Manny Ramirez in LA Blue
So after finding out about yesterday's news regarding the now former Red Sox left fielder and new recent Dodger Manny Ramirez, I've been in a tizzy. Yes, I said "tizzy", get over it. For two seasons we've been looking for a big bat to add to our line up. Each prospective bat we looked at came with high costs to even imagine consideration. It appears for this season we've landed what we've so desired as of yesterday evening.
So Manny will be debuting in a Dodger uniform as #99 tonight for game 2 of a four game series vs. Arizona at Dodger Stadium. I'm both excited and scratching my head at the difficulties this will bring to our current roster of outfielders. I do love Manny, he's an admirable ball player with fantastic numbers. It bemuses me that he's now a Dodger and playing under the manager of a former rival team he faced season after season. Manny Ramirez and Joe Torre in Dodger Blue. Who would have seen this coming? Manny will now be on the same team as former Red Sox players Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Lowe. The Dodgers are definitely looking surprising to me this season more so than last.
So this deal was made without losing Andre Ethier, James Loney, Matt Kemp or some of our other valued players. We did lose Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris to Pittsburgh in this three team trade with them and Boston. However, I figured LaRoche would be up on the trading block and that Blake DeWitt would be retained due to his stellar performance in April/May. The nice part of this is that the Red Sox will finish paying the $7 million left on Manny's contract which costs the Dodgers nothing. Though, L.A. agreed to a contract that allows Manny to be a free agent in November. Looking at this it gives Manny more leverage to shop for a new club to be a part of or negotiate with Los Angeles after the post season.
In my opinion, Manny should always get a start over Andruw Jones who's been in a tailspin all season long. Jones still has a year on his contract left after this season with the Dodgers, but I feel we need to release him. This still gives us a lot of trouble on who gets to start in a game. Juan Pierre deserves to play but is a center/left fielder. Ethier should get playtime too and he plays left/right field. Kemp must be in the lineup and can play center/right field. Manny...well he plays left field. Its a predicament I would hate to be in charge of in making those decisions. I only hope it makes a signifcant impact in the remaining games this weekend vs. Arizona.
I'm eagerly looking forward to watching tonight's game on the television. I wish I was going to the ball park tonight to catch the game, but I went last night and will go again on Sunday. Anyway, come what may in tonight's game with Manny!
So Manny will be debuting in a Dodger uniform as #99 tonight for game 2 of a four game series vs. Arizona at Dodger Stadium. I'm both excited and scratching my head at the difficulties this will bring to our current roster of outfielders. I do love Manny, he's an admirable ball player with fantastic numbers. It bemuses me that he's now a Dodger and playing under the manager of a former rival team he faced season after season. Manny Ramirez and Joe Torre in Dodger Blue. Who would have seen this coming? Manny will now be on the same team as former Red Sox players Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Lowe. The Dodgers are definitely looking surprising to me this season more so than last.
So this deal was made without losing Andre Ethier, James Loney, Matt Kemp or some of our other valued players. We did lose Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris to Pittsburgh in this three team trade with them and Boston. However, I figured LaRoche would be up on the trading block and that Blake DeWitt would be retained due to his stellar performance in April/May. The nice part of this is that the Red Sox will finish paying the $7 million left on Manny's contract which costs the Dodgers nothing. Though, L.A. agreed to a contract that allows Manny to be a free agent in November. Looking at this it gives Manny more leverage to shop for a new club to be a part of or negotiate with Los Angeles after the post season.
In my opinion, Manny should always get a start over Andruw Jones who's been in a tailspin all season long. Jones still has a year on his contract left after this season with the Dodgers, but I feel we need to release him. This still gives us a lot of trouble on who gets to start in a game. Juan Pierre deserves to play but is a center/left fielder. Ethier should get playtime too and he plays left/right field. Kemp must be in the lineup and can play center/right field. Manny...well he plays left field. Its a predicament I would hate to be in charge of in making those decisions. I only hope it makes a signifcant impact in the remaining games this weekend vs. Arizona.
I'm eagerly looking forward to watching tonight's game on the television. I wish I was going to the ball park tonight to catch the game, but I went last night and will go again on Sunday. Anyway, come what may in tonight's game with Manny!