My friend Barb the Evil Genius said she would like me to write about Manny, since she is an Indians fan, and very familiar with him (and since he's been going around advertising that's where he'd like to finish his career as well). Problem is, its just been too busy and too NICE to sit in here on the computer.
But here goes...STUPID GIT...or something that rhymes with that. I'm not concerned for the Dodgers. Manny has been a powerful influence, and his bat is important, but our guys have been doing just fine without him. I knew he'd be trouble one way or another, and have insisted all through the off-season that we did not want this guy if we could not have a contract that would be short, since he gets arrogant and difficult the more secure he is.
Anyway, so that man, and I use that term loosely -- HCG and all, drags us all through a tortuous contract process, knowing he's taking this stuff. He signs the contract, knowing that if he gets caught, he's of no use to us for 1/3 of the season, and who knows how he will be when he comes back.
Not only that, he's called into question our new record of most wins at home at the beginning of the season. Some say we wouldn't have gotten it if Manny hadn't juiced. I don't know if that is the case, with his sore hammy, he has mostly hit doubles, but then again, pitchers don't want to mess with him. He's also called into question all the success he has been associated with his entire career, including Boston's 2004 World Series.
My personal take...I would love for the Dodgers to sue to nullify his contract. I'm sick of these steroid guys (notice how a lot of them seem to be Boras's guys?). I really don't think that losing a few million and sitting for a month and 1/2 is enough. Manny intentionally signed a contract that he knew he might not be able to fulfill, that would put the Dodgers in a bind if this happened. Emphasize to these jerks that if they do steroids, they could lose it all. I don't think it will stop, really stop, until that hits home.
I totally agree that the Dodgers should try to get back a substantial percentage of Manny's salary. I felt the same way when Kellen Winslow Jr. tore up his knee riding a motorcycle and was out for an entire season with the Cleveland Browns. I think football may have more clauses for this kind of thing, but then they have a salary cap to protect.
ReplyDeleteBoras' clients do seem to be the greediest in the league. Witness CC Sabathia's milking extra money out of the Yankees even after they'd already outbid everyone else in MLB.
Fortunately for us, the Indians really don't like Manny's type of player, so I doubt he'll end his career here.
The thing that really bothers me about steroid usage is the "athletes will be athletes" acceptance of it. That since it's there, guys will use it and we shouldn't make a big deal out of it. Call me naive, but that totally goes against what I think sport should be.
Completely agree with you.
ReplyDeleteWhat has always bothered me about the steroid issue is the players and the Union's attitude of "not against the rules of baseball." Of course it is now. But what about the fact that it was against the LAW? Why isn't breaking the LAW against the rules of baseball?
I generally believe it is.