Word spread quickly today that Manny Ramirez, a 19-year veteran, has retired. And it already seems like the overwhelming response is, "Who cares?" or "Good riddance."
Ramirez, who has long been known for being one of the biggest characters in the game, received notice from the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program about an as of yet undisclosed issue regarding, obviously, steroids. Instead of complying and facing either a 50 or 100 game suspension, Manny decided to save himself and the Rays organization the lengthy process and called it a career. He finished 14th on the all time home runs list with 555, a .312 career batting average, and is 2nd all time in career grand slams with 21 (2 behind leader Lou Gehrig). After a 7 year tenure with the Indians (and 2 failed trips to the World Series), Ramirez signed with the Red Sox in 2000 and, in 2004, led them to their first World Series title in 86 years, effectively reversing the "Curse of the Bambino". He also brought them to the 2007 championship, but by that point, relations between him and most of Boston had soured, so he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, right around the time the skipper of his rival team, Joe Torre, signed on to manage. Joe and Manny helped bring the Dodgers to the postseason in '08 and '09 by winning the NL West both years, but never got past the LDS. Early in the 2009 season, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for violation of the illegal drugs regulations of MLB (foreshadowing, perhaps?), and his numbers have been downhill since. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox halfway through 2010 as a DH, and then signed with the Tampa Bay Rays this offseason (reunited with former Red Sox teammate Johnny Damon) before this notice led him to retire.
Opinion is very split about Manny. Boston fans, regardless of whatever changed between them and Ramirez, will always have a special place in their hearts for him. He was an endearing player, one who could provide as much humor as he did power. But the fact still stands: he used steroids on more than one ocassion. It's going to be difficult for him to make it into the Hall of Fame with that stain on his records. If you don't believe it, check the Hall of Fame ballot from last year. See Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro? Two players who everyone was certain would be in Cooperstown as soon as they were eligible? Palmeiro received 11 percent of the vote last year, his first year on the ballot, and McGwire, who's been on it for 4 years, has yet to receive more than 24 percent. The minimum amount to get into the Hall? 75 percent. And these are players that were loved and adored by their fanbase just as Manny was and is. When he becomes eligible in 2016, maybe we'll have a better idea of whether he'll get in based on how McGwire and Palmeiro are doing (if either are still on the ballot, it's going to be a long 14 years for Manny). However, as it stands now, chances are good that Manny Ramirez, if he makes it into the Hall of Fame, won't be a first-balloter.
What do you think about Manny? Leave a comment and tell us if he deserves to go to the Hall.
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