Ok... So this is obvious, but therefore naturally in my wheel-house. Speaking of wheel-houses, this is the first in a series regarding Manny and whether he's on the "outs" or he's "got his head in the game".
I propose that everytime Manny will likely fall off the tracks I will post a Manny Watch with a number corresponding to the total number of watches season-to-date. If he falls off the track and returns to normal I will post "Manny being Manny" with a corresponding number of times he has "been" Manny season-to-date. At the end of the season, we'll keep track of the Manny Watches versus the Manny being Manny posts.
There are a couple of possible outcomes. Each Manny Watch will correspond to a Manny being Manny. Which will point to the fact that he's simply ridiculous. It could also be, that there are many more watches than Manny being Manny, which will point to the fact that it's more of a media thing (as I will base my Manny wathch on popular opinion).
A beer to the guy that picks the correct number for each!
Just to make it clear. Manny watch number 1 corresponds to Manny's pending appearance at Spring Training tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what you just wrote. Are you drunk?
ReplyDeleteOkay, I think I see what you're saying. Problem is, the whole thing's pretty subjective. I would submit that EVERY past Manny issue has been media-generated, and was really no big deal. Okay, except one: his night out with Enrique Wilson. So for me, that's one Manny Being Manny to 1000000 Manny Watches. But I'm pretty sure GR would disagree.
ReplyDeleteMy first reaction was the same as Earl - what the f are you talking about.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm still confused. but also because I actually am drunk. Or on my way.
I agree that many of the Manny issues are media generated (or at least blown out of proportion), but a few of them are on him - like his current showing up a week later (which contractually he is allowed to), allegedly still wanting his off day in TB last year after the Nixon injury (no denials have been heard yet), leaving the team early before the ASB a couple years back (i think that was the issue and something about a sick grandma as the reason), demanding the trade that had him sit July 30 and half of July 31 this year.
Of course the media blow shit totally up - like when he did not run out the ground ball in TB.
But back to the main point - dino what the hell are you talking about?
Clearly, both Earl and X have practice understanding me after I've had a couple of drinks! I can't bare to reread my post, but I'd say you both got the just of what I was trying to say.
ReplyDeleteNote to self: Don't post drunk.
Ok, I did just reread my post. Man, that's funny.
ReplyDeleteSo basically, I think it would be interesting to keep track of all the incidents. Currently, WEEI was debating whether or not simply arriving on March 1st was enough or whether he should have been there and suited up by 9, which he wasn't.
My guess is that this is simply another case of the media making news.
Man, I wish I was drunk.
X -- I don't necessarily agree that any of the things you just wrote were purely "on Manny".
ReplyDeleteallegedly still wanting his off day in TB last year after the Nixon injury (no denials have been heard yet), leaving the team early before the ASB a couple years back (i think that was the issue and something about a sick grandma as the reason), demanding the trade that had him sit July 30 and half of July 31 this year.
How do you know what actually happened in any of these cases? All we know about the not filling in for Nixon that day was that Francona asked him to play through his day off (first in a month) because Nixon got hurt so they were "sort of in a bind" (which makes no sense because Nixon was going to be out for 3-6 weeks, and that day they were facing a Devil Ray pitcher with an ERA of over 7, but whatever). We also know that Francona seriously backtracked the following day, saying it was no big deal. And that he didn't play for the next 1 1/2 games. And that is ALL WE KNOW.
Everyone assumes he was demanding a trade and petulantly sitting out. But what was that based on? Maybe some media reports, but we don't need to discuss how amazingly awful and trustworthy the Boston sports media is.
Here's an alternate explanation: he hurt his hamstring and was unable to play. That would be consistent with him dogging it to first in his last game before the incident. Maybe he didn't tell Francona that at first, but did later, prompting Francona to do all his backtracking. Of course Francona or the FO can't say "he's hurt" since that would reduce his trade value by $5-10M instantly.
It's just a theory. But there's no less evidence for this one that the one about "Manny sitting out demanding a trade".
Also, you said "no denials have been heard yet". Sorry, but this is Manny we're talking about, not someone overly concerned about his public image, like A-Rod or Piazza. He's not going to hold a press conference or give an interview to clear up some public misconception. For one thing, he probably isn't ever aware of what the public thinks of him. Secondly, he probably doesn't know what a "press conference" is.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that the media tend to blow these things up, but really Manny does bring some of this on himself. Sure the team lets him get away with some of this stuff and Manny is probably a tad to dim to realize the affect some of his actions have, but to entirely let Manny off the hook is a bit of a stretch.
ReplyDeleteIn the TB situation, yes Nixon was going to be out 3-6 weeks, but the nvery next day (a day game after a night game), they needed a player. They did not have time to make a roster move and have someone ready to go.
true we will never know exactly what happened in any of these cases, but Francona backtracking is not a surprise to me - if Jeffrey Dahmer was the Sox RF, Terry would find some reason why cannibalism is acceptable - "hey its a grind out there 162 games a season. Jeffrey did a few things that while I would not do or agree with, but they were things that he felt would help him get ready for the game."
"It's just a theory. But there's no less evidence for this one that the one about "Manny sitting out demanding a trade". "
And perhaps that theory is true, but Boston is a small town. And while the stories tend to get twisted and distorted to fit each writers perogative, such a theory would have been very, very hard to keep under wraps.
Agreed Manny won't hold press conferences and manage his image, but he has handlers, he has Ortiz to speak for him and if there were bigger things going on in the background, I feel that we would hear about them.
Don't get me wrong, these guys are ridiculous when it comes to covering and reporting, but Manny being Manny came from somewere - its not always the Media being Manny.
Fair enough. I certainly agree Manny brings a lot of it upon himself. it'll be interesting to see what the media has to say about him showing up to spring training.
ReplyDelete