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| Friday, December 8 | ||||||||
| Fans to Manny: Please come to Boston | ||||||||
| Here are a selection of your thoughts on the prospect of Manny Ramirez signing with the Red Sox:
The Sox must make themselves the winner of the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes, almost regardless of what it takes. He is the most prolific RBI man in baseball; consider his recent numbers, then imagine the awesome potency of this 3-4-5: Nomar Garciaparra, Ramirez, Carl Everett. That is, simply, the best middle of the lineup in baseball. Last year, offense was the problem, not pitching. Add Ramirez and a so-called
"second tier" pitcher, especially Kevin Appier, and the Sox are legitimate contenders.
Greg Perles 'Pay him whatever he wants'
Peter Miranda Maybe hanging's not good enough for him Ramirez is only worth the price if he doesn't handcuff the Sox ability to acquire more players in the future. The Sox problem last year was offense and starting pitching (after Pedro). Our strengths are our ace, Nomar, Everett and the bullpen. So Manny Ramirez does fill a need for an RBI producer, but we need people to get on base so he can drive them in. Besides Offerman (who needs to rebound from his awful year), we could use a guy like Johnny Damon. And if and when Bagwell becomes available, the Sox better pursue him, or Red Sox nation will hang Duquette.
Prasad A better haul than bagging Moose With a fumbling staff behind Pedro and a horrific offense, the 2000 Sox finished two games behind the Yankees. Ramirez would give them one of the best offenses in the game and they can possibly get a guy like Hermanson for O'Leary or Nixon. Ramirez is better for them than Mussina because they can't expect to shut out every team next year. We are paying higher prices so now its time for the Sox to shell out the big bucks!
George Schwartz Manny could fill the shoes of No. 14 The right-handed power hitter they've been searching for since Jim Ed retired.
Gordon
Better than any pinstriped, latter-day Murderers' Row
Divakar Mithal Another jaded, conservative fan weighs in Go for MANNY, we need run production! If we get Manny, Pedro will be 30-0 this year! Steven Reverse the curse Manny Ramirez is the premier offensive player in the AL. The Red Sox were kept out of the postseason for a third consecutive season only because of their inability to score runs. They had the league's lowest ERA for the second consecutive year. Putting a high-powered bat, such as Ramirez, in the middle of a lineup that already has Nomar Garciaparra and Carl Everett solves the problem of poor run production and the "Curse of the Bambino."
Joe Galvin Ground out: The bitter view from Cleveland Manny Ramirez isn't just another great player in this game. He is just another body and can't think for himself. He does want to stay in Cleveland but is being duped by his jerk of an agent. All in all this isn't even a game anymore. If you live in a place that praises the very ground you walk on like in Cleveland, why would you even consider leaving?
Marco A team that is currently inoffensive Getting a player like Manny instantly makes everyone (Nomar, Everett, Bichette) better and more productive. Their problems were offense, not pitching.
Joe Ditre Manny transmission would ignite lineup If we, and I mean the Red Sox, but being a lifelong fan, I consider me a part of we, so here I go. If we get Manny Ramirez, sign him to a long-term deal, we will have three huge blocks, bigger than that of the Yanks and their super rotation, and much more potent, giving us a solid nucleus for years to come. Ramirez in the lineup and the possibilty of Valentin coming back and current Sox like Bichette, Everett, Garciaparra, all with ability to knock the crap out of the ball, would make the Sox such a formidable opponent, much more so than the somewhat mediocre season last year, and 100x times better than we were at the plate in seasons past. He is worth the money. To have a lineup thats 2-5 looks like Nomar, Everett, Manny then Bichette, then think if Valentin returns to form ... our 1-5 is solid. Then Varitek starts crushing it like he can, our 1-6. Daubach? Yeah, he is streaky, so our 1-7 is deadly. Have we forgotten about left field and second base? It seems to me that O'Leary has been known to hit and has been our No. 5 for years. My god, even if the Sox can't get Ramirez, we still are going to kick ass next year.
Corey Reidy Gilkey as charged: Time for a good Manny move I think it would help the Red Sox tremedously if they got Ramirez, but why does Duquette do all of his work in the off-season instead during the season and get big name players then instead of getting Gilkey, Sprague, Lansing, Arrojo and all the other below average players he gets during the pennant chase? The reason the Yankees always win is because they get big man players during the season instead during the off-season. Duquette does just enough that he won't get fired, but not enough to ever have the support of the fans.
Derek Bickford Please come to Boston. Or else
Chris Palmisano Tears of a de facto commissioner If the Sox sign Ramirez, count them in the World Series. Pedro will get the offense needed, and when the Sox win, Peter Gammons will cry in happines just like every other Red Sox fan. Sam The right move for Monster threat With the free agent market the way it is, Manny is worth this kind of money. The Sox don't have too much to worry about financially, especially with the ticket prices being raised AGAIN. A healthy Manny will have a legitimate shot at breaking all kinds of offensive records hitting with the Green Monster in left field 81 games a year. It only makes sense to have the best right-handed hitter in the game playing at the best right-handed hitter's ballpark in the game.
Kevin Ancient Chinese secret: Just add Manny Worth every penny. I disagree with those who say he doesn't improve this team enough to bring a pennant. The Sox have the best pitching coach in baseball; just look at their ERA results over the past few years. Now include Arrojo for a full year, Ohka has shown he can hold his own, Crawford has a ton of potential, Castillo is a good addition. Saberhagen knows how to win. Sox will still go after Appier and maybe trade for Hermanson or another pitcher. NOW add Ramirez to a lineup which includes NOMAR, Everett, Bichette, Varitek, O'Leary, Nixon, Valentin, Stynes, Offerman and Daubach ... wow! How many one-run games did the Sox lose last year? Who do you pitch around? Much more potent than the Yankees, plus we still have arguably the best pitcher in the history of the game – PEDRO. Remember, SI picked the Sox to win the World Series last year with the pitching staff they had ... Now add a few pictures and MANNY ... Bob Bring in the scoring machine Of course the Red Sox need to make an effort to get Ramirez. Higher ticket prices and a lackluster effort to sign one of the league's top pitchers (Mussina) makes a Ramirez signing necessary. Not to mention that the Sox scored three or less runs in 53 games last year. Jay Brossi Hello Manny, Farewell 1918 With the best ERA. in the majors for the last two years, the Red Sox are a Manny Ramirez away from winning the World Series.
Reuben Sutin | ALSO SEE Agent preaches patience as Red Sox pursue Ramirez  | |||||||
