Slightly OT: Pujols -- I want Manny Ramirez

by EJThunder on Jan 29, 2009 7:05 PM CST Comment 41 comments

Here's an article I stumbled across on ESPN. Take a gander..... It probably doesn't mean squat, but still.

Couple snippets:

"I speak with Manny every three days and he tells me, 'Man, no one wants to sign me,'" Pujols said Thursday during a news conference. "I'm not an agent or general manager, but I can't understand how Manny has not signed."

Right, Albert. The money Manny wants now is nothing compared to what you'll want when you hit the open market.

Pujols passed along Ramirez's telephone number to St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.

"Maybe St. Louis doesn't have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players," Pujols said.

Manny give St. Louis a discount?

That's laughable.... or is it?

I was about to post this as a fanshot but I thought I would get everyone else's input on the subject. I'm kind of curious.

I figured maybe change it up and not talk about Brian Roberts, Jake Peavy, etc.

Let's say Manny does sign with St. Louis.... how does that affect the Cubs? Would St. Louis give us more trouble if they ended up landing him? And do you see Manny taking a "discount" to be Pujols's teammate and to play there?

Just wanted to get people's ideas of where they think Manny will sign since teams have shown that they don't believe in throwing him the money he thinks he deserves.

Poll

Opening Day: Where is Manny Ramirez?

Los Angeles Dodgers

100 votes

New York Mets

9 votes

San Francisco Giants

11 votes

Chicago Cubs (HA!)

26 votes

At home watching everyone having fun without him.

15 votes

Other

9 votes

170 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

I saw this

Just the thought of Manny batting behind Albert Pujols makes me cringe. He would make that offense flat out one of the best in baseball. Please Dodgers sign him quick although I would prefer him being somewhere in the A.L.

I dont care who the new owner is as long as he/she/them come equipped with a Jake Peavy and a Joe Beimel!!!

by cubsluver22 on Jan 29, 2009 7:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Amen.

I can’t imagine having to face Manny that many times in a season.

p.s. Ha Ha to whoever picked the Cubs in the poll. lol

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Jan 29, 2009 7:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Picked the Cubs?

wasnt me, but got to admit, Bradley, Soriano, Manny is one interesting OF.

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 29, 2009 7:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

.... to say the least.

n/t

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Jan 29, 2009 7:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Giants make the most sense for him.

They need a power hitter. They need someone who can put butts in the seats. He can do both. And in that division, he might make the difference enough that they could win it.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 29, 2009 7:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeahbut...

…the Giants suck. They were 12 games back in the worst division in baseball. Their catcher (Molina) led the team in homers and ribbies, and Randy Winn (!) and Ray Durham (!) were probably their best hitters. And outside of Cain and Lincecum, their pitching staff is probably worse than their everyday players. I mean, if it’s the Giants, it’s only gonna be for the cold hard cash, cuz Manny ain’t winnin squat in SanFran.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 29, 2009 7:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Eh, I think that the Giants could surprise some people.

Don’t forget about Fred Lewis and Edgar Renteria. Plus, they got a couple arms in Johnson(could be solid),and Affeldt and some other unknown guys that could potentially make names for themselves.

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Jan 29, 2009 7:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, the Giants pitching staff is OK.

They have two good starters, as you mention, and a good closer, and a couple other young starters who could make a difference in that rotation.

You said 12 games back. That’s not that hard to make up in, as you say, the worst division in baseball.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 29, 2009 7:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus

They have Bob Howry for the 8th inning!

by ak123 on Jan 29, 2009 7:40 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I agree.

I’d say just about ANY team in that division could make a run at the division title with the right move or two and a little luck. And if the Giants can grab Manny, they could definitely turn things around quickly.

Tim Lincecum is likely the best pitcher in the National League – add him to Matt Cain and now Randy Johnson (who’s obviously not all he once was, but still pitched solidly last season), and you’ve got three-fifths of a competitive rotation. All they need is one of their young pitchers to step up and that would just leave them with Zito bringing up the rear – and, who knows, he could bounce back to some relative form of usefulness.

Offensively, Manny would give them the pop that Barry once provided, though they’ll need a big step forward by Fred Lewis, a better year from Rowand and another plus year from Randy Winn (who actually hit very well last season) to get their run production up. I’d actually kinda like to see Manny go to San Fran.

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 30, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Giants are the only team

to have 3 Cy Young winners….FWIW…

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 30, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Giants do not suck

In fact, they strike me as favorite to win the NL West.

by BLou on Jan 30, 2009 9:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They need some offensive help.

If they sign Manny, I’d agree. If not, they’ll struggle to score runs.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 30, 2009 10:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Everyopne wants Manny

But no one is willing to touch his current price tag. Manny happens to be a FA the wrong off season. How many millions is enough anyways for these athletes (not just MLB< but all sports).

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 29, 2009 7:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

True.

and like I said in the post, the number Manny signs for, heck, what he WANTS to sign for is going to be laughable compared to what Pujols will receive if and when he hits free agency.

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Jan 29, 2009 7:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 29, 2009 7:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

0% chance

he plays for the Cardinals.

Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.

by TCobb1911 on Jan 29, 2009 7:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

From your keyboard to the mountaintop.

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 30, 2009 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He truly would test

That “best fans in baseball” malarky.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jan 29, 2009 7:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Manny

may sit until around the All Star break, hoping for a wallet to open in his favor by a contender that needs a bat.

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 29, 2009 8:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That would be ridiculous

the two best right handed hitters in recent memory, unlikely, but very potent. I like it when Pujols says he doesnt know why Manny hasnt signed-b/c think the 100M might have something to do with it?

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 29, 2009 8:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

LaRussa would HATE Manny.

n/t

by WUSTLCubsFan on Jan 30, 2009 1:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Definitely DO NOT want to see a Pujols-Manny combo in St. Louis

To go along with Troy Glaus, Ryan Ludwig and Rick Ankiel? Ah, no thanks.

by BLou on Jan 30, 2009 9:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Pujols and Manny on the same team...

…is chilling – especially if Ludwick has another monster year.

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 30, 2009 10:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Dodgers sign Manny for 1 year

and make him the highest paid player in the game (27 mil?)

He then works his tail off to get a new 2 year deal after this year.

I don’t see him taking a 2 year deal that would give him the same money as his old Boston deal would have (23 mil)

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 30, 2009 10:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I see him eventually

having to “settle” for 2 years, 40 mil.

http://thegettinplace.blogspot.com/

by TheTruth11 on Jan 30, 2009 11:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, my gut tells me LA will get him eventually.

It would just make for some good drama if the Giants were able to steal him away. Of course, I thought the same thing about them getting CC.

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 30, 2009 11:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW, here's what a few Cards fan think.

LINKY

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 30, 2009 11:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I just love this comment from a deadbird fan.

“This is the move a desperate team like the Chicago cubs would make. We take pride in having guyse who compete and play hard no matter what. Not just guyse who can’t wait for there next plate appearance. maybe if manny for the first time in ten years came to camp in great shape, learned how to play defense and learned how to hustle then we would think about it. Don’t be Jim Hendry!”

I guess he just loves those cardinal guyse!

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jan 30, 2009 5:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs