53 RBI's in 53 games was enough to quiet all the talk of Manny Ramirez's behavior during his final days in Boston, but as a potential Red Sox-Dodgers series nears, it's all coming back.One announcer who never holds his opinions to himself is Tim McCarver, and when discussing the Phillies series versus the Dodgers with Mike Jensen of the Philly Inquirer he went off on Manny's days in Boston compared to LA.
"It's extraordinary - the dichotomy between what he was in Boston and what he is in Los Angeles," McCarver said. "I mean, talk about wearing out your welcome in a town, and it was a long welcome with the Red Sox. But some of the things he did were simply despicable, despicable - like not playing, refusing to play. Forgetting what knee to limp on. And now it's washed, it's gone.
"A rejuvenated Manny, I think it would be fair to say," McCarver said, sitting in the Phillies dugout yesterday. "More than old Manny. Manny's doing things that even Manny doesn't do, [like] scoring on a double to right field from first base."
"It's a wonderful story in many, many ways, and from Boston's standpoint, it's a horrible story, I would imagine, because he could be doing that for Boston," McCarver said.
Despicable? Yeah, I think McCarver is right on that one. But in this world where sports are now the ultimate reality show, I have to admit it's one of the most entertaining baseball stories in recent memory -- right next to the Tampa Bay Rays, of course.
I also agree with McCarver that this "new" Manny Ramirez at age 36 might be the best he's ever been in his career. It's hard to imagine how impressive his career stats would have been if he actually tried every day.
While I want the Rays to win it all, a Sox-Dodgers World Series wouldn't hurt anyone.
McCarver outspoken about L.A.'s dread man [Philly Inquirer]
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