Manny Ramirez has often been accused of frivolity, and the charges are probably deserved. He's a silly guy. When he's performing well, hitting sky shots in the ALCS, people love Manny's quirks. Then, later, they trade him.
That's all fair, but the next step in the saga of Manny Ramirez is his adaptation to a new team, and a new manager, Joe Torre, who typically prefers his players quirk- and shag-free. Which is why he asked Manny to cut his dreadlocks. For real. L.A. Times columnist T.J. Simers rightly thinks it isn't going to happen, and made a bet with Torre on the matter:
If Ramirez returns to Dodger Stadium a week from today to open the team's next home stand with all his hair, Torre said he would make a donation to Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA. [...] But just between you and me, who is Torre kidding? You think he's going to bench Ramirez because the guy doesn't get his hair cut? You think if he fines him it will make a difference, Ramirez knowing he's not getting paid by the Dodgers, so there's no money to take out of his pay?For the purpose of the column, Simers takes a pretty lighthearted tone toward the issue, but this is the sort of thing that breeds acrimony. It might start small -- and Torre likely has a check to write in his future -- but if Manny makes a habit of plainly ignoring the new boss' whims, things could get ugly quick. Perhaps Manny's not so lovable after all.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-04-2008 @ 4:02PM
JDBreeze1 said...
Why should he care what the Dodgers think? He'll only be there the rest of this year, they'll miss the playoffs, and then he'll sign with the Yankees.
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8-07-2008 @ 6:39PM
scott said...
I'm not going to argue that the Yankees haven't made some epically jackass moves over the years, but there's no way they'll sign Manny, even though he's from Washington Heights near the stadium. He can't field a position. We've already got a ton of guys who fit that description, not to mention Damon, Posada and Matsui who'll need to take it easy the rest of their careers. Nady is working out nicely in left. Abreu is going to be around for a while. Cashman isn't that dumb. At least I hope not.
8-04-2008 @ 8:36PM
ron l. said...
yankee stadium is right in mannys backyard. He did not want to play for the yankees when he had the chance, he said he would rather beat the yankees.The yankees dont want him there is not enough mustard in the world for that hotdog.
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8-04-2008 @ 5:41PM
carmelo said...
manny looks gross with his dreds..and no way he signs with the yankees.
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8-05-2008 @ 10:49AM
mary m. said...
I like Mannie's locks as they continue a black tradition that has a right to continue. However, if Torre says they go, why doesn't Manny at least cut them a little shorter? If Mannie could look girlish (huh?) this length would do it. I also think he could and very well may become a Yankee. Damon hits well for us and nobody boos him when he does except the Red Sox. Mannie should like that revenge.
8-04-2008 @ 6:05PM
Bro said...
I say he'll cut his hair...perhaps not all the dreds but it will be short enough to see his name on his new jersery. He'll do it out of respect for Joe Torre.
And the Yankees will NOT sign Manny. Why would they?
They are going to unload the checkbook at C.C. and Texieriea
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8-04-2008 @ 6:29PM
ERNIE said...
?????IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN MY LIFETIME LOL
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8-04-2008 @ 7:17PM
NachoD said...
In another episode of Manny Being Manny, I predict that he will shave his head completely bald and then pull a Mike Ditka and get a "Ricky Williams" type wig just to test Torre before showing off his newly shaved pate!
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8-04-2008 @ 8:18PM
Martin said...
The guy just went 8 for 13, with a couple of homers, against a team with one of the best pitching staffs in the league. Leave the hair long at least until he hits a slump. After all, we all know what happened to Samson.
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8-04-2008 @ 9:34PM
roger said...
Whos kidding who...The Yankees will sign him if they want to if for no other reason then to stick it to the Red Sox.Used to respect the man but his NEW attitude and hitting only proves to me that he is and was a man of little integrety while he played for the Sox.
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8-04-2008 @ 10:26PM
brooklyn said...
The Yankees will NEVER sign anyone like Ramirez. No team needs or wants a childish, injury faking, person who cares nothing about his team but only about himself. Not to mention the fact that he'll be 37 next year and will have no incentive to play well after signing his last contract.
The Yankees have always had too much class to sign clowns like Ramirez....and the Red Sox finally showed some class by not kissing his behind and getting him out of town ASAP.
Hopefully, the entire league will do a Barry Bonds to him and shun him next year.
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8-05-2008 @ 4:41PM
linda said...
what does his hair have to do with his playing? NOT A THING.
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8-08-2008 @ 12:06AM
Sandra Dee said...
Tell that to Samson.
8-10-2008 @ 1:52AM
Louis S. Herkalo said...
YOU ARE TOTALLY WRONG. THE HAIR HAS TO GO! HE IS A LE MODEL FOR THE YOUUTH PLAYING BASEBALL TODAY!
8-05-2008 @ 1:21AM
Lakergregg said...
I heard a guy say on local L.A. sports talk tonight, that the Dodgers made a hundred twenty five grand on sales of Manny #99 t's and jersey's at the stadium over the weekend.
He also said that when the next homestand starts they'll have souvenir Manny dreds for sale.
So how could Torre demand he cut his dreds and than the team makes money off his former do?
McCourt will either "f" this up or he'll "f" this up.
He's here for the rest of the season only, Manny we hardly knew ye.
GO HALOS! (they're just renting Teixiera too.)
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8-05-2008 @ 1:10AM
susan said...
I can't believe in this day and age a grown man is allowed to act the way Manny did in Boston...refusing to play, down right blackmail..He should be fined by MLB...I am glad for the Dodger fans but don't get your hopes up...If you don't have a shot at the play offs he will "shut it down". He is a selfish, greedy man......Plays for only Manny.....
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8-05-2008 @ 1:32AM
steve said...
Why would Torre even care if he cuts his hair. Manny just needs to let his bat do the talking...
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8-10-2008 @ 1:21AM
Louis S. Herkalo said...
george will never put up w/him, hair, etc.
8-05-2008 @ 6:32AM
mac8 said...
Remember these guys are pro's they play for money, for the right price I'm sure fat Manny will shave the dome. I think he should be told to show up at spring training at lease 25 lbs. lighter and for every pound he looses a million.
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8-05-2008 @ 12:10PM
jim d said...
Apparently, you do not know Manny. He has embarassed his friends on the Sox (Ortiz) with his antics which he thinks are funny and not consequential. The Sox have gone into a funk and hope his departure gets them out of it. Ortiz is down to near .250 with power fading. Manny has always been a cancer and he likes his days off. He is a quitter with way too much money and NEVER hustles. No one liked the homerun pose each and every time a ball went up in the air. He costs teams and very rarely helps teams. Sure he has alot of homers, the cost is still too much. At $20,000 per RBI, he costs more than he's worth. He'll do well in LA with all the fastball pitchers and the incentive of his ego, but as happened here in Boston, he is a real jerk with the mind of a six year old.