Skip navigation

Manny's toxic presence will drag Dodgers down


< Prev | 1 | 2
Special feature
NLCS: Cardinals v Astros Game 4
The Art of the Deadline Deal
NBCSports.com takes a look at memorable trades made under pressure.

NBCSports.com

Video: Baseball from NBC Sports
Sammy Sosa’s skin lightened?
Nov. 9: Baseball slugger Sammy Sosa shocked the crowd when he showed up at a Las Vegas event with much lighter skin. Is he doing some kind of “skin cleansing,” as some have suggested? Dr. Nancy Snyderman talks with msnbc.com’s Courtney Hazlett and dermatologist Dr. Lynn McKinley Grant.

Slide show
Image: AEK Athens' Nemeth reacts after a Europa League soccer match against BATE Borisov in Athens
  Week in Sports Pictures
Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more.

more photos

And what of Torre, who has been a father figure to the likes of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and others? The answer to that is: What is Terry Francona, chopped liver? He’s liked. He’s respected. And the Red Sox skipper couldn’t keep Manny from destroying a championship team.

The McCourts are from the Boston area, and obviously they spent lots of time watching and admiring the exploits of Manny Ramirez. So naturally they have fond memories of his slugging prowess on the big stage. But nostalgia can have a detrimental effect. The savvy baseball owner should have both eyes pointed ever forward. If Frank McCourt took a more sober assessment of the situation, and noticed the Brett Favre sign stunt Manny pulled the other night, he would understand that Manny’s only concern is Manny.

Manny wants a new contract after this season and reportedly has a highly inflated opinion of his own worth on the open market. Such players tend to bear down and produce when they know their own personal fortunes are at stake.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

But in the case of Manny, he can play at half-speed, jog after fly balls, walk to first base when he should sprint while at the same time putting up sparkling numbers at the plate – and still drag an entire team down.

Just ask the team that couldn’t wait to get rid of him.

Michael Ventre is a contributor to NBCSports.com and a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.


< Prev | 1 | 2

Sponsored links