say, “I’m just going to take this year one day at a time, and then decide at the end of the year.”  If he makes up his mind before then, fine, but why declare it in your first press conference of the year?

In either case, Ned Colletti already better be thinking about who will replace him in left field.  At the soonest, next year we will need another big bat.

What do you think?  Is he setting himself up to dog it, or put up good numbers for a big, new contract?

Wore my Dodger hat to get my Toyota worked on this weekend (No, not the recall, but a different factory issue). The guy at the dealership looked at the hat and said, “You don’t see a lot of those up here…Did you grow up down in Southern California?”

I explained that I grew up Southern California up in the mountains near Big Bear. He said he grew up near Van Nuys and that he used to be a huge Dodger fan. Apparently his Grandfather used to own a concrete company down there and that they had season tickets right near the field. He told the story of how Orel Hershiser was his all time favorite growing up and how he still has a signed ball with Orel’s signature, Tommy Lasorda’s, and all the guys from the early 80’s.  (I love hearing stories like this!)

I asked him why he “used” to be a Dodger fan? He said he fell out of it once he moved up here and got really into hockey. Apparently now he’s an avid Sharks fan who has season tickets.

Cool guy…just too bad he doesn’t follow as much any more.   Who knew that it isn’t just the Giants turning Dodger fans away.  I guess I should send him some tickets this year to a Dodgers/Giants game to try and re-kindle the passion.

I did though tell him about my favorite website…www.sfdodgerfan.com

Raising two kids in Giants territory means that I am going to have to work very hard to convince them how much better the Dodgers are than the Giants. The better part really isn’t that hard…it’s the over exposure to the Giants that could still win out in the end.

Last week, my 3.5 yr old son gave me hope that all my wearing of Dodger gear at the house, may be slowly reaching his sub-conscious.

I came home from work and told him that we had a special project to do in the garage (Drain the water heater). He loves anything in the garage or with a hose, so he was thrilled from the start. We went up stairs to change my work clothes and he immediately went into my closet and said that he had a “special” shirt for me to wear during our job.  He pulled out my favorite Dodger Jersey.  I was kind of shocked and asked, you want Daddy to wear this?  He promptly said “yes.”  I was thrilled because I never need a good excuse to put on the blue.

Here’s where it got fun.  I pulled out a second jersey and asked if he wanted to wear it to match Daddy.  He said no, but only because it was too big.  I asked him if he wanted Daddy to get him his own Dodger jersey that was his size.  He promptly said “Yes.”  (Ahh the joy!)

Thrilled with my victory, I called my wife in and asked him again if he wanted his own Dodger jersey.  He again said yes.  Sceptical of brainwashing, this time she asked it, but with a little different twist and again he still answered yes.  (Victory Confirmed!)

I’ll take the little victories anytime I can. Now I just have to buy that jersey….

Ok. So if this was the presidential election, the Giants would be raked over the coals for being Wishy Washy. Talk about a Flip Flop.

The Giants announced the re-signing of Jose Uribe and now Bengie Molina.  Apparently Bengie didn’t get the length or money he wanted from the Mets, so he decided playing for the Giants wouldn’t be that bad.  It is only one year, so he can go seek a longer deal after.  It is good for the Giants as it will give Buster Posey a little more time in the minors, but also because they got their cleanup hitter back….

This news isn’t great for Dodger fans because Jose Uribe and Bengie Molina both had their number last year, so there could be more disappointments this year.

The Giants also recently added Aubrey Huff.  This one made the fans up here kind of scratch their heads.  He will play 1st base (which they have a rookie for), and can hit, but he definitely wasn’t the big bat the fans were hoping for.  

I talked to a Giants fan this week who had an interesting perspective on this year.  Molina and Huff are signed only for one year as well as Jonathan Sanchez.  Aaron Rowand and Edgar Renteria also only have one year left.  This means that in one year 5 of 9 position players (when Sanchez pitches) will be gone.  This signifies that the Giants are really “going for it” this year, or they are just trying to ”get through” this year until next year when they can clear payroll, get some veterans and bring up the rookies.  Given that Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa are not star hitters…I lean towards the “get through” approach.  They will have more power, but not that much.

What do you think – Wishy Washy or just frugal?  I’m going to take Wishy Washy and rub it in to Giants fans as long as I can.

Juan Uribe - Frederic Larson - SF Chronicle

Did you hear the big news last week? The Giants signed Mark DeRosa and Juan Uribe!!!! Thrilling, right?

Yeah – well it’s not like the Dodgers signed any one during that time, so at least the Giants have something to talk about.

I talked to a Giants fan and the verdict is out among fans regarding Mark DeRosa. He’s a solid player, no doubt. The issue is that he definitely isn’t the bat that they need. It doesn’t seem like he would hurt them…how much he will help isn’t clear.

Then yesterday the Giants announced that they “re-hired” Juan Uribe. This is a pickup Dodger fans should note. He’s not an everyday player, but a great player off the bench who can definitely hit home runs.  He hit .340 against the Dodgers last year and generally won the hearts of fans up here because of his clutch hitting.

Early in the year the talk shows wondered if they could really chant “URRRRIIIBBBBEEE” because of his second cousin, Jose Uribe back in the late 80’s. He truly changed that by being clutch and now people love him. It was a good pickup for the Giants and he’ll be a big help to them.

Now as one fan put it…the Giants have all their positions filled…they just still need a bat and a catcher. Here’s hoping they have another Pablo Sandoval in the minors who can hit. Apparently Angel Villalona can hit…he just has to get out of jail and the Dominican Republic first. I guess he is out of jail now…but he doesn’t have a Visa yet. Yeah – issues.

A moment of silence as Randy Johnson retired this week.  He was fun to watch going after the record this last year, even though all the talk shows often talk of his prickly personality.  I’ll still never forget him getting lit up at Dodger Stadium on opening day last year.  Same day Orlando Hudson hit for the cycle.

Good article here on all the Giants moves this off-season.  Apparently they’ve spent most of their money, and now hope for a bat.  Here’s hoping they can’t really find one.

What do you think?  Good moves to pick up DeRosa and Uribe?