What if I told you there was one move the Phillies could make that would all but guarantee them another World Series title?
Would you do it?
For some unknown reason, one of the most prolific right-handed hitters in Major League history is still available just weeks away from Spring Training. Yes, I am of course referring to one Manny Aristides Ramirez (and yes, that really is his middle name.)
Now before you step up on that moral soapbox of yours and start lecturing me about how ManRam is a “cancer”, “the T.O. of baseball”, and would never be able to handle the pressure of playing in Philly, let me drop some basic knowledge on you:
The Phillies might have the best offensive lineup of any team ever if they added Ramirez, and he fills their need for a right-handed bat to protect Howard and Utley.
Just imagine this insanity on a night-in night-out basis…
1. Rollins
2. Victorino
3. Utley
4. Ramirez
5. Howard
6. Ibanez
7. Feliz/Dobbs
8. Ruiz
How do you pitch to that lineup and not give up 6 or 7 runs a night? I know Manny has perceived luggage, but it sure didn’t affect him in LA. In 53 regular season games with the Doyers Manny managed a .396 BA, with 17 HRs, 53 RBIs, and a .489 OBP.
What about the playoffs? Glad you asked: in just 8 games Manny hit .520 with 4 HRs, 10 RBIs, and a .667 (!!!) OBP.
Even as he gets older his numbers have remained stellar and he is one of the most consistent, clutch hitters in the MLB. Yeah his defense leaves something to be desired, but when the guy hits like he does it doesn’t matter.
Don’t try to pull that, “but we already have Ibanez, Werth, Jenkins, Stairs, and Dobbs” garbage. None of them can come close to matching Manny’s production. So you platoon Ibanez and Werth, keep Stairs as a PH and dump Jenkins (hurts to say that about a fellow Trojan but come on now, I’d swap and average outfielder for an Hall of Fame outfielder any day.)
So why hasn’t a team already snatched this guy up? Might have something to do with the fact that he played his way out of Boston for a bigger contract. Sure sounds pretty Owens-ish…but there’s more to that story than meets the eye and Bill Simmons wrote a terrific article about it at the time of the Manny to LA deal.
Honestly, what if the guy is just a bit misunderstood? After all he did last 8 years in Cleveland and another 7 1/2 in Boston, and it’s not like he ever did anything too devious during that time.
There was that whole selling the grill on Ebay thing. Then the whole hilarious peeing in the Green Monster situation. And what about this…Ramirez’s Amazing Catch.
Doesn’t exactly come off as a devastating locker room influence to me, and I’d fully expect him to earn the love of Philly after that first monstrous shot he hits out of CBP.
Give the man a three-year incentive-laden deal to keep him motivated, and you will have a full-fledged Dynasty in the making on your hands. At least in this Philly fan’s eyes, the risk is well-worth the potential reward.
Loading ...