Red Sox: Manny Ramirez is still his old self with his new team
By Jon
In January, prolific Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez signed with the Japanese independent league Kochi Island Fighting Dogs. The contract details came out today. He is still the best.
The former 44-year-old Red Sox outfielder has not changed one bit since his days on the team. He is always known to be quirky and his new contract takes it even further. The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported today of the details.
"“At a press conference at which his No. 99 jersey (identifying him simply as “Manny”), a translated summary of the proceedings on the Yakyudb.com website reveals that: 1) Ramirez will have use of a Mercedes and driver; 2) Practices are optional for him; 3) He’ll get a hotel suite on the road; and 4) He will receive unlimited sushi for the entire season.”"
He’s going with the “Mannywood” number of 99 for his time in Japan and that fits him perfectly. He was the star and main attraction in Los Angeles and he’s going to be the star in Japan. If the BBWAA gets on a consistent basis and decides to elect 100% PED users in, now that Pudge is in, then Manny should and will be a Hall of Famer.
Manny doesn’t just drive any car or sleep in any hotel room. He’s part of the 500 club and will be treated like royalty. A Mercedes and private hotel suite are very luxurious, so he deserves it. He needs to make sure he is getting from the hotel and ballpark safely, in style and comfortable. He also needs his sleep to be healthy, so he can succeed during the season. This Mercedes and hotel suite will do just that. He needs to be ready to pimp home runs because that is all he is going to do. He is paid to bring in fans and hit. He’s going to scare pitchers and hit moonshots all season long.
Since Manny is one of the best hitters in baseball history, he probably does not need a lot of practice to warm up. He knows what he is doing and is an expert on it all. It only makes sense then that he does not have to go practice. Why waste his time doing batting practice or drills when every game will be practice for him. He is going to wreck the Japanese international league. He will hit home runs so long, deserving of so many cheers, that he can practice his base running right then and there. He will be running up and down, getting his practice in, during the games while he waits for the fans to stop cheering him on. I expect a slash line likes the players in the WBC from Chinese Taipei and Japan. If he doesn’t finish this season with a .400 average, 70 homers and 160 runs batted in then it will be a failure.
Lastly, If you are in Japan then why not ask for unlimited sushi. It is pretty healthy and only Manny eats the healthiest foods to get his body in the right shape. In reality, though, it is not like he will need to ask for unlimited sushi. A star as big as Manny going overseas to play baseball will get whatever he wants, implied or not. He will bring this franchise back to life after this upcoming season that instead of asking for unlimited sushi, he will be asking for a key to city and ownership of the team.
Next: Red Sox: Who will be the bat off the bench in 2017?
This is only the beginning for Manny and his antics on his new team. I can’t wait until the season starts and we see all the craziness that ensues.