Recently in Manny Ramirez Category

Since 1993 for most of the newest generation of Philly fans the thought of the Phils in the postseason reminded you of one thing. Joe Carter. Carter was the villian that crushed the entire city's hopes in '93 for a World Series title since 1980 team. Some of us are still waiting for that Joe Carters homerun to hit the ground. That's why making the playoffs last year felt like winning the championship almost. It really did, just for a young minute.

We'll that sigh of relief you hear is the entire Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware Valley. The Phillies put the Dodgers out of their misery last night and are on the way to the World Series. It was obvious if you remotely followed either team that the Phillies were the better team no matter how much the media wanted and tried desperately to convince you otherwise. Of course they wanted the Manny vs. Bosox circus. Which would have definitely been the G.O.A.T. circus. However good Manny is, and he was video game-like. There was no way he was going to beat Howard, Rollins, Utley, Burrell, Victorino, Hamels and Lidge by himself. It was basically Manny vs. Many.

Something is going on in the air in Philly right now. Somewhere in between all the laughs at work, a McCain supporter telling me he's now voting for O'Bama this morning or the old white lady sitting in her car and actually didn't lock her door as I walked past her car... there's definitely a better vibe. That being said you can also feel a ire of disbelief because in Philly you always get the carpet pulled from under you at the last minute. Rhonde Barber is still running down the sideline as we speak.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of the "I already get special attention for being an athlete, but I should also be able to do whatever I want whenever I want" types in the sporting world. But, it's about time that we stop heaping all the blame on them for their behavior and start blaming the team management for allowing it to happen in the first place.

These hypocrites are the ones who allow guys to get away with counterproductive behavior like missing meetings/practices, blowing off charitable events, cussing out coaches, and throwing their teammates under the bus publicly. Then, when it's no longer convenient for them, or when the public/media finally gives them the necessary hall pass to get rid of said-player without ripping them for it, they not only trade/release the player but trash his reputation as well by putting everything that went on out there for the public to chew on.

Not the Boston Red Sox! They wanted to trade Manny Ramirez so badly they sent him and $7 million to the Dodgers. And, Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss went to the Pirates. All they got in return was Jason Bay, a two-piece snack with a biscuit, no cole slaw and not even a cup of water!

Manny's annoying but that annoying? The Boston Red Sox have effectively closed the books on their postseason. There is no way they're getting deep in the playoffs without Ramirez protecting Ortiz! The Yankees can walk Papi now with impunity! What are the Red Sox going to do? Threaten them with Jason Bay?

Don't get me wrong. Bay is having a great year! Actually he's having a better year statiscally than Manny is. But come postseason I don't see the Yankees, Rays, or Angels' even remotely fearing the idea of pitching to Bay straight up.

But that's not the only head scratching trade today.

Manny Ramirez has more RBIs than any other player in Major League Baseball since 1993. He was the 2004 World Series MVP. He's an 11-time All Star. He has 9 Silver Slugger awards. And he has 2 World Series rings. So why are the Boston Red Sox itching to get rid of him?

This kind of reminds me of the Dave Chappelle skit titled "When keeping it real goes wrong." The Red Sox management is tired of the shenanigans, I get that! And anyone who's ever been in charge of anything can testify to having the one guy on your squad who's a pain in the ass but is also the best player on the team or your best employee. But drawing a line in the sand right now does what for the Red Sox exactly?

It's not like Manny has them by the short ones; no player is that valuable. But at this point in the season with the Red Sox having a real chance of a repeat World Series Trophy, would you pull Manny's leash right now or would you continue what you've been doing ignoring his behavior?