Mantle had to be one of the strongest men to ever play the game. Wonder how far he could hit baseballs in today's envirnment and on the roids. He was hitting 500-600ft shots while partying and killing his body. Before he ruined his knee, he could run like the wind. Mantle was a great player.
As for Manny, he could hit with anyone. I don't think he was the player Mantle was but I get the sense Manny could play the field better than he looks out there.
I think of that play where Manny makes a great catch, leaps oveer the fence to high-five fans and throws in to get the runner out at first to complete the DP. There's no way he can do that without some skills.
And Manny is kind of a goofball and don't know what pressure is. Kinda reminds me of a happy-idiot in his little world but he can come up big in the biggest spots and laugh while doing it. He's the one I'd want up with the season on the line.