tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post8143091920760095373..comments2024-03-27T03:19:11.216-04:00Comments on Assistant Village Idiot: Missing The Point On The Manny TradeAssistant Village Idiothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-57099943203014393892008-08-02T16:12:00.000-04:002008-08-02T16:12:00.000-04:00wyman, upon reflection, I agree that the Dodgers d...wyman, upon reflection, I agree that the Dodgers did more than okay with this. Playing in the weaker league and batting in a picher's park should just about even out for Manny.<BR/><BR/>Giacomo, I agree they wouldn't have had to spend the $20M if they didn't want to, but then they'd have to go get someone, and possible pay big for it. They got almost-Manny for $6M, locked in. Giving up chips- yeah, that's true. I don't see how you get around it, though.<BR/><BR/>I don't know if the lineup effect is actually as strong as it looks on paper. If the batter actually following Ortiz is about the same but the other team is responding to reputation rather than actuality, it could be an advantage. There might be a fear factor that affects the some pitchers.<BR/><BR/>As to chemistry, I am always of mixed feelings. On the one hand, baseball almost uniquely requires a mental attitude that is both calm and alert (rather like surgery, I would think), and anything which upsets that is detrimental. OTOH, I often suspect that a lot of these guys are just prima donnas who don't feel they have to put up the same annoyances that everyone else does. Shut up and play.Assistant Village Idiothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-11092518361225717252008-08-02T07:59:00.000-04:002008-08-02T07:59:00.000-04:00I agree to a certain extent. I don't think that t...I agree to a certain extent. I don't think that the Sox dug a hole for themselves here. Bay is a good player, and will produce reasonably well for the Sox. He'll be in the lineup more often, and he'll be a quieter, more solid presence in the clubhouse. If he approaches his NL Rookie of the Year potential he'll just about equal what the aging Manny would do number-wise.<BR/><BR/>From that standpoint I'm sanguine on the trade. But there's one or two things you haven't taken into account. First, a lineup is just that, and the presence of a feared hitter in the four hole affects the pitching to the batters in the 2, 3, and 5 holes greatly. How will Ortiz, Youkilis, Drew and Lowell be affected by this trade, in terms of the pitching that they see? Would you pitch to Ortiz with the game on the line with Lowell or Drew or Bay in the on-deck circle?<BR/><BR/>Second is the fact that they were forced to use some chips (Moss, Hanson) in the deal and didn't have them to get yet another bat, a strong lefty reliever or an additional starter.<BR/><BR/>Third, next year's $20 mil was a club option; they wouldn't have had to pay him any of it unless they wanted to.<BR/><BR/>I like what Manny has produced on the field. He can flat out hit, and he hits better in September and October. He's also a guy who can carry a team for three weeks when he's hot (and motivated).<BR/><BR/>He's also a prima donna of the highest order, and chemistry is important. If the team can focus on playing and winning games bette this may be a great trade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-34544321326840477312008-08-02T01:15:00.000-04:002008-08-02T01:15:00.000-04:00You might also look at this article, which enthuse...You might also look at <A HREF="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3515526" REL="nofollow">this article</A>, which enthused me no end about the deal. His dad's a diehard Red Sox fan!<BR/><BR/>You're wrong to say that the Red Sox robbed the NL blind. The Dodgers got Manny for essentially nothing at all. It's the Pirates who got robbed.Ben Wymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12491745981357751416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-87519361010150967562008-08-01T19:51:00.000-04:002008-08-01T19:51:00.000-04:00It is one of those "you can look it up" responses ...It is one of those "you can look it up" responses to Wyman. In his career with the Sox, Manny is 15 for 51 in the divisional series (by the way they are set up, that cannot be against the Yankees). That is slightly under .300. In LCS with the Red Sox, Manny batted .300 and .310 in 03 and 04, both against the Yankees. His best LCS was against Cleveland last year when he batted .409 with 10 RBI in a 7 game series. In the World Series, he came up huge against St. Louis and was the MVP batting .412. Against Colorado last year, .250. J D Drew did better than that! Manny has batted under .300 the last two years and three out of the last four (that includes 2008). After become a regular with Cleveland, he batted under .300 only once prior to free agency. He is a great hitter on the decline. That does not mean he can't still bring fear into the eyes of an opposing pitcher. But not the way he used to. He is beginning to remind me of Jim Rice at the latter stages of his career. Oh, and last year was the first time since 97 that he drove in fewer than 100 runs in a season. Good riddance, I say!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-48790973282824162992008-08-01T18:11:00.000-04:002008-08-01T18:11:00.000-04:00I absolutely agree, but I think you underestimate ...I absolutely agree, but I think you underestimate the damage the loss of Manny causes <I>this</I> season. Manny is one of the most feared sluggers in the game, and presence in the on-deck circle means Youk sees a lot more good pitches. Plus, having him as an ace in the hole makes the team <I>feel</I> more competitive - down 3 to the Yankees in the 8th? Don't worry, Manny's up this inning. <BR/><BR/>Plus, Manny always came up huge in the playoffs and has been devastating against the Yankees historically. If we sneak into the playoffs this year, we'll definitely miss his bat and that "we can come back anytime" swagger he gave our team.Ben Wymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12491745981357751416noreply@blogger.com