MITCHELL BLATT

Manny Ramirez has expressed publicly what JSB was reporting last summer–that Ramirez wants to return to the Cleveland Indians.

Ramirez told the USA Today:

“I would like to play for Cleveland one more time, to go back where I started. … I think to go back where you started is everyone’s dream.”

I reported last summer that Ramirez wanted to go back to Cleveland, but the Indians didn’t end up wanting to spend money on him.

However, his desire to return to Cleveland may not be rooted so much in wanting to return to where he started his career as it is in making sure he doesn’t get inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Red Sock, says one of my sources.

The MLB HOF people decide which team a player represents when they are inducted, and Ramirez played 8 years with both the Indians and Red Sox (getting traded during his eighth season in Boston).

He put up similar stats on both teams, though for his first two years with Cleveland, he hadn’t risen to stardom.

If he were to be inducted today, my source thinks he would be a Red Sock, but if he plays just a few more years in Cleveland, he’ll be an Indian. Because he hates the Red Sox so much, he doesn’t want to be a Red Sock.

Just some speculation…

SCOTT JACOBS

I think we’ve all come to grips with the outrageous contracts that our American athletes get paid for playing a game. I’m not saying whether we agree or in more likely cases, disagree with the ludicrous cash that is sent their way for being great, I’m simply pointing out that it’s become an accepted part of our culture.  However, that doesn’t just mean that in the worst economic reccession that many of us have seen in our lifetimes that our athletes can make a mockery of the sagging economy that we live in, just because they can hit a ball.

Hey Mr. Dreadlocks, ya you in blue shirt over there.  You know who you are, can I have a word with you.  A little birdie told me that you’re an ungreatful, evil jerk who not only gives up sometimes, but also way over-estimates what he’s worth.

I’d like to show you Joe over there who’s struggling to make ends meet because he was one of tens of thousands of people fired from Citi (even though they apparently still have the resources to sponsor the Mets new park).  I’d like you to meet that girl over there.  She’s been out of work for two years, because the job market is so competitive.  Sure, she goes to interview after interview, and sometimes she even gets close, but each time she agonizingly gets passed up because someone newer and younger steals her spot.  See that guy over there?  He was going to buy his family Christmas presents this past December, but after losing his job he’s now struggling to keep up with mortgage payments so they don’t foreclose his house.

I just wanted to ask you a question.  A few actually.  Let’s see, where to begin.  Okay, I got one.  Is it true you turned down a two year $45 million contract a few months ago?  That’s what the Dodgers are saying.  If that’s true, is it true that yesterday the Dodgers would have paid you $25 million just so you could hit a stupid white ball for them and play half ass defense, and you had the gall to say NO?

You know why athletes get a bad rap?  Because of jerks like you.  Idiots like yourself have no semblance of money, no presence of mind that the rest of the country is falling apart.  But sure, you really need the money.  I mean, who doesn’t need $25 million each season for like five years to make ends meet?

You make me sick.  Do you have any idea what it’s like for a teacher right now, who’s worked at an insitition for higher learning for 20 years and then gets laid off because the school can no longer afford her?  Do you have any idea what it’s like to be a caterer who’s worked for over 20 years, and is royally screwed because the last thing people are worrying about is parties and luxury.  People are trying to get by.  Some are reaching into their savings 30 years earlier then they had planned, because they have no where to go.

You know why athletes get a bad rap?  Because of jerks like you.

But you’re still hunting for every last dime, and it’s understandable that you need some money so that your children’s, children’s, children’s, children’s children never need to work a day in their life.  Back in 2000 the Red Sox really scammed you, didn’t they, by rewarding you with one of the biggest free agent contracts in baseball history?  They signed you to an eight year deal worth $160 million.  You felt cheated, so you took plays off, sometimes didn’t feel like running out that good ol’ ground ball, and you were constantly a distraction.  But “Manny being Manny” became funny, like a catchphrase.  It was cool to be a lazy over-paidout of touch with the real world jerk.

And now, after opting out of that deal, you’re back on the free agent market.  The Dodgers want you, but your agent is warning LA not to play “chicken.” No one else is even competing with them.  The Dodgers have no offense, and the fans have already embraced you.  No other city wants your poisonous attitude, and your unlikeable persona identifying them.

But no, it’s not good enough.  You want five or six years, instead of two.  You’re getting old, but hey, you play baseball, the sucker sport, where great players (good guys or not) can fleece franchises of hundreds of millions of dollars just for putting a little white ball in play.  So you’re sucking at the power teet, because hey it became clear a long time ago that you could care less what people think of you.

I’m so glad the Marlins didn’t trade for you.  While you would have most likely improved their record, and maybe even have gotten them to the playoffs, I’d rather fall short with good likeable guys, then do a little better with a clubhouse cancer, and someone who really needs to get a clue.

But hey, someone will pay you, someone always does.

That will never, however, change the fact that you’ve pissed off karma.  And karma is a bitch my friend.

Angels are Front Runner for Teixeira

The Angels are set to offer Teixeira $160 million over eight years, my source says. The Red Sox are the other contender, also willing to offer $160 million or more, but would Teixeira want to leave Los Angeles?

Teixiera may be on the Yankees radar as well as a backup in case they don’t sign Sabathia, but with the Angels and Sox getting serious about him, chances are he will be already signed by the time the Yankees get done dealing with Sabathia. That may be why they put a deadline on his offer.

That said, my source doesn’t expect Sabathia to sign with the Yankees, so here we go with…

C.C. Sabathia

Probable destination? The San Francisco Giants.

Despite the Yankees offering him $20 million more, Sabathia will take $110 million over five years with the Giants to go back to his hometown.

The Dodgers may also be interested if they fail to resign Ramirez.

The Players’ Union may pressure him to sign with the Yankees because it would increase the market value of everyone else, and they do have lots of sway over players, so he still could sign with the Yankees, but chances are he won’t. If they Yankees don’t sign Sabathia or Teixeira, A.J. Burnett is supposed to be their next target.

Ramirez’s Value Down; Dodgers May Be Favorite

Despite early indicators suggesting some team would go crazy and vastly overspend for Ramirez, the market has been surprisingly unfavorable to him.

He’s not expected to get over $100 million, and the best he might have to settle for is $70 million for three years with the Dodgers.

Other Odds and Ends

-Edgar Renteria said to be signing with the A’s or Cardinals.

-My source on the Coco Crisp for Rimon Ramirez (Royals to Red Sox) trade: It’s a bad trade for the Royals because they need relief help, and Crisp just isn’t all that good. He’s a good outfielder, but he overpreformed in Cleveland two years ago, his only year of batting .300. That said, playing in a large market and suffering from bad injuries did hurt him in Boston, so he Kansas City should be a better fit.

What’s up, JSB nation? I’m finally back from my family vacation to Cincy, and it looks like I missed some major sports news since I last posted.

While I was in the Queen City, riding The Beast at King’s Island and attending various family functions, I did manage to work in some sports. I went to the Reds/Rockies game the Sunday after I got there. Of course the crappy Reds got hammered, 11-0, but as it turns out it was Griffey’s last home game as a Red, so that was cool.

But other than catching a couple of nationally televised baseball games, that was the extent of my contact with the sporting world for the time I was there. So I thought I’d better do a little recap post to run down what I missed and give you my opinions on the major events that went down while I was up North.

Manny traded to the Dodgers
The circus sideshow known as Manny Being Manny is now exactly where it belongs-in Tinseltown. I was in a local sports bar down the street from my in-laws house when I heard the news, and I nearly choked on a wing bone when word came down that Ramirez had been dealt for Jason Bay, with Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen going to the Pirates in the three way deal.

For any of you who have been to Cincy, or eaten at Skyline Chili, you know that 3-ways are the best way to go. In this case the three way was not very tasty for Boston, but for some reason the Sox management couldn’t do a straight up, two team deal, so this was the only alternative.

My opinion: a deal had to be made, as Manny was quite clearly quitting on the team like he did at the end of the 2006 season. The fact that Boston had to give up so much to rid themselves of the headache he had become was an unfortunate byproduct of getting blindsided by his tired act. But at least they got a respectable left fielder (Bay) in return, a guy who will not a) quit on his team b) slap a teammate or shove an old man c) hide out in the Green Monster during games.

Look, I loved ManRam as much as the next Sox fans for the 7 1/2 years he was with the team, but enough was finally enough. His cute antics and sweet swing had finally been outweiged by his manic personality and ability to give up on his team at a moment’s notice, and when he failed to hustle on a ground ball during a no hitter, well that was the last straw.

As a result I say sayonara, ManRam. Good luck and no hard feelings, and I hope you enjoy life in La La Land. Because that’s exactly where you belong.

Favre finally dealt – to the Jets?!
This was the only sports story I could follow with any regularity while I was away, because it was freaking eveywhere! Every channel I tuned in on the radio during our 1,000 mile drive, every cable news channel, and especially on ESBFPN, it was all Brett, all the time.

By the time I got home, rumors were rampant that he was headed here to Tampa Bay to play for the QB-lover Jon Grunden and the Bucs. Thankfully that did not happen, as the Pack came to their senses and shipped the serial retirerer to the J-E-T-S so he can fail miserably in the city that doesn’t sleep. That way the whole world will be able to watch when he heads off into retirement #4 at the conclusion of the 2008 season.

(Maybe that’s his secret: he wants his retirement number to match his uniform number!)

The best part about this story: it’s finally over. Well, at least this chapter of it. Now we’ll have to sit through endless dissections of every game, play, TD and INT he throws while wearing that putrid green uni. Here’s to hoping he goes 13-37 with no TDs and 4INTs against the Pats in the second game of the season.

The Olympics and PGA Tournament get underway this weekend
WTF cares.

That about gets me up to speed on the major events that took place while I was gone. Now that I’m back I can get back to posting regularly, helping to balance out the inane ramblings of Colin and restoring some sanity to the blogosphere.

Thanks for your time and I’ll be back soon with a full post about my trip to Great American Ballpark.

SCOTT JACOBS

If you follow baseball, you’ve heard the rumor. The Marlins, Red Sox, and Pirates are talking a blockbuster three team swap that would net Florida Manny Ramirez.

I’m going to say something that might surprise a lot of people: I don’t think Florida should do it.

Forget the fact that Manny is a head-case and he doesn’t run out ground balls or play even a solid outfield. Forget that you never know from one day to the next what Manny will bring to your team, that is, if he tries. Put aside the fact that Ramirez is getting older and finishing up an eight year deal he signed back in 2000 that made him one of the highest paid players in pro sports. Forget that all.

The Marlins should NOT trade for Ramirez. Why you ask? I have my reasons, o I have my reasons.

Reason #1:When you have no expectations it’s a lot easier to play loose and relaxed (especially for a young team)
The Marlins know this better then anyone. Even though they play in South Florida the Marlins regularly finish in the bottom pits of the baseball attendance standings, and their payroll rarely dips above $60 million (this year it’s $21 million, lowest in baseball). The Marlins are the best bang for your buck team in the sport. With the $21 million they are loaded with young arms, and quality hitters. And they lead the league (all of baseball that is) in home runs. So just how are they doing it? Lack of pressure.

Tell me the last time the Marlins were on a national broadcast on ESPN. Can you do it? I can’t. You know why that is? It’s not because the Marlins always stink. In fact, in 2006 the Marlins were in the wild card race much of the year and that was with relocation looming over them. This year they’re the surprise of baseball. They have taken guys like Jorge Cantu and Alfredo Amezega, and have turned them into key contributors. The Marlins get their guys on the cheap, and they have a sensational eye for young talent.

And because the Marlins do things so shrewdly (you can call them cheap if you wish) they avoid the spot-light, because they never seem to have major egos or high paid players on their team (Hanley Ramirez’s deal doesn’t kick in until 2009).

Thus, they are unattractive to ESPN and other national media because they’re not fueled by any one guy.

They play loose and relaxed, because let’s face it: no one expects anything of them. All of a sudden you put a Manny on that team, and the media is all over you. All of a sudden the free-flowing, over-achieving, no pressure Marlins run into a media feeding frenzy. The Marlins are at their best when they do things their way: a few very good players, and a cast of quality guys around them. They have never been known as a dysfunctional group or a divided clubhouse. The guys like each other. They get along. That is a major team dynamic in this day and age. Adding Manny could completely change that.

Reason #2: They can’t resign him after the season is over. If the Marlins picked up Manny’s option for next year (no way in hell that would ever happen if they did acquire him), then he would be making just a million dollars less then Florida’s entire team this year. Even if he settled for a hometown discount (he does have a house in Fort Lauderdale) the Marlins would still be looking at probably $15-17 million a year, and they’re not going to pay that. If a guy like Outfielder Jeremy Hermida is part of the package to get Manny, all of a sudden you’re trading a young number two guy, who’s under contract at a bargain basement price, for a two month rental. Throw in the fact that you know what you’re getting with Hermida (decent batting average, above average power, quality fielding) and you have no idea what Ramirez will choose to bring, and it makes the trade a little dicey for Florida.

Reason #3: The Marlins may not need Manny. They’re in the thick of things in the NL East, just a game and a half back of the Phillies, and they’ve done it with horrendous defense, shaky starting pitching (though it’s been great of late) and a bullpen that is incredibly inconsistent. But here’s the thing. The Marlins have heart. And they’re on a mission: to prove all the doubters wrong. Starting Monday the Marlins take on the Phillies for three games in Philly, and may have a shot at first place by then. And they’ve done it with a superstar who bats less then .200 with RISP (Hanley) and a lot of young guys with a nice mix of veterans.

Florida gets back Anibal Sanchez tomorrow for the first time since 2006, and their starting pitching has dramatically improved of late. Ricky Nolasco has been great, Scott Olsen has been solid, Josh Johnson has been superb since coming back a few weeks ago, and even rookie Chris Volstad has performed admirably.

What the Marlins really need is a catcher that can hit. John Baker and Paul Hoover are probably the worst catching duo in baseball right now, and starter Matt Treanor (who is hurt right now) is far from a consistent threat. Thus, the Marlins should be looking at a quality, on the cheap catcher that can hit, and throw out some runners. Maybe even a lefty setup guy too.

But an outfielder for two months that can hit great, but is the biggest enigma in his sport: that’s not what they need.

The Boston Red Sox are contemplating trading their exasperating superstar, Manny Ramirez, before Thursday’s deadline, according to published reports.

Ramirez, 36, who is in the last season of the eight-year, $168 million contract he signed with Boston in December of 2000, urged Red Sox management Sunday night to find a suitor for his services.

“If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object,” said the diva that refers to himself in the third person.

Beantown’s chromosome-deprived 9-time Silver Slugger, who must approve any trade because of his 10-5 status (10 years in the major leagues, the past 5 with the same team), said he would accept a move anywhere as long as he could get out of the Hub.

“I’m tired of them. They’re tired of me,” said Ramirez. “I don’t have any preferences. I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason.”

The Washington Heights native, who has 508 home runs and 1,669 RBI’s in 16 professional seasons, said he would even entertain the option of playing baseball in the gorgeous and pacifying war-torn country of Iraq.

“I don’t care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be.”

Despite his enormous production, Ramirez, a man that assaulted a senior citizen earlier this month, has been problematic and troublesome for the Sox hierarchy and it may be time for team officials to stop providing the 12-time All-Star with the inane mulligan known as “Manny being Manny.”

“I could say that right now there’s a strange atmosphere in our team,” observed Ramirez.

The “strange atmosphere” was likely cultivated by the Red Sox answer to Sideshow Bob himself and the only way to rectify Boston’s chemistry may be to jettison the eccentric hemorrhoid.

At this point, “Manny waving bye” sounds a lot more appealing than “Manny being Manny.”

The Sox couldn’t trade him in his prime, so they won’t be able to trade him now. He has been on the decline the past few years, failing to hit 40 home runs since 2005 or 100 RBIs since 2006. This season, he has 19 home runs and 63 RBIs.

The few teams that could trade for him are the Diamondbacks, Mets, and Phillies, but even if he doesn’t get dealt, he will be a free agent at the end of the year because the Red Sox have no plans to extend his option.

This would present an interesting option for Manny’s original team, the Cleveland Indians. My inside sources tell me the Indians might be interested in signing him.

Indians owner Larry Dolan has taken heat from Indians fans for not spending enough, but my source noted that Dolan has had a track record of spending big money on good young players. Dolan did spend $57 million over four years on Travis Hafner in his 2007 renegotiation.

At the end of this season, with the contracts of C.C. Sabathia, Casey Blake, Paul Byrd, and Jason Michaels off the books, the Indians will have about $20 million available to spend. With the Indian’s disappointment this year and their lack of offensive production, the front office is feeling pressure to do something.

If they can sign Ramirez for two years for $15-16 million a year, they might go for it.

While Ramirez is a big name, don’t expect too much fanfare to be made about him in free agency. There’s a lot of teams that wouldn’t want him, my source said, and he’s not as good as was a few years ago, anyway.

That said, the Yankees seem to be interested in everybody, and wouldn’t that be a good place for Manny to go to stick it to the Red Sox?

Stay tuned.

Mitchell Blatt