The Manny Ramirez Traveling Circus Arrives In Albuquerque

by Eric Stephen on Jun 23, 2009 7:00 AM PDT in News Comment 26 comments

He's baaaaaaack!

Manny Ramirez will begin his rehabilitation assignment with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes tonight. The 6pm game can be seen or heard online, for free. In addition, ESPN will be showing every Manny plate appearance live. Manny Parra, who struggled with the Brewers to the tune of a 3-8 record and a 7.52 ERA before he was optioned to Nashville, will be the first pitcher Manny faces.

Here is the ESPN report from last night:

Here are some links around the web:

ABQjournal sports-live: Manny Ramirez Has Been Here Before
Randy Harrison of the Albuquerque Journal tells us that Manny's pro debut came in 1989 as a 17-year old in the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, New Mexico.

Manny doesn't deserve minors stint before return - FOX Sports
Tracy Ringolsby doesn't like the idea of a suspended player getting to play 10 minor league games while suspended:

There are no special privileges for minor-league players, guys who are playing for $25,000 or so a year, not $25 million, like Ramirez. When minor-league players face 50-game suspensions they have to serve their suspensions. Nobody finds a way to get them 10 games of competition before they return to the active roster.

Manny Ramirez deserves his rehab assignment | Dodger Thoughts
Jon Weisman gives a passionate, reasoned rebuttal to Tracy Ringolsby, and others who don't like the idea of Manny Ramirez getting 10 days to rehab while suspended. Weisman invokes the J.C. Romero clause:

First, this isn't a Ramirez-only rule. Every suspended MLB player has the right to a rehab assignment. J.C. Romero pitched in five minor-league games before returning from his 50-game suspension. Romero isn't exactly a nobody; he's an important part of the National League East-leading Phillies' bullpen. His rehab assignment, in which he allowed runs in two of his five outings, helped prepare him to begin his 2009 major-league season with six consecutive scoreless games. Where was the outcry then?

Manny finding his rhythm in workouts | Dodgers.com
Ken Gurnick brings us news of Manny's workouts, including insight from Dodger coach Rob Flippo:

"I can tell just by watching how the balls carry," said Flippo. "You can tell -- the way his rhythm is going when he has it together. You can tell if he looks comfortable. You can tell when a guy is fighting it. Everything is looking easy for him, as easy as when he came to us.

Manny Ramirez's fission statement in Albuquerque - Los Angeles Times
Dylan Hernandez brings the news that Albuquerque is preparing for the big time beginning tonight:

The club says each of the 11,124 permanent seats at Isotopes Park will be filled for the game tonight, the first of as many as four that Ramirez could play with the Isotopes. With the availability of tickets for grass seating behind the right-field wall, the Isotopes are expecting a crowd of 14,000 to 15,000.

Manny Ramirez mania hits minors on eve of rehab stint - ESPN

"He's a cheater," Gutierrez said. "But I still want to see him play." Gutierrez and his father, Julian, were among a steady stream of fans who lined up four- and five-deep at the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes' box office Monday to buy tickets for this week's series against Nashville.

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Comments

It makes no sense to me that any suspended player gets to rehab.

Other then not playing for free, was there nothing to keep Manny from playing in the minors all this time?

What a ticket boon for the affiliates this week.

by meercatjohn on Jun 23, 2009 9:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

They only get 10 days to play rehab games. He couldn’t have played before today.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 23, 2009 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are going to have a lot of company

in the 66er press box for once.

Thanks for the update. I was just wondering if the rules were different for DL players as opposed to suspended players.

by meercatjohn on Jun 23, 2009 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is literally only one other seat in the auxiliary room of the press box, since that’s where the staffers keeping score sit. It will be interesting to see how they accommodate the media crush. I’ll happily give up my seat for Colleen Dominguez.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 23, 2009 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

…and I’ll only be able to go Monday night anyway. Oh well.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 23, 2009 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You dog Eric. ;-)

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 23, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Players on the DL get 20 days to rehab, and pitchers get 30.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 23, 2009 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The "star-crossed left fielder"

says the ESPN reporter. Huh? What is she talking about exactly — Does she know what that phrase means?

by underdog on Jun 23, 2009 10:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"2 star-crossed lovers took their life"

That is the first thing that crosses my mind when I hear that phrase.

by mwhite06 on Jun 23, 2009 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think it means what she thinks it means.

by David Young on Jun 23, 2009 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hah hah

Is Manny playing Romeo in a new Albuquerque production of Romeo and Juliet?

by underdog on Jun 23, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he does so in tights

It may reveal a clue regarding steroid usage heretofore known only to Bill “I’m always looking” Plaschke.

by David Young on Jun 23, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt Manny could be MLB game ready without some rehab games

But the potential extra-benefit for the Dodgers is that the initial media frenzy around Manny will be at these rehab starts in the minors, far from the Dodger clubhouse. Maybe by the time July 3 rolls around, the media crush will have lightened a little, or last for fewer days. I’m sure there will be extra reporters and crews to document how an MLB crowd reacts to him, but the piranhas will have already gotten there bites in at Albuquerque and San Berdoo.

by David Young on Jun 23, 2009 12:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it's fair to let MLB players rehab during their suspensions

That way they aren’t forced to miss even more games rehabbing once their suspensions are over.

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 23, 2009 1:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

There are lawyers involved, so fair isn't a consideration, though Fehr is .

These are the terms the MLBPA and MLB agreed to. Those that don’t like the agreement should take up their argument with the commissioner/owners and the union for making these the terms. I’ve yet to see the likes of Tracy Ringolsby state that the bargained agreement allows this and argue that it should be renegotiated when the next CBA needs to be agreed upon.

by David Young on Jun 23, 2009 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right

But I’m arguing whether the rule should be in place or not. Obviously the fact that it is means that we should take advantage of it.

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 23, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those of us who disagree with the rule just feel that for a real suspension to have the desired effect no one should be allowed to play professional baseball until the suspension is over.

Since we get to play by the same rules as other suspended players then Manny should do his 10 games of rehab before the suspension is over but I don’t like the rule, whether it be Manny or Romero. This was a punishment so if they need to miss more games to get game ready that rehab should be part of the price.

I’m fairly certain that if Bonds had ever been suspended for PED use that most of those on the Manny camp would be doing a 180. This isn’t a partisan issue, but a right/wrong issue. The rule should be changed the next time it can be addressed.

by meercatjohn on Jun 23, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"The rule should be changed the next time it can be addressed."

I don’t really understand. Why should it be changed? i think the rule makes sense. It ensures that players don’t miss extraw games past what they were supposed to miss from their suspension.

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 23, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because I disagree with the rule

If a player is suspended from playing major league games it stands to reason he also would not be allowed to play in any professional games. The reason for a suspension is punishment so that such player does not do the same action again. I just don’t see how you can suspend someone from playing major league baseball but allow them to play minor league baseball. We seem to disagree on this, no big deal, just my opinion.

by meercatjohn on Jun 23, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So under your proposal, when the suspension is over and Manny is back on the payroll, the Dodgers have to put him on the 25-man roster even though he isn’t game-ready, and play short-handed until he is? Isn’t the 50 games played without the player enough penalty for the team?

by David Young on Jun 23, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is my opinion.

Phil seems to disagree though.

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 23, 2009 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I never said I wouldn't let suspended players rehab, I said

I don’t think they should be playing any games until the suspension is complete. Where did you get from that they would have to take a major league spot on the team? But I do like that idea. Hey, if I had been part of the rule committee I would have suspended a player for the remainder of the year no matter what point in the year it is. And I would keep doing that until they get thrown out.

by meercatjohn on Jun 23, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs