I think those making such stark comments about Manny need to brush up on their Yankee history, unless they also want to label guys like Ruth, Mantle, Reggie, Nettles, etc. as manipulative scum.

Of course, that’s why according to several beat writers, Cash was opposed to giving Posada four years. How the Yankees handle Jeter’s contractual situation in two years should be kind of revealing.

Agreed that Reggie was a huge hot dog (and a distraction, and messed up club chemistry … though the 70s Yankee winners had LOTS of chemistry issues, starting with Billy, really!)

But not a cancer, not an evil human being. At some risk of having his behavior overshadow his excellence as a batter.

[33] I don’t want to take a ‘Holier than Thou’ stance here, but living in RSN, I’ve watched (on TV) at least 150 Sox games a year throughout Manny’s tenure. And if anything, Hoss understates the blemish on baseball that is Manny. The Sox and Boston media always looked the other way with Manny. When his antics couldn’t be ignored, they just made light of them. Boston was addicted to Manny’s bat, and were not about to rock the boat.

No matter how pissed Francona, the Sox or the media were, ultimately, it was explained as ‘Manny being Manny’. No benchings. No suspensions. Even knocking over an old man in anger was overlooked.

Gambling on baseball is considered the cardinal sin. This is because of the fear of players ‘throwing’ a game. Ultimately, quitting on your team is the ultimate sin. And Manny did this not once, or twice or thrice, but over and over again over a span of 4 years.

You saw him take 3 strikes from Mo without even taking the bat off his shoulder? This is Manny when he doesn’t get his way. When he wanted a day off, but Francona needed him on the field, Manny got even. Showboating at his HRs, not running out ‘almost homers’, jogging to first on grounders and DP balls, not running hard trying to field balls hit in the gap… these are his minor indiscretions. But intentionally sitting out games and making outs intentionally is unforgivable.

It’s like funny tragedy. In Manny’s last ‘injury’ he complained of a bad knee, and said he needed to sit out. The Sox were at the end of their rope and uncharacteristically actually ordered Manny to have an MRI on his knee. When they asked him which knee was injured…. he could NOT remember! So they ordered MRIs on BOTH knees. Of course, both knees were fine.

He blackedmailed the Sox, during a penant run, to trade him… by not playing, even with a $20 million contract.

I’ve seen Manny play over 1000 games. I’ve watched pregame, postgame shows and the Boston Media for 8 years. He is actually worse then the MM makes him out.

Manny is not stupid. He may even be a ‘nice guy’. But he is manipulative scum. He should NEVER be allowed to wear a Yankee uniform.

Manny, since you asked, is an ON-field diminisher of the sport and his team, if he doesn’t FEEL like playing. He quits, he sulks, he gets pseudo-injured, his feelings are hurt to much to run all the way to first. He just LOVES watching long doubles from the batter’s box.

Whatever anyone might want to say about, for example, Alex Rodriguez, he shows up 150+ games a year unless seriously hurt, he changed positions to become a Yankee (some say a mistake for the club, yup), and you will never see him dog it. Period.

Can ManRam hit a baseball? Brilliantly. And I expect him to be a first ballot HoFer, given the serious bad apples and mediocrities in the Hall. I just have no desire to see him in pinstripes, and find myself actually having to HOPE he gets a hit.

One more thing … the BoSox are good at maligning a guy they want to dump, using the media to shift public perception. They didn’t HAVE to do it with Manny.