Tag: Manny Ramirez (Page 22 of 26)

Now That The World Series Is Over…….

November 1, 2008 / Mike Farley

It’s time for one of my favorite times of the year in baseball, the Hot Stove League…a.k.a. the time when players change teams and change the landscape of MLB for the following season. Let’s start by taking a look at the big names that will be moved or signed as free agents in the coming months, and be sure to check back in with us each week during the cold months….

Manny Ramirez—Word is the Dodgers do not want to sign Manny to a 4-5 year deal the way agent Scott Boras would like. That leaves open the very real possibility that Manny could be heading back to the American League where he can DH for a team like (are you ready for this?) Toronto. I don’t know, that just doesn’t seem right, does it? But it sure would tighten up a tough division even more. My feeling is Manny stays in LA for two years or so. The Yankees will also have to make a bid, and you might expect the Mets to as well just to say they did.

CC Sabathia—The Brewers would love nothing more than to re-sign their ace who came over from Cleveland in July and almost led them to the promised land. Well, he did almost single-handedly land the team in the playoffs. CC likes Milwaukee, but yearns for the west coast where he is from. The Dodgers might open their wallet here, especially if Manny goes elsewhere. The Yankees are also expected to bid, so the $$ could go high.

Jake Peavy—The hot rumor is that Peavy is being courted in a trade by the Braves, but GM Frank Wren is not itchy to give up the top prospects the Padres are looking for.

Francisco Rodriguez—The Angels’ closer who saved a major league record 62 saves in 2008, is expected to receive a hefty offer from the Mets to replace Billy Wagner.

Mark Teixeira—The Angels are likely to re-sign him, but if the Yankees do not get Sabathia, expect a run from them as well.

Other news….

Detroit’s Freddy Garcia has filed for free agency after pitching just three games for the Tigers in 2008……Seattle’s Raul Ibanez has also filed…AJ Burnett is likely to opt out of his contract with Toronto, and is expected to do so before next week’s GM meetings….Ken Griffey’s option was declined by the White Sox, who didn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs against Tampa. Griffey should find a home in the American League as a DH….Florida traded 1B Mike Jacobs to Kansas City on Thursday for pitcher Leo Nunez….the Tigers declined the option on Edgar Renteria….the Dodgers’ Jeff Kent is finally expected to retire…..in Brewers news, Ben Sheets has declared free agency, and they have named former A’s manager Ken Macha to replace Ned Yost…the Brew Crew also declined their option on infielder Craig Counsell yesterday.

Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, Fantasy Baseball, MLB

A.J. Burnett Atlanta Braves Ben Sheets CC Sabathia Chicago White Sox Craig Counsell Detroit Tigers Florida Marlins Francisco Rodriguez Frank Wren Freddy Garcia Hot Stove League Jake Peavy Jeff Kent Kansas City Royals Ken Griffey Ken Macha Leo Nunez Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Manny Ramirez Mark Teixeira Mike Jacobs Milwaukee Brewers Ned Yost New York Mets New York Yankees Raul Ibanez San Diego Padres Scott Boras Seattle Mariners

Yankees to officially pursue Manny Ramirez?

October 30, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

The New York Post kind of, sort of confirms what we’ve already known for months: The Yankees will likely pursue Manny Ramirez this offseason.

Manny Ramirez doesn’t fit the Yankees ‘ desire to get younger and more athletic, but several industry sources believe the Yankees will make a serious push for the free agent to play right field next year.
Though GM Brian Cashman says the top offseason priority is starting pitching, he did not rule out interest in the 36-year-old Ramirez.
“We are looking at starting pitching,” Cashman said when asked about the team’s interest in Ramirez.
“We will see how the free agent and trade markets are.”
The Dodgers have offered Ramirez a two-year deal worth $60 million to remain in Los Angeles, but he is expected to file for free agency and look for a four-year deal in the $80 million range.

Is it even really a question anymore? The World Series is done with and while I understand Cashman doesn’t want to tip his hand in the bargaining game, there’s no sense in dancing around the topic anymore. The Yankees need pitching more than they need another big bat, but this is what the Bombers do – they make a splash. The Boss and Son Boss didn’t like missing the playoffs last year and there’s not much that will stand in their way of going out and signing the big name. And there’s no bigger name on this year’s market than Manny Ramirez.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB

Manny Ramirez New York Yankees

Take Five: Phillies win 2008 World Series

October 29, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

The 2008 World Series had a little of everything. It had a team that hadn’t played in the Fall Classic in over a decade, another that was making its first ever appearance and two starving sports cities dying for something to finally cheer about. Throw in not one, but three separate weather delays and baseball fans were treated to one of the more bizarre Series in some time. And thanks to their 4-3 Game 5 victory, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one to win the 2008 World Series.

Below are five observations from the 2008 World Series.

1. The team with more momentum didn’t win. After beating the Boston Red Sox in a thrilling seven game ALDS, the Tampa Bay Rays steamrolled into the Fall Classic with all of the momentum. But maybe the ALDS took too much out of them, because the big “mo” didn’t play a factor in this Fall Classic. The Phillies disposed of the Dodgers rather easily in the NLDS and obviously had no issues getting back up for the Rays.

2. The AL didn’t dominate in the end. Baseball pundits liked to wax poetically throughout the season about how the American League has more dominant pitchers, better lineups and more complete teams. But the Rays, who arguably had the better pitching, the better lineup and more complete team, couldn’t measure up. While Philadelphia might not have had the better club according to all the so-called experts, they proved it all comes down to execution.

3. The Phillies had to deal with the weather too. Obviously the weather had an effect on the Rays’ performance. They weren’t used to playing that late in October and especially not in cold climates like the ones they faced in Philly. But it’s not like the Phillies played in that kind of weather year round. The rain and cold could have had an affect on both teams, but only one was in the end.

4. Cole Hamels is unbelievable. Hamels played the role of Josh Beckett in this year’s postseason in that he was absolutely un-hittable. He rebounded from a shaky 2007 postseason and shined like a true ace when the Phillies needed one the most.

5. Phillies-Rays killed the causal fan. The Phillies and Rays deserved to play in the Fall Classic because they earned it. They were the best teams in their respective leagues and nobody can take away their accomplishments. That said, this was a boring Series for the causal fan. While it was fun to root for the underdog Rays and a Phillies team that was going after their first title in 28 years, there wasn’t much to tune into. There was no team to root against like the Yankees or Red Sox. There was no crazy character to follow like Manny Ramirez. This Series flat out lacked some luster, but then again – too bad. The Red Sox didn’t deserve to be there; nor did the Yankees. The Phillies and Rays did and in the end, that’s all that matters.

MLB

2008 MLB Playoffs 2008 World Series Boston Red Sox Cole Hamels Los Angeles Dodgers Manny Ramirez New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies Tampa Bay Rays

Why play baseball? For the money of course.

October 17, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

When recently asked whether or not he intends to re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers Manny Ramirez said: “I want to see who is the highest bidder.”

That bidding could approach, or exceed, $100 million. If the Dodgers do not win the bidding, or drop out at what might well be a justifiable point, it is not the player with the openly mercenary attitude who would be left in Los Angeles to dodge the criticism.
It would be McCourt, and the Dodgers.
“They’re in a tough spot,” said David Carter, executive director of the USC Sports Business Institute. “That could be a prudent decision based on what’s going on in the marketplace, and yet they’ll still get skewered for allowing him to leave.
“I don’t see any middle ground. If they let him go, it will reinforce the perception they’re not committed to winning. If they sign him, it will materially move the needle in their favor, and the fans will rally around him.”

Normally any player that essentially says that he plays the game for money is fair game to be publicly tarred and feathered. But I almost applaud Manny for being completely 100% honest. He’s destructive in a weird way, but whatever team signs him knows that and knows exactly what they’re getting. (I.e. A fantastic hitter, a phenomenal quote machine and one goofy personality.)

I’ll go ahead and beat all Yankee-haters to the bunch and say that Manny will be in pinstripes next year if he’s waiting to see who the highest bidder will be this offseason.

MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers Manny Ramirez Manny Ramirez dreadlocks Manny Ramirez quotes New York Yankees Teams interested in Manny Ramirez