Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.Just when you think Manny Ramirez can't do something any more bizarre then, oh I don't know, relieving himself in the Green Monster or cutting off a throw from Johnny Damon in left field, he goes and proves everyone wrong. The Red Sox fell to Baltimore today, wrapping up an ugly 4-6 road trip, but it was Ramirez who provided the unforgettable memory, and it had nothing to do with his ongoing chase for 500 home runs.
Ramirez went back on a sharp line drive by Kevin Millar in the third inning and made a running catch in the gap. Then the fun began. In full stride, Ramirez leaped against the left field wall, high-fived a fan in the stands and then twirled and fired the ball back to Dustin Pedroia, who relayed the ball to first to double off Aubrey Huff. Too hard to follow? Watch the video evidence here.
I caught up with Ramirez after the game to ask him about his catch. "I just got a bad jump, but I never give up and I got there," he said of the grab. When another reporter pressed him on the high five Ramirez explained "it's something that came out."
Ever the showman, Manny joked (or at least I think he was joking) about the play. "It was fun. I love it. I think, you know, that's how you get your All-Star vote. I'm pretty sure that guy's gonna vote for me," said Ramirez. "It's one at a time, you know. Get your votes one at a time."
Manny's newest teammate, Jonathan Van Every, who joined the team hours before the game was amazed by the catch-cum-high-five. "That was great entertainment," said a smiling Van Every. Acting manager Brad Mills is in his fourth season with Ramirez and he's still flabbergasted by the slugger. "Manny, you just see something new all the time," said Mills. "I think someone in the dugout said 'I've seen it all now.'"
As for Ramirez, he's stated he wants to win a Gold Glove this year, but even after his sparkling play Wednesday he's not too optimistic about his chances. "I don't know," said Manny of his Gold Glove hopes. "Tito's [Terry Francona] got me playing eight innings. I'm never going to win one playing eight innings."
Ramirez, of course, is often pulled late in games the Red Sox are leading for a better defender -- usually either Coco Crisp or Jacoby Ellsbury.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. sketchy vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD7uFYoVzDY
Posted at 10:11PM on May 14th 2008 by §
2. You can’t help but love Manny!!! I never had the pleasure of seeing Ted Williams play Yaz had his greatest year the same year I was born. And by the time I really understood the game his best days were sadly behind him. And I grew up hero-worshiping Jim Rice as he patrolled the Monster. I would trade any one of them for Manny. He plays ball the way we all wish we could and he plays it like a perpetual 12-year-old, A 12 year old on his way to Cooperstown.
Murph
Posted at 12:10AM on May 15th 2008 by murph207
3. Manny well is Manny. I have seen him do some strange things in the outfield, I once saw him dive and cut off a relay throw from the centerfielder, I was like what is this guy doing? But I am a Yankee fan and the last person in the world i want to see coming to the plate with the game on the line is Manny. He is just a pure hitter. We'd take him anyday.
Posted at 2:05PM on May 15th 2008 by Bigblue
4. manny you are the GREATEST to bad all the bums that play dont enjoy and enertain us like manny does you are the BEST
Posted at 8:50PM on May 15th 2008 by jerry oliver
5. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox players, and Red Sox fans are the most ostentatious around. For those of you who don't know what it means, it's means that they're the biggest showoffs with the biggest egos. It's a good thing it was the Yankees and not the Red Sox who won 26 world championships or there would be altars with the Red Sox logos everywhere. Ramirez grew his hair long after seeing all the attention that Johnny Damon got with his long locks. All we hard when the Red Sox didn't win was the whine about the curse. Now that they're winning, it still didn't shut them up. They need to be a little more quiet. When the Yankees were winning from 1996-2000 they never ran their mouths off like the Red Sox and their fans do now. The Giants defeating the previously undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl will be an omen that the Yankees are much more deserving than the city, fans, and team full of hot dogs. There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover all those hot dogs.
Posted at 1:55PM on May 16th 2008 by Ralph Garcia
6. I'm a die hard yankee fan and boston hater. but moments like this are amazing and is the reason why i love the sport. I also think that this is the reason boston is going out and winning championships. there superstars play good ball while having fun. meanwhile these guys here in NY just go about it like its business which i could understand but dont forget that it is a game and you are supposed to have fun.
Posted at 4:44PM on May 16th 2008 by jose
7. Ralph, you sound like a typical starved Yankee fan...If my team ( THE RED SOX) had record payrolls every year and got squat, i'd be pissed too...Especially after all that $$$ choked, yes CHOKED in 2004 against these same Red Sox...I would take Manny over ANY ONE in a Yankmee uniform, keep jeter, A-hole Rod, Juice-ambi, and Mickey Mouse Posada...Do know why Lowell was re-signed so quickly last year, because he is BETTER then A-hole Rod....20 how many million a year ? Yeah, Hank got a bargain...
Posted at 12:16AM on May 17th 2008 by JG GO SOX