Who would've thought there'd be something else to talk about the day after the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim swept the Sox at Fenway? Certainly not me. But boy am I happy I was wrong. See, I didn't really want to talk about the Angels sweeping the Sox for the second time in two weeks. I'd much rather talk about my shock and awe over Manny being traded.
You might be surprised that I'm shocked, but can you blame me? I mean, with all the rumors swirling around about Manny being traded did anyone really believe it was going to happen? Again, not me, mainly because Manny and the Sox have been doing this dance every year for the past three. And every year nothing ever comes of it.
Well this year, the rumors finally became a reality. In case you haven't seen the (no pun intended) trades, turns out our beloved left fielder is now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers proving yet again that Dad's nick name for the west coast team is very apt - they really are Red Sox lite. And who did we get? The Pittsburgh Pirates' left fielder, Jason Bay.
Now you may ask how in the world did we get a guy from Pittsburgh when Manny went to Los Angeles? Well turns out the trade was with three teams. Manny may now be wearing Dodger blue, but Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss will both be wearing Pittsburgh yellow. See Pittsburgh's currently in last place in the NL Central, so they were happy to give up one of their star players if it meant getting some younger, fresh blood in their ranks. And while they're getting a good deal in Moss, Hansen's performance of late, doesn't bode well for the National League team. Then again, who knows. Seems in recent years whenever the Sox trade a player in a slump, they somehow straighten up and fly right when they land in their new home. But the Pirates didn't stop with Hansen and Moss. They also got two players from the Dodgers - third baseman Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris.
Anyway, back to Manny... I guess when you look back over the past week, it was probably a good thing Manny was traded. Some of his comments were really quite surprising. Over the weekend he said he'd be happy to accept a trade if that's what the Sox wanted. Then yesterday he told ESPN "The Red Sox don't deserve a player like me." When I heard that, I was shocked. The Sox don't deserve you? With all the antics you pull, you doesn't deserve the Red Sox.
Manny being Manny is always cute -until it's not. And it quit being cute a few weeks ago. From disappearing into the green monster to make a call, to throwing a 60 year-old member of their team to the ground because he couldn't get Manny tickets, to bobbling a ball in the outfield and holding onto it while the opposing team member races to third. These are things that MVP's don't do. Sure, Manny has gotten 20 home runs every season for the past 14, but that alone is not a reason to keep a player. And with the left fielder's need to sit games out, always right around late August, early September, it's time to get some fresh blood in the outfield. Someone who's younger and takes the sport a little more seriously.
I know nothing about Jason Bay. But I'm excited to see him play. And if he's as good as his stats say he is, he'll definitely be a welcome addition to the Red Sox name.
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