It didn’t take Manny Ramirez much long to become comfortable with his surroundings in L.A., as last night served as a prime example. Wherever Manny is, he will hit the ball, and he will do it well. Ramirez went 2-4 last night in his Dodger debut off left hander Randy Johnson. He did, however, ground into a double play in the 9th to just about seal the game for the Diamondbacks.

Contrast that with the show Jason Bay put on last night in Fenway, and maybe this move wasn’t such “downgrade”, if you want to call it that. Last night, all Jason Bay did was score the lone 2 Sox runs, hit a key triple in the 12th inning, and later scored on Lowrie’s slow bouncer to win the game. Not to mention he made a key sliding catch in left field (a ball Manny never would have caught up to) and played the Green Monster wall pretty well.

It’s only been a couple days, but Manny Ramirez feels he’s where he wants to be.

“I like this city, the environment, the energy in the fans. I think that I’ll play here for the remaining of my career.”

This is such a load of bull I can’t even begin to explain. Ramirez is an odd character…always has been. After a press conference and one, single game, he’s ready to stay in LA all the way to his retirement? Tell me if I’m wrong, but I believe we’ve heard that statement before. Hasn’t LA realized Ramirez cares for one thing and one thing only, the money?

After the debacle with the Red Sox over the past couple of weeks, Ramirez showed his true character as a person, player, and businessman.

At least one good thing has come out of this, we’ve received a solid player in return. I’m not sure what it would take to get Jason Bay in the offseason, but now that he’s here, hopefully he can help contribute to another championship in Boston.

As for Manny, at least it’s looking like he has to cut his Milli Vanilli mop-top, per order of one Joe Torre.

“I told him that if the rule is to get a haircut, then I’ll get one because I don’t want any special privileges,” Ramirez said. “But Joe replied by saying that I should get an apartment and take care of my personal stuff first, after which I should see a barber.”

He doesn’t want any special privileges? You mean he will be unable to sit out games vs. the likes of Joba Chamberlain and Felix Hernandez?

Joe, I’m sorry, but let the headaches begin. One thing we know for sure is that manager Terry Francona can now get a good sleep at night.

Enjoy LA, Manny.

Two money-hungry souls. Hey Nomar, how’s your hammy? back? ankle?

Who would of thought it would come down to this? Manny Ramirez literally threw himself out of Boston with both his mouth and actions. It started by a slap to Kevin Youkilis’ face, proceeded with a shove to the team secretary, and continued with his big mouth to ESPN DePortes.

Today marks the end of the Man-Ram era in Boston, and to be quite honest, it’s sad. Granted the Red Sox needed to get him out of the organization; it’s just a shame it had to happen like this. Manny Ramirez was one of the most loved Red Sox to date. Ramirez’ eight-year run brought 2 world championships to Boston, a feat that was missing for 86 years.

(Fellow writer Mike Comtois probably said it best when he said losing Ramirez is like losing a girlfriend. It’s true, it’s just hard to picture a Sox team without Ramirez in the lineup. Personally, it’s all I’ve known since 2000 when I was just 14 years old.  But hey, everyone must move on)

It’s tough to tell how Jason Bay will do in Boston. Sure, he’s coming to a much tougher American League, but he is now in the middle of one stellar lineup. Hitting between Youkilis and Ortiz will provide Bay with the much needed protection he was missing in Pittsburgh. Hitting between Ryan Doumit and Doug Meintkiewicz isn’t what we would call “ideal”. Bay had a tough ‘07, but his numbers have turned around this year. Fenway Park is a hitters ballpark certainly to a right-handed batter like Bay.

So what’s next? Now that the Red Sox clubhouse has been rid of the cancer, maybe the post All-Star break struggles are about to turn around. We sure hope so.

One thing is for certain, Manny Ramirez will never be forgotten. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it, most of us enjoyed watching him roam left field, high-five fans, become a cut-off man in center field, and smash many home runs over the Monster. We thank you Manny, and hope Joe Torre and the Dodgers can deal with you.

Jerry Remy was in the midst of his weekly morning interview with Dennis & Callahan on WEEI when he confirmed Manny’s intentions of getting out of Boston. When asked about whether or not the clubhouse would be disappointed if Manny departed or the players and management would give a huge sigh of relief, he had this to say:

“Well, you know, we’ve been down this road so many times. And, you know, this is probably going to be one of the final times, I mean, it’s over. Whether it’s over tomorrow, or whether it’s over at the end of the season. I think it’s going to be a mixed bag. You’re going to have players come out and say, “What a great job he did for us, he helped us win two championships”. On the other hand you’re going to have some guys quietly say, “Thank you very much”, because they were not happy when he didn’t play in those two games. One against Seattle and the other against the Yankees. And basically, enough is enough.”

Remy continued about how he and Ramirez talked in the clubhouse:

“You know, I walked by him briefly and he said, “Have I been traded yet?” I said, “You still got two more days.” I said, “You don’t really want to go?” He says, “Yes I do, I want to find peace.”

Either way, it seems Manny’s days in Boston are nearing end. Nuisance or not, Ramirez did help bring two championships to Boston. You can’t take that away from him.

Tune in below to check out D&C’s Full Interview with Remy earlier this morning.

(h/t to D&C and WEEI.com for the audio interview)

It was around 9:15pm, sitting in Grandstand Section 19, row 6, seat 17, when the tunes of Neil Diamond engulfed the stadium.

“Good time’s never seemed so good….so good! so good! so good!”

Sure, good time’s have absolutely never seemed so good, especially when your boys are in the midst of being no hit by one of the ugliest men in baseball, John Lackey. If it wasn’t for Pedey, the Sox may have hit the lowest point of the season thus far.

The Sox stepped up to bat during the bottom of the 8th, and thus, the music stopped. What really got me was what occured afterwards. As soon as Neil’s song silenced, the Fenway Faithful didn’t want to stop. Instead of observing the game, hoping the Sox can cash in with a hit and maybe put a rally together, I sat  there and listened to thousands of fans sing off-tune to the second verse and chorus of “Sweet Caroline,” all while the game was in progress. (I think Varitek may have been at-bat.)

Is it just me, or is that song plain god awful and annoying? You have tens and thousands of Red Sox faithful, ranting and raving to a song by a native New Yorker and long-time Yankees fan. Such irony…

(off note, I witnessed many members of “The Nation” screw up the words to this song….it’s not “HO! HO! HO!” after the lyrics “SWEEEET CAAAAROOLIIINE!”)

—

To be brutally honest, I was nervous for Lackey; I did wish he would of come through in the 9th. Maybe it would have been some sort of wake up call to Red Sox. A team with a $130 + million dollar payroll should not be no hit, especially at home.

So where do we go from here? Manny is unhappy, Buchholz was just awful, Hansen couldn’t do his job tonight, and Alex Cora, the defensive specialist, didn’t have such a great game at SS.

Before Pedroia’s single and Youk’s HR in the 9th, the best part of the game was Ellsbury’s web-gem in center-field. That’s about it.

—

We must move forward and hope Beckett can put a stop to the bleeding tomorrow night.

Sox & Dawgs - Ian over at Sox & Dawgs talks about Dice-K’s meltdown and provides the NESN video montage of Big Papi & Manny with a little help from Bruce Springsteen.

Hugging Harold Reynolds - Is Michael Phelps the Best the US has to offer? According to HHR, what’s to make of this half merman/half Budnick(Salute Your Shorts) look-a-like?

Open Sports - Open Sports presents the MLB’s All-Time ugly team….and boy…..some of these mugs are in dire need of a fine-tuned makeover.

Sox Addict- Mike over at SoxAddict.org summarizes The Great Manny Debacle of ‘08. Trade him? Let him walk? Receive draft picks? Mike goes over the options.

Red Sox Monster - Yowzers! Looks like the obsession over Heidi Watney is soaring.

Fire Brand of the AL - Manny to Dodgers? I’d gladly trade him for Matt Kemp.

Is it me, or has Boston really over-done itself on this one?

The biggest story in Boston sports, as of today, is that of the dilemma surrounding Red Sox outfielder, Manny Ramirez. Ramirez has supposedly “challenged” the Sox with a statement that leads many to think he wants out.

“Enough is enough. I’m tired of them, they’re tired of me. After 2008, just send me a letter. You don’t even have to call my agent or whatever.”

Ramirez later went on…

“If the Red Sox think they can find a trade to make the team better, and both sides are going to be happy, I’m going to agree.”

Obviously, Man-Ram is calling out management on this one, but what is the fuss all about? I’m hearing raves and rants bout how Manny should be sent to Philly, the Mets, the Rockies yadda, yadda yadda. The fact of the matter is, Manny will not be traded under any circumstances, nor should he.

No team will be willing to take on the contract and baggage that comes with the future Hall of Famer. Whether it be Matt Holliday, Mark Teixeira, whomever, not one player can come to Boston, fill the shoes of Manny Ramirez and think the Red Sox will be in contention. To make more of it, any team willing to trade for Ramirez will not send a guy like a Holliday, a Pat Burrell, or a Mark Teixeira to Boston. Prospects would be sent to the Red Sox. Manny knows himself the Red Sox aren’t this dumb. On regards to a trade scenario, Ramirez stated:

“That’s not going to happen . . . Boston is not stupid. They’re not going to do it, they can say whatever they want. But when it comes to making a deal, they’re not going to pull the trigger because they know what they’ve got here,”

No matter which way the balls drop, when Ramirez steps on the field, he’s all business. We may have forgotten that amongst this huge dilemma, he did go 3-5 with 2 2B and 2 RBI in the Sox’ 9-2 win last night over the Yankees.

—

So what should we do?

Let Manny be Manny for the rest of the year, don’t pick up his contract, and let the man walk. It’s the best for both sides.

The second half is well upon us and it seems that the New York Yankees are looking to crash the party atop the AL East. After a mediocre first half of baseball, the Bronx Bombers have won seven-straight ball games, trailing the East leading Rays by just 3 games heading into the second game of a three-game weekend series with the Boston Red Sox.

It seems as if the Yankees are preparing to make a strong run at the pennant, acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady and left handed reliever Damaso Marte from Pittsburgh in exchange for reliever Russ Ohlendorf and three minor leaguers. Of the minor leaguers, Jose Tabata, a highly-regarded outfielding prospect, is the most prominent name of the bunch.

Last night witnessed Joba Chamberlain’s best start of his career, as he blanked the Red Sox through 7 innings of work, striking out 9, giving up 0 runs while outdeueling Boston ace, Josh Beckett. Chamberlain is now 3-3 with a 2.30 ERA for the Yankees.

We should think about calling the New York Yankess the best second-half team in baseball. Including this year, the Yankees are 154-81 after the All Star break since 2005. Robinson Cano is easily the best hitter of the Yankee sluggers in the second half. In 209 post-All Star games in his career, Cano’s batting average is at a stellar .339.

The real question is, if the Sox and Yanks were to meet in the ALCS this year, which starters would you rather see out there? Beckett, Lester, and Dice-K? Or Pettitte, Mussina, and Joba? We all know Andy Pettitte is still one of the best playoff pitchers of his time, but my money’s still on the Sox.

*On a side note, was it me or was Mike Lowell absolutely screwed at the plate last night? He has every right to get thrown out after that barrage of calls.*

*Also, Kevin Youkilis is PISSED, when will this Joba/Youk thing come to an end? Is Joba taking it too far? To me, most certainly.*

Clay Buchholz has been struggling as a starter for the Red Sox, but his ceiling is through the roof. He can become a valuable commodity once he gets his act together. It’s no wonder why the Rockies are asking for the highly-touted right-hander. The drop from the AL East to the NL West is huge. Buchholz would certainly excel in his role playing home games at Coors Field. He will be pitching against the likes of the Giants, Diamondbacks, and Padres.

The Denver Post has reported that the Rockies have asked for Buchholz in exchange for reliever Brian Fuentes:

“The Rockies are playing an intriguing game of poker with closer Brian Fuentes. The price is high, causing most interested teams — the Tampa Bay Rays, the New York Yankees and Mets, the Boston Red Sox and the Florida Marlins — to consider other options. Colorado wants a premium starting pitcher, a fair demand save for the fact the teams interested in Fuentes see him as a two-month rental, not a long-term solution. All already have closers, and Fuentes is determined to test the market before considering signing somewhere as a setup man.

A team source said the Rockies have asked for Rays Double-A starter Wade Hendrickson, the Yankees’ Ian Kennedy, the Red Sox’s Clay Buchholz or Mets minor-leaguer Jon Niese. Florida is monitoring Fuentes but is reluctant to part with a young starter. The price for Fuentes has left teams taking a longer look at Oakland’s Huston Street.” (Denver Post)

It’s obvious their asking price is way too high for Fuentes. I don’t see the point in trading away an uber-prospect for a decent reliever. The Sox should give Justin Masterson a shot at supplying effective relief-duty in the bullpen.

Settle the issue with your club, Red Sox. Don’t go out and trade for a reliever. Especially if the asking price is similar to this.

The brooms are being prepped, the smell of dominance is in the air, and the Boston Red Sox are one win away from their first sweep against a road opponent since a brief two-game series with the Cleveland Indians, April 14-15.

Everybody knows the story about the Red Sox’ road woes this year. The good guys currently stand at 23-32 on the road. The only reason they’ve been so competitive in the AL East is the sheer supremacy at home. With a record of 36-11, the Red Sox easily have been the best team in the Majors at home. Yawkey Way certainly treats them well.

Dice-K put the Red Sox in a great position to not only take the series, but bring plenty of momentum to a team that lost much of it after the All Star break. It wasn’t until the 8th inning of last night’s game when Matsuzaka surrendered two runs on three hits. Before then, Matsuzaka was crusing along, keeping his pitch count at a minumum, something that has falted Dice-K all year.

(Check out this stat. Dice-K is 11-1 now, and 5-0 ON THE ROAD.)

Drew provided the first run of last night’s game with a home run to right. Ichiro Suzuki made a great attempt to bring the ball back into the yard, but J.D. Drew wasn’t having any of that. (I’m telling you, if Ichiro was two-feet to his left, that ball would of been robbed.) Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie each contributed with an RBI.

What was the best part about last night’s game? It had to be Hideki Okajima coming in with inherited runners in the 8th. Ian from Sox and Dawgs mentioned Okajima’s astounding stats with runners on base when he enters the game. Before last night’s game, Oki has let 12 of the 17 inherited runners to score when he takes the mound. An unbelievable percentage of 70.5.

Last night was different, as Okajima entered the game with 2 runners on and quickly got 2 outs to end the 8th inning. Shades of the ‘07 Okajima flashed television screens and when Papelbon came in to close the door, remnants of the 2007 World Champion team engulfed our heads.

How many times have we seen Oki close the door in the 8th, followed by Paps ending it in the 9th? Not so much.

–

Tonight’s game is sure to be up in the air, as Seattle ace Felix Hernandez takes the mound against Clay Buchholz. Hernandez has always pitched well against the Red Sox. Remember early last year when he threw a complete game, 1-hit shutout at Fenway Park?

Speaking of Clay, we’re still not sure whether or not this guy is here to stay and become a Cy Young pitcher in the next several years, or if he’ll drop off the radar in the next year or two. His inconsistency has befuddled Red Sox management. Buchholz still needs to work on his command, and if he can figure it out, look for things to turn around with the young pitcher.

Cyn over at Red Sox Chick is going to love this one.

Last Thursday, Kyle Snyder started his rehab assignment in the short season New York Penn League for the Lowell Spinners. I was at the game and Kyle looked sharp until he came off the mound and shook his leg in a very odd way. Apparently, Kyle tweaked the same groin he had been rehabbing and was forced to leave the game. He finished with 1 K in 2.1 innings, allowing 2 R(0 ER) before the injury.

Snyder has upside, even though he was sent down to Pawtucket from the big club earlier this season. Have we forgotten that in ‘07, Snyder pitched 54.3 innings in the bullpen and had a respectable 3.81 ERA? Snyder played an important role for the ‘07 Champions.

Tomorrow night he takes another crack at it, as his road back to the Majors continues.

The Lowell Spinners take on the State College Spikes, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Spike are taking a page out of their parent ball club’s book, cruising to an 8-25 record, the worst in the New York Penn League.

With that said, Kyle “the Gigantor” Snyder should breeze through the Spikes lineup tomorrow, albeit that groin injury holds up. I’ve seen this man up close, and he is a monster. He looks like he should be part of the WWE, tearing through his opponents with a clothesline from hell, much like the wrestler JBL.