Just Get It Over With Already (Updated) (He’s Gone)
August 29, 2010 at 6:42 pm | Posted in Jon Gilmore, Manny Ramirez | 22 Comments
We all know what the question is going to be in the aftermath of today’s game: did Manny Ramirez purposefully argue with the home plate umpire with the bases loaded, knowing that such a move would get him immediately ejected, in order to make a statement to the Dodgers to move him? My initial judgment of the strike one call was “outside, but probably not egregiously so”, and Vin Scully noted that he can’t remember Manny ever speaking to an umpire when he disagrees with a call, though that of course can’t be verified.
That’s what everyone is going to want to know, and the answer is: it does not matter.
Look, who knows why Manny did what he did. Maybe he really is trying to get the team to trade him (though please, no comparisons to “doing the same thing” for the Red Sox in July 2008; he had a 1.060 OPS that month). Maybe he doesn’t want to be traded, but he’s just upset at Joe Torre that he’s been benched so many times in a row. Maybe he just really did think the call was a poor one. Maybe Gary Cederstrom, who’s been an umpire since 1989, called Manny out on a questionable call in 1997 and Manny wanted vengeance. Maybe Cederstrom’s in his fantasy football league, and he stole the quarterback Manny wanted. Maybe the little green alien that only Manny can see and hear told him to do it. Who knows? It could be any number of things, and no matter what you read – and good lord, this kind of scenario is just made for a Bill Plaschke puff piece – it makes no difference.
Why? Because Manny was already as good as gone, or at least he should be. I’ve been saying for weeks that the season is over and that they should be selling anyone they can sell; it was a week ago that I argued Manny should be moved. Today’s petulant outburst – if indeed that’s what it was, though it will probably be viewed that way no matter what – doesn’t really change that fact.
People can complain all they like that Manny’s act may have cost the Dodgers some runs today, and perhaps that’s true (though no one can say for sure). But today’s loss is on Ted Lilly, Ronald Belisario, and Octavio Dotel being unable to keep the Rockies off the board (and don’t even get me started on the inevitability of Lilly regressing as a Dodger). It’s on Torre (or those above him) refusing to put their best team on the field. It’s on Andre Ethier for striking out four times, and for he and James Loney combining to leave about thirty men on base.
Really, this team is exactly where we’d thought they’d be about a week ago. The short winning streak was nice, but don’t forget that three of those wins came against the hapless Brewers. They needed to turn that momentum into a sweep in Colorado to even have a prayer of contention, but instead the superior Rockies won the series, putting more distance between themselves and the Dodgers in the process.
It’s time to admit the obvious, stop messing around, and start making moves. They’re 5th in the Wild Card race, 6.5 games out, with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Matt Cain staring at them this week. They’re 13-18 in the 31 games since the 100-game mark. Don’t let the 3% chance you still have in 2010 cost you in the years to come; it’s over. Today should be Manny’s last at-bat as a Dodger, regardless of the way he acted. It should be Lilly’s last game as a Dodger. It really ought to be the last we see of guys like Octavio Dotel & Hiroki Kuroda as well, but I’ll keep my dreams reasonable.
Sell, Ned. Sell.
Update! Dylan Hernandez reports that the Dodgers will allow Manny to be claimed by the White Sox tomorrow. He claims that no players will be involved, just Chicago taking on Manny’s salary. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Update #2! USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale is reporting that the Dodgers are choosing between dumping all of Manny’s salary on the White Sox by allowing the waiver claim, or accepting minor-league 3B Jon Gilmore while making the White Sox pick up only part of the money.
Gilmore, 22, was the #33 pick in the 2007 draft by Atlanta, and was traded to Chicago after 2008 as part of the Javier Vazquez deal. He’s hitting .318/.354/.400 for high-A Winston-Salem in the Carolina League, but has just 14 homers in four seasons and has committed 78 errors in just the last two. I think I’d rather just take the money.
Fun fact, though: Gilmore’s sister is married to Ben Zobrist of the Rays. So there’s that.
Update #3! It seems to be official, he’s gone. I’ve got 2200 words ready on the Manny era, so be sure to check back tomorrow for that.
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Comment by DodgersKings323— August 29, 2010 #
Your mouth to God’s ears brother! Post the ‘”everything must go sign” and attach a permanent phone to Ned’s ear until 9/1.
Comment by Doug Harris— August 29, 2010 #
another great post, i swear coming to this site has been the only thing thats kept me sane this season.
Comment by BonafideJohnson— August 29, 2010 #
Thanks!
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 29, 2010 #
Just f’ing idiotic and typical of Frank. Dump the only guy in the lineup who makes things happen and get nothing in return. We’ll be lucky to win 60 games next season.
Comment by Bill Grabarkewitz— August 29, 2010 #
Well, its over. Good luck Manny. We will all miss you. Say hello to Andruw and Juan for us.
Comment by David S— August 29, 2010 #
I agree w/ boafidejohnson…
It’s well into wait ’til next year time in Dodgertown.
Comment by Wes Parker— August 29, 2010 #
Cederstrom had a very conservative strike zone up until Manny’s at bat, and coud have rung up Ausmus on the previous pitch. The pitch to Manny was at least a foot outside. Even the Rockies biased crew admitted as much. It was in the left handed batter’s box. What Manny said to precipitate his ejection, we may never know. However, it appeared that Cederstrom baited him with this obviously bad call and then became extremely confrontational when questioned about it.
Comment by SamAdams— August 29, 2010 #
You might be right, but it’s not like Manny to argue like that – and especially not on a strike 1. I could see it if that pitch struck him out.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 29, 2010 #
the move that makes the most sense to me is msti for gm
Comment by MR. potato head— August 29, 2010 #
SOLD! Get rich, make it happen.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 29, 2010 #
Haha when it happens, dont forget about the illness
Comment by MR. potato head— August 29, 2010 #
Updated with Jon Gilmore info.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 29, 2010 #
hey guys I was thinking with this season now over, and manny gone we should create the all time dodger hall of SHAME team.
the outfield would look something like this garret (automatic out) in left field, andruw jones in center field, milton bradly in right field.
the all time hall of shame bullpen would have of coarse Sherrill, ramon ortiz, russ ortiz,octavio dotel,todd worrell, john candelaria, and our starting pitcher would be brett tomko!
Comment by format— August 29, 2010 #
Don’t forget Jason Schmidt in the rotation for the Hall of Shame.
Comment by Adonis— August 29, 2010 #
Forget MSTI as GM. I can tell by the blog he would fill up the team with all players over 36 years old who are gritty. One exception he would probably re sign Pierre.
Comment by David S— August 29, 2010 #
If you really think the Dodgers will take the player rather than all the money, wait till the divorce proceedings begin tomorrow. Hopefully by the end of the week Torre will announce that he is not coming back and the Dodgers will be smart and make an immediate move and hire Wallach.
Comment by Louis— August 29, 2010 #
And promote Logan to GM.
Comment by Bill Grabarkewitz— August 30, 2010 #
[...] ended his Dodger career with a bizarre ejection after just one pitch while pinch-hitting with the bases loaded, which is oddly appropriate. He also [...]
Pingback by Saying Goodbye to Mannywood « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 30, 2010 #
The real challenge will be saying “NO” to Manny in the off season
Comment by Kristen Stewart Fan— August 31, 2010 #
Uh, what?
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 31, 2010 #
[...] ended his Dodger career with a bizarre ejection after just one pitch while pinch-hitting with the bases loaded, which is oddly appropriate. He also [...]
Pingback by MSTI’s 2010 in Review: Left Field « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— October 27, 2010 #