Wow! What a wild and wacky four days it's been in Dodgerland.
First, the unexpected last second deadline deal that brought Manny Ramirez from Boston to L.A., and now, in the aftermath of it all, Manny's tearing the cover off the ball.
The Trade
I didn't see it coming. Just a total and complete shock! Stunned. I'm STILL blown away it actually happened. It came out of nowhere! Well... sort of.
There had been some rumors swirling around that the Dodgers were interested in Manny. Boston seemed like they were intent on trading the disgruntled slugger to the point they were willing to pay the remaining estimated $7 million left on his current guaranteed contract. But there were contradictory reports that suggested the Dodgers weren't interest, and I would guess because Boston would have wanted Matt Kemp in return. What we didn't know until after the deal was that the Dodgers had in fact talked to Boston in recent weeks and days leading up to last Thursday, but Manny's name never came up until that day around mid-morning.
Eventually, when Boston found difficulties in trying to make a deal straight up for Manny, they started hunting for a third team to get involved, and found one in Pittsburgh. Boston and Pittsburgh basically laid the groundwork to move Jason Bay to Boston, and Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss to Pittsburgh. All they needed was a third team to take Manny and send two prospects to Pittsburgh. When they found that team in Florida, the Marlins refused to part with one of the players Pittsburgh wanted, and Boston called the Dodgers. When it was agreed that the Dodgers would send only Andy LaRoche and A-ball prospect Bryan Morris, a deal had been struck. Manny had already waived his 10-5 no-trade rights to go to either Florida or L.A. And, as part of the deal, the Dodgers agreed to void the two option years of his contract, thus making Manny a true free agent after this season, and Manny agreed to refuse arbitration after the season.
In the end, the Dodgers landed a much needed power bat in the middle of the lineup. And has it ever shown!
Manny-mania!
Manny's impact is already being felt. He felt right at home in his pre-game press conference on Friday afternoon, when he was introduced to the L.A. media, donning a number familiar to many in L.A., #99. Just Manny being Manny! Everywhere you went in L.A., after word trickled out early Thursday afternoon that Manny was headed to L.A., it was all you heard people talk about. All of the local sports talk radio shows were talking about Manny heading to L.A. There was a three-hour special on AM 790 KABC, the Dodgers flagship radio station, before Friday night's game. The Dodgers sold a record 11,000 tickets for Friday night's game from Thursday afternoon up until the game sold out on Friday afternoon from walk-up sales alone. An estimate 30,000 tickets had been sold for the weekend series against Arizona, all from walk-up sales after the trade.
On Friday night, in his Dodger debut, Manny went 2 for 4 in a 2-1 loss to Arizona. The game's key moment involving Manny came in the 9th inning when Russell Martin led off the inning with a base hit. Manny came up representing the winning run, and with the crowd roaring and on its feet, Manny disappointed when he grounded into a double play.
With everything that had gone on from Thursday until before game time Saturday, Manny blew everyone away when he told the media he wanted to finish his career in L.A. donning Dodger blue. Manny Being Manny, I guess, right?!
Then Manny made the Dodgers and their fans happy. In his first at bat Saturday night, Manny launched a booming two-run home run to left field for his first as a Dodger, his 21st of the season overall, and the 511th of his long career. He came out for a curtain call after the home run. Manny would add another hit and finish the night 2 for 4 yet again, this time, a 4-2 Dodger victory that pulled them back to within two games of Arizona.
Manny didn't disappoint again today. He went 4 for 5 with another booming home run, this time a solo shot leading off the 5th inning, and added an RBI single in the first, an RBI double in the 2nd, and an 8th inning infield single while scoring two runs.
His three game total? Eight hits in 13 at bats with two home runs and five RBI. Not a bad start, huh?!
Manny-mania has definitely arrived in Los Angeles, and hopefully it'll last longer than two or three months!
First, the unexpected last second deadline deal that brought Manny Ramirez from Boston to L.A., and now, in the aftermath of it all, Manny's tearing the cover off the ball.
The Trade
I didn't see it coming. Just a total and complete shock! Stunned. I'm STILL blown away it actually happened. It came out of nowhere! Well... sort of.
There had been some rumors swirling around that the Dodgers were interested in Manny. Boston seemed like they were intent on trading the disgruntled slugger to the point they were willing to pay the remaining estimated $7 million left on his current guaranteed contract. But there were contradictory reports that suggested the Dodgers weren't interest, and I would guess because Boston would have wanted Matt Kemp in return. What we didn't know until after the deal was that the Dodgers had in fact talked to Boston in recent weeks and days leading up to last Thursday, but Manny's name never came up until that day around mid-morning.
Eventually, when Boston found difficulties in trying to make a deal straight up for Manny, they started hunting for a third team to get involved, and found one in Pittsburgh. Boston and Pittsburgh basically laid the groundwork to move Jason Bay to Boston, and Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss to Pittsburgh. All they needed was a third team to take Manny and send two prospects to Pittsburgh. When they found that team in Florida, the Marlins refused to part with one of the players Pittsburgh wanted, and Boston called the Dodgers. When it was agreed that the Dodgers would send only Andy LaRoche and A-ball prospect Bryan Morris, a deal had been struck. Manny had already waived his 10-5 no-trade rights to go to either Florida or L.A. And, as part of the deal, the Dodgers agreed to void the two option years of his contract, thus making Manny a true free agent after this season, and Manny agreed to refuse arbitration after the season.
In the end, the Dodgers landed a much needed power bat in the middle of the lineup. And has it ever shown!
Manny-mania!
Manny's impact is already being felt. He felt right at home in his pre-game press conference on Friday afternoon, when he was introduced to the L.A. media, donning a number familiar to many in L.A., #99. Just Manny being Manny! Everywhere you went in L.A., after word trickled out early Thursday afternoon that Manny was headed to L.A., it was all you heard people talk about. All of the local sports talk radio shows were talking about Manny heading to L.A. There was a three-hour special on AM 790 KABC, the Dodgers flagship radio station, before Friday night's game. The Dodgers sold a record 11,000 tickets for Friday night's game from Thursday afternoon up until the game sold out on Friday afternoon from walk-up sales alone. An estimate 30,000 tickets had been sold for the weekend series against Arizona, all from walk-up sales after the trade.
On Friday night, in his Dodger debut, Manny went 2 for 4 in a 2-1 loss to Arizona. The game's key moment involving Manny came in the 9th inning when Russell Martin led off the inning with a base hit. Manny came up representing the winning run, and with the crowd roaring and on its feet, Manny disappointed when he grounded into a double play.
With everything that had gone on from Thursday until before game time Saturday, Manny blew everyone away when he told the media he wanted to finish his career in L.A. donning Dodger blue. Manny Being Manny, I guess, right?!
Then Manny made the Dodgers and their fans happy. In his first at bat Saturday night, Manny launched a booming two-run home run to left field for his first as a Dodger, his 21st of the season overall, and the 511th of his long career. He came out for a curtain call after the home run. Manny would add another hit and finish the night 2 for 4 yet again, this time, a 4-2 Dodger victory that pulled them back to within two games of Arizona.
Manny didn't disappoint again today. He went 4 for 5 with another booming home run, this time a solo shot leading off the 5th inning, and added an RBI single in the first, an RBI double in the 2nd, and an 8th inning infield single while scoring two runs.
His three game total? Eight hits in 13 at bats with two home runs and five RBI. Not a bad start, huh?!
Manny-mania has definitely arrived in Los Angeles, and hopefully it'll last longer than two or three months!
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