Would Cleveland Sign This Free Agent?
Despite comments from GM Mark Shapiro that the Indians are ‘not the kind of team that can sign free agents’, Les Levine has his eye on a slugger that just might be available…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPtpN2ZZGIE[/youtube]
Forget whether or not Shapiro would actually do this. We understand that he probably wouldn’t. The question is would you want Manny back? He certainly found a way to get ubder the skin of Clevelanders, first by signing a big contract in Boston and then by beating the Indians in the playoffs. He gets booed everytime he comes to the plate or to right field, yet only Jim Thome has hit more home runs in team history. How about it WFNY fans? Would you want Ramirez patrolling left or right field and hitting 4th for the Indians in ‘09?
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
It would obviously depend on the cost. That play in left a few games ago in which he dove and missed by about four feet, and then proceeded to fall on the ball before picking it up and throwing it is amazing…
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
From Mariners Blog:
“Seems that Boston slugger Manny Ramirez was leaving the ballpark, with headphones on trying to look inconspicuous and quickly get away from the crowds still leaving the stadium. He started to cross South Royal Brougham Way, against the signals of a traffic cop who was directing pedestrians. The police officer demanded that Ramirez open his wallet and show identification. He warned him that he could face a $500 fine and possible arrest for disobeying a police officer.
It became clear to those watching that the policeman had no idea who Ramirez was. He didn’t ask for an autograph or anything, but did ask Ramirez if he’d attended the game. After the brief lecture, and no argument from Ramirez, the police officer let him go with no further trouble.”
Perfect timing…
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
After Jeff Moorad and Manny put double birds in the air by using Cleveland as a bargaining chip to get the highest possible contract out of Boston with no intention of having Manny come back, I wouldn’t take him no matter the cost. This is a player who was worshiped in this town. He was given a standing ovation in his final game with the Tribe as a sign from the fans saying, “please please please come back. We love you.”
The Indians made a very fair offer to Ramirez that would have paid the man, who couldn’t find the time or desire to cash his paychecks when he was in Cleveland, enough money to last ten lifetimes.
I know this thing is supposed to be a business and you are supposed to be emotionally neutral, but I vote an emphatic NO. I took the Money Ramirez situation very personally, because he was miserable for the first 2-3 years he was in Boston and never should have left.
Just ask Peter Gammons…
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1651586
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
As Scott said, depending on the cost…but assuming that he costs less than C.C. would have, and that our starting rotation holds up over the second half, how could you not make a move for him this off-season. We need the bats, our help in the corners is at least a year or two away, and regardless of how you currently feel, everyone at the Jake would love to see Manny on a daily basis again
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
this gent above me summed it all up, well said sir
Hoy
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
you guys need an edit option, my post at #5 was referring to the guy at #3
Hoy
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Putting aside the emotional scars that the Ramirez defection inflicted on Cleveland fans that Craig discusses, the Indians would never pony up enough cash to get Ramirez to come back. This organization is the king of bringing in washed up retread veterans for a year or two flier (except, inexplicably, 3 years in Delluci’s case) and hoping they catch lighting in a bottle. Sometimes it works (see Kevin Millwood, Juan Gone in his first stint), lots of times it doesn’t (see Delluci, Michaels, Jason Johnson, Jorge Julio, the list goes on and on…). Manny isn’t nearly washed up enough to settle for the bargain basement tactics of the Indians.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
yes, yes, and yes.
its all about winning (this is PROFESSIONAL baseball after all) and while i wouldn’t advocate bringing someone like barry bonds in because of the giant distraction it would cause, i don’t feel that manny signing with the tribe in the offseason would be that big of a distraction at all. some much needed media attention at the beginning of the year is all, and once the boys over at espn realize that he’s no longer in bean town they’ll forget all about him.
meanwhile: we have a fantastic corner outfielder OR dh… yeah, that’s right: dh. oh, you think delucci is better? ok, we’ll keep him there
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Why the hell not. They have to spend money on someone eventually, right?
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I believe the Dr. Jekyll of Cleveland sports in me says that we should mull it over, and if the price is right, we should do it. The Mr. Hyde of Cleveland sports in me says “I WANT A CHAMPIONSHIP NOW AT ANY COST!” I guess I am for Manny coming back. I’ll still boo…sometimes.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hell no…One of the only athletes (who would contribute significantly) I would say that about. The others being Boozer and any Current/Former Steeler
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I would take him back in a cocaine heartbeat. Why not? We need a corner outfielder, a reliable bat, and more fans in the seats. I used to watch Levine on the old sportschannel station, and I would love when people called in and ripped on that blowhard hack, however-as painful as it is to actually say this, I agree with Lester Levine. Spend money Dolan, you cheap dime store owner. Manny was ours before he was the world’s, and I want a friggin title in Cleveland already. So, yes, I would sign him. Yes, I know he is a moron. But the guy can rake. Best right handed hitter in the last 40 some odd years. LEVINE, YOU STILL SUCK, AND OF ALL THE SHOWS YOU’VE DONE, THE MOST RECENT WAS THE WORST.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:49 pm
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:32 am
YES
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:15 am
The Indians should have a ton of dough to spend this offseason, with CC, Blake, Byrd, Carroll, and Rincon all gone, and hopefully Dellucci traded. If all of those guys are gone by next year, that clears up over 30 million dollars of payroll space. I’d like to see Byrd and Blake traded before the deadline, and maybe even pickup Carroll’s ‘09 option. I hate Manny now, but would love nothing more than to see him back in a tribe uniform. Assuming Manny would take upwards of 15 million to sign, the Indians would still have enough to sign either some bullpen help, or maybe an Orlando Hudson type guy to play 2B.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:03 am
jeez, i never thought i’d hear this proposition. well, purely from a talent standpoint, i’d say we could do no wrong in trying to acquire manny. but personally, i can’t stand the guy. when he played for cleveland, yeah he was goofy and stuff, but it was almost endearing. there didn’t seem to be any malice behind it. but since moving to boston, he’s developed quite the showboating personality. it stopped being funny and harmless and started being arrogant and annoying. Manny being Manny doesn’t cut it anymore with me. if he were to come to cleveland, he’d have to make some serious attitude adjustments. i don’t think cleveland fans will tolerate his kind of behavior. one of the big reason cleveland loves sizemore is that he’s our best player and yet he’s so humble. cleveland loves players who just go out there, do their job very well, and go home. not players who stand there like an idiot gloating over the home run they just hit. also, if manny came to cleveland, i’d like to see some kind of dress code enforced on him. i can deal with the hair, but put on some clothes that fit. he looks like a clown going out there with those baggy pants and shirts.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 am
Hoy, how can you say no to Manny but would accept Boozer back with open arms?
(if anyone else agrees with that logic you can pretend I addressed it to you)
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 am
@ adam: i agree with you… also to say “i would never take a former/current steeler” is just…well, stupid. that’s like saying the browns should never draft someone from michigan.
@gabriel: “i don’t think cleveland fans will tolerate his kind of behavior.” really? because roberto alomar was the most despicable player to ever grace home plate…until he put on a tribe uniform. we in cleveland love anyone who helps us win. and who can blame us? its been so long since we’ve actually seen a championship (never in our lifetime for most of us on this board) that we’re willing to sacrifice a little character for ability.
reading that peter gammons article that FilteringCraig poster earlier made me laugh. KC’s gm was used as an example of someone who most likely wouldn’t sign a player like manny because of his “character flaws”…. yeah, that’s gotten the royals really far as of late.
i guess this whole rant can be summer up in 3 words: WE WANT CHAMPIONSHIP!
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
@Adam
Because when Boozer left it was like watching our shot at a championship walk away as well. Yea what he did sucked, but the Cavs were trying to short change him as well. When Manny and all those guys left we knew it was the beginning of a rebuilding phase, I feel like their time in Cleveland has come and gone. I also find the “Manny being Manny” stuff really annoying (as well as a stupid phrase, just gets under my skin). Manny seems to be all about the money these days (always steps up in a contract year), but I would imagine if he were to return to Cleveland it would be with a fat head, an expectation of being lavished for his greatness, and a work ethic that would be detrimental to a team.
Hoy