Manny Ramirez suddenly retires

[WannabeMego]

Have you guys ever watched a Junior High or High School Game...?

Have you ever seen those kids play their hearts out...it's no joke to them...they take the game seriously.

Now...have you thought to yourself, "You know, with a little bit of steroids that kid may actually make the Pros!"...No...I didn't think so...so...

What I'm trying to say is that the sport doesn't need it...Baseball was fine in the 50's, 60's, & 70's without it...so why not now. All you need is that enthusiasm, drive, love of the sport...like the kids have...and they do all of this without money.

What a wonderful world this could be...

[Mego Superboy Prime]

Watch "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" and then you'll understand how sports work as well as America!!! Awesome documentary!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8kExGzZfuM

[toys2cool]

Watch "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" and then you'll understand how sports work as well as America!!! Awesome documentary!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8kExGzZfuM

agreed, I loved it as well

[lepage]

yea he's been known to be a total jerk in person...he did a charity event here for children in need, I knew the person in charge who was Janet Reno's 2nd hand person for about 20 years and a great person i may add...she asked me about him since I love sports cause she knew he was famous but she wasn't into baseball, she said he gave almost nothing, told them he would sign nothing for anyone and at the end when he gave his check he tried to advertise his new wine line

The funny thing is, he doesn't drive around town in a flashy car nor does he dress the part. I think either he does that to keep a low profile or he is a cheapskate. I am thinking the latter.

[toys2cool]

The funny thing is, he doesn't drive around town in a flashy car nor does he dress the part. I think either he does that to keep a low profile or he is a cheapskate. I am thinking the latter.

a few years back after he had signed a huge contract , when leaving Boston espn was making fun of him for listing his grills and furniture on ebay and craigs list

[MegoMark71]

Being a diehard Redsox fan i loved Manny at one time. Man helped us win a couple championships. In my opinion he is one of the best hitters the game has ever had. When Manny actually tried a bit he was impossible to beat and had one of the sweetest swings ever. He just made it look easy. Problem was he gradually gets lazy. Over time he could tick off the pope on Palm Sunday. His antics are cute to start with but most times your left shaking your head in disbelief.

[MegoSteve]

Love this column:

Joe Posnanski

In my own romantic view of baseball and the world, I tended to see Manny as baseball’s Mozart — an often vile personality who did one thing so beautifully that you could not turn away. He finished top five in batting average five times, top five in on-base percentage five times, top five in slugging 10 times. He faced Dennis Eckersley three times … he walked once and hit two home runs off him. He hit .643 against CC Sabathia. Here’s one that will blow your mind — there are 27 men out there who have had only one at-bat match-up with MannyBManny … and they will always be able to tell people that Manny hit a home run in that one at-bat.

[megoscott]

That's a good one, Steve. I liked this one: http://www.slate.com/id/2290900/

The drugs helped him hit baseballs. So he took drugs.

He was as slapdash about his cheating as he was about any other part of the game that didn't involve swinging a bat. Playing defense, showing up on time, running hard, cycling off the drugs so as to make clean urine for spring training—these were not the details Ramirez was interested in. Manny was Manny. It doesn't feel upsetting.

[Goblin19]

The only issue I have with keeping these guys who get caught out of the HOF is what about the many who aren't going to get caught. I think the vast majority of great players during this era were dirty. The numbers are just too big for too many guys.

[Blue Meanie]

The only issue I have with keeping these guys who get caught out of the HOF is what about the many who aren't going to get caught. I think the vast majority of great players during this era were dirty. The numbers are just too big for too many guys.

Then what they should do is put an asterisk next to any modern day player that get's in from now on. Baseball did it to Roger Maris' single season home run record because it was done in a 162 game season and not in a 154 game season. Basically devalued Maris' record for the rest of his life...Same should be done to these players. The asterisk should have a little explanation next to it that reads something like this :

* Steroid/HGH/Performance Enhancing Drugs 1990----> Present Day

[Goblin19]

I agree something should be done. I don't think there's an easy answer, but your idea is solid. I have a feeling some of these guys will get in a long time from now, but they won't sniff the HOF for decades.

[Mego Superboy Prime]

Eventually all of these guys will be in the HOF. Time forgets.

[megomania]

Gotta feel sorry for the Rays in this. They are missing so many key elements right now. Though Manny probably would have been trouble down the line anyway.

Meh.

They knew what they were getting. A player who was a) past his prime and now playing for 1 year deals b) previously suspended 50 games for drug policy violation c) a loafer who Boston fans really were not sorry to see go.

The Rays have been to a World Series and won division championships despite being in arguably the worst market in pro sports.

I don't feel sorry for them at all. They got what they deserved by signing the chump.

[Blue Meanie]

Time forgets.

But TRUE fans of any sport don't.

[MegoSteve]

But TRUE fans of any sport don't.

I'm not pro-steroids, but just because someone thinks differently than you about the issue doesn't mean they aren't a "TRUE" fan.

I hate the idea of asterisks, because you cannot exactly find out if players in the past were using PEDs and, throughout the history of the game, ball players have used all kinds of substances that today would be deemed illegal or unfair.

I do think the most of the modern players that have been caught will be kept out of the Hall of Fame.