Accepting Manny

The Boston Red Sox have arguably the best hitter in baseball in Manny Ramirez but the fans have had a hard time warming up to him. Statistically his offensive numbers compare with all the great athletes in Boston Sports history yet he hasn't got a third of the respect or adulation he deserves from fans and media alike.

Terry O'Reilly never put up big numbers but was a big fan favorite. In fact when he came up to the Bruins he had very limited skills, wasn't a scorer nor a good skater, but he won the fans' hearts by being a plugger. He worked extrememly hard at improving his skills and found his niche on the team. He earned the utmost respect and had his number retired to the rafters of the Garden as an average player.

Manny also works extremely hard as witnessed and reported by his teammates but fans can't relate to an individual who is making approximately 400 times the money that they make playing a game that is a fantasy for most of them. The expectations of a person earning $20 million a year is beyond reach. He could put up triple crown numbers but let him show any sign of "Manny being Manny" and he is immediately castigated and made the scapegoat for all the losses the team has suffered.

Thursday night, July 7, the Red Sox were playing the division rival Baltimore Orioles. It could easily be seen that the game would not last the full nine innings because of rain. With the Sox trailing 2-1 and the Baltimore starter reaching his limit of pitches and battling control problems, they loaded the bases and were on the verge of at least tying the game. On the second pitch to John Olerud which was a ball the catcher fired to second base and picked off Trot Nixon for the third out and snuffing out the rally. The game was called in the 7th and the Sox lost.

When I tuned in to the sports talk shows the next day there was very little talk of Trot Nixon's blunder. Most of the ire and venom were being cast on the manager for resting four of his starters. I wondered what the tone of the calls would have been if Manny had been the player that had the brain lapse at second base.

Why was Trot Nixon not hung out to dry the next day like Manny would have? Could it be a race issue? I doubt it. Could it be a perception issue? Maybe. Trot is a Terry O'Reilly type, a grinder, a hustler someone who'll crash into the wall for the team. The fans have an easier time relating to him.

Manny's happy-go-lucky type of exterior is perceived as aloofness and laziness. Has he had some senior moments on the field? Of course, but his hitting more than makes up for the occasional shortcoming he's had on the field.

It took me a while to understand that Manny's demeanor is what makes him a very good hitter. You rarely see him lose his composure when he's in the batter's box. Even when the umpire misses a call he gets right back in the batter's box and gets ready to hack away. He is definetly one of the most feared batters in both leagues and one of the most productive in the clutch. Just look at his stats.

I hope in due time more fans will appreciate what they are witnessing in Manny Ramirez. I haven't seen a more productive hitter since watching Ted Williams at the end of his career.