Manny Ramirez

Because of his hair?

I think it's kind of cool, maybe makes a statement about himself.

Here in South Florida, because of the culture, it is very common, maybe something I am just used to. There are many here would identify with him. You see it more often in football.

He does have a bit of the thuggee look, but any young player wishing to imitate the look without the talent won't be around long. Actually, I like the 'do, although not the do-rag.

He's an amazing hitter, a good fielder, and a marginal baserunner . The relaxed and confident attitude is a good example.

The posturing and operatic gestures, however, irritate the bejaysus out of me. The chest-thumping, arms-extended thing (by any player) is pretentious. (Not even mentioning how inappropriate it can be, depending on the game situation) I'd just like to think that ballplayers, particularly successful ones, were more secure in their manhood than to need that kind of preening peacock display. The Manny being Manny thing is tired. More like Manny Being An Eight Year Old.

Manny is one of the best RHH of all time. I love watching him hit....and field

The celebratory arms raised in the air should be reserved for a player who very rarely hits a bomb, and even then, in the right circumstance. That would signal to me a great moment in a kids baseball career. Like, wow, I did that !!

When a polished hitter with power like Ramirez does it continually, it makes me think what Ryan or Gibson would do when they pitched????

Ok That's what I was driving at. Has nothing to do with his hair. I kind of like it too but all those other things you said nailed it. When he hit one off the top of the wall a few games ago but only got a single out of it cause he was standing at home congratulating himself really got to me.

I think he's a terrible fielder though. I got a kick out of hearing Joe Buck praising him last night for his "great" defensive play the other night when Lofton was called out trying to strech a single. That was an easy throw from medium depth left field which arrived late to second on one hop (the replay clearly showed Lofton was safe).

Can't call yourself a man playing like that. I guess some just think he's so "cute" he should be left alone.

Manny has earned the right to be Manny. I don't mind his raised arms. That's just the way he is, he can get away with it where a young rookie can't.

I do beleive in humility but we can't expect all players to fit into the same mold. JMO.

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Originally posted by deemax:
Manny is one of the best RHH of all time. I love watching him hit....and field

I like watching him hit, and after that, the tools fall off the table like a Blyleven curveball.

Against Gibby, Ryan, Drysdale, OS, Manny would still be raising his arms....to see if they still worked after he got drilled.

I would like to see a pitcher raise his arms after striking him out.

...and if this was 1907 we'd be wearing suspenders and straw hats.

Put your hands in the air

like you don't care

Manny Rocks. Red Sox fans appreciate excellence. I don't expect perfection. If Manny's haters do, well he just flat doesn't care.

Manny is obviously a good hitter and his antics really don't bother me much. He has been very producitve for Boston in the post season. That wasn't always the case in Cleveland where there were several post season series where he failed to show up. He had two horrible WS while in Cleveland and several other post season series where he struggled mightily. Granted he was a younger player back then but he had all kinds of protection in those line ups and often batted lower in the order. I find it interesting how quickly people's reputations can be remebered or forgotten. Dustin Pedroia is a good example. He appears to be hitting now but he was getting serious criticism when the Tribe was up 3-1. Amazing how perceptions change.

I guess this won't be popular, but I really can't stand Ramirez. Yes, he is an amazing RHH. But that's it. I can't wait to see him try to cover LF in Denver.

As someone said the other night, (probably McCarver, who I don't have nearly the issues with as with Buck): 30 years ago, Ramirez would have been "drilled in the earhole" his next ab if he posed after a meaningless hr. Now the umps and office jockeys police players, not the opposing team.

The hair? I don't care. The do-rag? Ridiculous. The p.j. uniform? Somebody get him a tailor. The vanity? Swagger, confidence, and pride are one thing. "Look at ME being ME" is obnoxious.

I don't really like the grandstanding simply because it takes away from the fact that Manny is one of the best RHH ever. It gives people something to whine about rather than concentrating on what happened before that moment. I don't think he is trying to say hey everyone, do this.

That being said, when you reach a point talent wise that you are thrown around and intentionally walked in a playoff game, you can do pretty much whatever you like after you hit one out. Or even if you think you may have.

I love watching videos of his HR's with my son. It goes something like this. Hey Son watch this. Ok do that, but don't do that.

quote:

I can't wait to see him try to cover LF in Denver.

You might have to wait awhile for them to hit it that far.

quote:

The hair? I don't care. The do-rag? Ridiculous. The p.j. uniform? Somebody get him a tailor. The vanity? Swagger, confidence, and pride are one thing. "Look at ME being ME" is obnoxious.

He used to wear his wrist bands upside down so HE could read them. He is different. If he actually craved attention he would have gone less than 5 years between interviews with reporters.

AS for me, I like Manny just fine, but I wish he'd clean his helmet.

I love it!!

You know, if you look in the stands you see something very interesting. There are a lot of Manny's out there. Could it be that Manny is just a fan of the game like all these other folks and gets a little excited when he sees a shot heading over the wall.

I'm willing to cut the man a little slack because he is pretty darned entertaining. I'm not asking him to raise my kids afterall.

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:

quote:

I can't wait to see him try to cover LF in Denver.

You might have to wait awhile for them to hit it that far.

quote:

Originally posted by OLDSLUGGER8:
The celebratory arms raised in the air should be reserved for a player who very rarely hits a bomb, and even then, in the right circumstance. That would signal to me a great moment in a kids baseball career. Like, wow, I did that !!

When a polished hitter with power like Ramirez does it continually, it makes me think what Ryan or Gibson would do when they pitched????

That would be an era gone by when players policed players. These days, since the umpires now look at themselves as the drawing card, they have taken over policing the game and we have the Manny being Manny type activities.

Heck, I saw Charlie Haeger, the White Sox pitcher, get thrown out with no warning for hitting someone with a 60 mph knuckleball.

Only a Sox fan could believe Manny doesn't crave attention ; he just wants it on his terms.

And what's with the "haters" thing? Dad, I KNOW you're not 14 !

Not liking an aspect of someone's public persona = hating. Do I want to get into a political discussion on that one.....

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
AS for me, I like Manny just fine, but I wish he'd clean his helmet.

Great minds think alike. I have some good stuff that will remove that pine tar!!!!

I guess it's a good luck thing.

Manny's raised arms obvioulsy is part of the entertainment.

Seem to remember some certain Boston pitcher threw a hissie-fit when Lofton flipped his bat at home plate when he thought it was ball 4.

Go ask him what HE would do if Ramirez struck a pose after a HR off him ??

THE DEBATE continues

what a great a natural hitter! and has been a pretty good citizen off the field too

ya especially gotta admiire his hitting with some other hiiters doing THEIRS with the help of steroids

there is NO WAY anyone who laughs & smiles that much ever messed with juice


the other parts of the game (defense & base running) don't come naturally to him and his performance there is maxed out by his ability to understand them

his antics aren't meant to irritate anyone tho some clearly are ...

he's just a kid in a 35 yr old body having a blast.

Ramirez is typical of the reason I don't mind paying good money to see amateur ball but don't like to shell out for MLB. He hustles about 4 times a year.
Yeah, he's got great talent... but he underachieves what he is capable of and to me that is a teammate and coaches nightmare.
Actually, the dirty helmet and the hair don't bother me ... standing in the box while the ball bounces off the top of the wall... that does.

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
Only a Sox fan could believe Manny doesn't crave attention ; he just wants it on his terms.

And what's with the "haters" thing? Dad, I KNOW you're not 14 !

Not liking an aspect of someone's public persona = hating. Do I want to get into a political discussion on that one.....

I was using shorthand? Haters is shorter than dislikers of an aspect of public persona?

I'm not a fan. She err, he is a fan though.

quote:

He hustles about 4 times a year.

He usually takes the month of September off completely. Suggestion? Perhaps just watch the playoffs?

This is interesting. Unless these screen names mean virtually nothing, Dad and all the women think Manny is cool. All the men (except Dad) think he's a fool.

"he's just a kid in a 35 yr old body having a blast."

Fun, ain't it Bee?

Dad04- Wow what a babe! Is that a yo-yo in her pocket, or is she just happy to be at the ballpark?

quote:

by TS: but he underachieves what he is capable of and to me that is a teammate and coaches nightmare

in fact he's probably waay over-achieving in life

if not making millions smacking the ball over fences & playing games,

his career options would be pretty limited & his boss would likely have to re-teach him his job each day

quote:

Dad04- Wow what a babe! Is that a yo-yo in her pocket, or is she just happy to be at the ballpark?

I don't think that's a Babe. The 5 oclock shadow is apparent. The Boy George eyebrows are the giveaway

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:

quote:

by TS: but he underachieves what he is capable of and to me that is a teammate and coaches nightmare

in fact he's probably waay over-achieving

if not making millions smacking the ball over fences & playing games,
his career options would be pretty limited & his boss would likely have to re-teach him his job each day

Bingo! Bosses get tired of that after a few days though. His critics give him way too much credit. They assume he knows what he is doing.

Wonder what his PG National Profile says?

Manny Ramirez
Washington HS
New York, NY

Coaches Phone: Call Perfect Game

HOF power to all fields. Takes some weird routes to flyballs when shagging. Wore his Perfect Game tee-shirt inside out for some reason. Had to borrow gloves after he lost his Day 1. Missed shuttle to the airport. Locked himself out of hotel room 7 times in 2 days. Not a very good student. GPA: 0.4 SAT: 405, PG Rating: 18

"His critics give him way too much credit ... SAT: 405 - - 05"

there ya go again exagerating

I think you get 400 for filling out your name correctly, Oops, you are right.

quote:

Originally posted by baseballregie:
This is interesting. Unless these screen names mean virtually nothing, Dad and all the women think Manny is cool. All the men (except Dad) think he's a fool.

Orlando is a she, and SHE said she likes his DO better than his behavior.

I just like him, he's very liekable, and looks like he's having a blast!

quote:

Originally posted by baseballregie:
This is interesting. Unless these screen names mean virtually nothing, Dad and all the women think Manny is cool. All the men (except Dad) think he's a fool.

Not all the women. Wait a minute. Are you calling me a girl? Hey baseball reggie person. You called me a girl.

Due to a premature HR trot, he is standing on first arguing for a HR instead of standing on second.

Comes into HP standing up instead of sliding & therefore gets tagged out. Would have been safe had he taken the effort to hustle and to slide.

I don't have much use for such...

A fb in the earhole would cure him & some like him, were it not for the interference of the MLB front office.

Drysdale would have tatooed him long ago...

hey baseballregie -- I'm a she! And I "can't stand" Ramirez. I don't hate him, just hate the way he plays and presents himself.

quote:

Originally posted by TG:

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
The posturing and operatic gestures, however, irritate the bejaysus out of me. The chest-thumping, arms-extended thing (by any player) is pretentious. (Not even mentioning how inappropriate it can be, depending on the game situation) I'd just like to think that ballplayers, particularly successful ones, were more secure in their manhood than to need that kind of preening peacock display.

This is the new generation of ball player. Most opposing players are not offended. They just do the same.

I'm not sure Bob Gibson would have waited for the next at-bat to earhole Manny. He'd probably run up and deck him. It's not Manny. It's today's player. We now live in an era of in your face, lack of respect and taunting. The greatest home run hitter of all time* flips his bat and watches the ball fly.

This is what my concern was when I posted this question but it absolutely shocked me that so many on this site defend his "right" to be the way he is and actually like him. As you've said this is the new me-first, in-your-face, lack of respect world but I didn't think there were so many supporters of this kind of attitude.

Thankfully I don't think i heard one kid interviewed during the LLWS say his favorite player was Manny Ramirez. Almost all DJ.

Terry Francona Phone Call to manny's house: "Hi! Is Manny home?

Mrs. Manny: "No he's still on first."

quote:

Originally posted by emeraldvlly:
hey baseballregie -- I'm a she! And I "can't stand" Ramirez. I don't hate him, just hate the way he plays and presents himself.

I'm sorry but I thought entering gender into the discussion would really get it going.

Hey I've been called worse....in my own house.