Who needs Manny?

[Roy Hobbs]

Jason Bay is on fire! 

3-for-4 tonight, with 3 rbis on a clutch homer, his second one this week.  .344 BA on the season, and a striking .506 on-base percentage / .705 slugging / 1.211 OPS.

Manny was probably my favorite Red Sox player up until last season, but he definitely wore out his welcome.  Bay is a breath of fresh air.

[yall hate]

plus, it was on a 99 mph pitch.

Bay is a very good player...hopefully he doesnt ask for too much money next year

[Donoghus]

We certainly don't right now.

I'd love to get that extension worked out with Bay, though.

[44Thrilla]

It's just too bad they couldn't work things out with Manny. Imagine the lineup if it was Ortiz that was traded and Manny was the DH. Say all you want about Manny, but he's an amazing hitter.

[Roy Hobbs]

It's just too bad they couldn't work things out with Manny. Imagine the lineup if it was Ortiz that was traded and Manny was the DH. Say all you want about Manny, but he's an amazing hitter.

I was just talking about this today with a co-worker.  The Sox got 8 amazing seasons out of Manny, which is pretty much the most you can expect out of a player with his eccentricities.  I thought it was stupid to repeatedly attempt to dump him, but last year was perfect timing for all involved.  Bay isn't as talented as Manny, but he's a great fit for this team.

[yall hate]

It's just too bad they couldn't work things out with Manny. Imagine the lineup if it was Ortiz that was traded and Manny was the DH. Say all you want about Manny, but he's an amazing hitter.

I was just talking about this today with a co-worker.  The Sox got 8 amazing seasons out of Manny, which is pretty much the most you can expect out of a player with his eccentricities.  I thought it was stupid to repeatedly attempt to dump him, but last year was perfect timing for all involved.  Bay isn't as talented as Manny, but he's a great fit for this team.

While Bay isnt as talented as Manny I think a compelling argument could be made that he makes the team better then Manny did.  Not only for defensive purposes, but also the locker room issues. To hear some of the players (basically everyone but Ortiz) and Tit make comments about how much easier the year went last year after the move, or how enjoyable it was...says a lot.  Tito would never throw anyone under the bus (probably one of his biggest faults), and it was a surprise to hear some of his comments.  I would bet there was a lot more 'destructive behavior' that the team buried while manny was here.  (none of that is to be taken as disparaging the offensive ability of Manny.  He is an amazing hitter.  one of the prettiest swings you will ever see.  I do truly wonder how great he could have been if he 'cared' as much as some other guys, but that doesnt really matter anymore.

[Big_Matt34]

The biggest difference with Bay so far this year IMO is that he actually pretty good against breaking stuff. He has hit 2 or 3 homers on breaking balls and has learned to wait on them and hit them the other way. He also leads baseball in walks so far, even if he slumps with his hitting he will always take walks which i like.

I really want them to lock him up and they want to but Bay wants to wait until after the year which is understandable. Id be ok with giving him 4 or 5 years for 12 million a year.

Also, just because i said Bay>Holliday last year. So far this year Holliday is hitting .242 with no homers and has just 5 extra base hits. His OPS is .629 and has only taken 4 walks, now i expect him to turn it around but i think he finishes the year with a line of about .280/20/80 with a OBP of .330 or so.

[yall hate]

I really want them to lock him up and they want to but Bay wants to wait until after the year which is understandable. Id be ok with giving him 4 or 5 years for 12 million a year.

The problem is the market is crazy out of whack right now.

Bay realistically should be making similar amounts as Adam Dunn (More power, less defense) and Bobby Abreu (older, but similar type player).  Both signed for $5 million.  so the sox arent going to offer the deal you suggested - and Bay clearly isnt going to take $5 mill either. 

it will be interesting because the FA market, if you arent a target of the Yanks is all screwed up.

[Big_Matt34]

I really want them to lock him up and they want to but Bay wants to wait until after the year which is understandable. Id be ok with giving him 4 or 5 years for 12 million a year.

The problem is the market is crazy out of whack right now.

Bay realistically should be making similar amounts as Adam Dunn (More power, less defense) and Bobby Abreu (older, but similar type player).  Both signed for $5 million.  so the sox arent going to offer the deal you suggested - and Bay clearly isnt going to take $5 mill either. 

it will be interesting because the FA market, if you arent a target of the Yanks is all screwed up.

Didnt Dunn get a 2 year, 20 million dollar deal? If he can get 10 million a year over 2 years i think Bay would get 10-12 for 3-5 years. The Sox wont get him if they dont offer him 10 million a year or more and i think they probably know that which is why they wanted to extend him before the year while the market was the way it was.

[yall hate]

I really want them to lock him up and they want to but Bay wants to wait until after the year which is understandable. Id be ok with giving him 4 or 5 years for 12 million a year.

The problem is the market is crazy out of whack right now.

Bay realistically should be making similar amounts as Adam Dunn (More power, less defense) and Bobby Abreu (older, but similar type player).  Both signed for $5 million.  so the sox arent going to offer the deal you suggested - and Bay clearly isnt going to take $5 mill either. 

it will be interesting because the FA market, if you arent a target of the Yanks is all screwed up.

Didnt Dunn get a 2 year, 20 million dollar deal? If he can get 10 million a year over 2 years i think Bay would get 10-12 for 3-5 years. The Sox wont get him if they dont offer him 10 million a year or more and i think they probably know that which is why they wanted to extend him before the year while the market was the way it was.

yea you are right...not sure why I thought he was $5 mill with Abreu

edit: Burrel at 2 years 16 million...

[Steve Weinman]

The Dodgers do!  And we fans of the blue are excited to have him.   

-sw

[kozlodoev]

Who is Manny? 

[Change]

Hate baseball. Don't know much of anything about it. But to my knowledge didn't Sox lose last season due to lack of offensive production, and isn't Manny one of the best hitters in MLB. If so, Why didn't Sox just pay the guy and make him happy? He seems happy with the Dodgers with bucket full of cash. Maybe with Manny in the lineup last season would've resulted in a world series.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Manny=championships

[yall hate]

Hate baseball. Don't know much of anything about it. But to my knowledge didn't Sox lose last season due to lack of offensive production, and isn't Manny one of the best hitters in MLB. If so, Why didn't Sox just pay the guy and make him happy? He seems happy with the Dodgers with bucket full of cash. Maybe with Manny in the lineup last season would've resulted in a world series.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Manny=championships

you are wrong.  they actually scored more runs last year per game after he left then when he was here (irc).

[Mean Gerald Green]

Hate baseball. Don't know much of anything about it. But to my knowledge didn't Sox lose last season due to lack of offensive production, and isn't Manny one of the best hitters in MLB. If so, Why didn't Sox just pay the guy and make him happy? He seems happy with the Dodgers with bucket full of cash. Maybe with Manny in the lineup last season would've resulted in a world series.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Manny=championships

Untimely injuries doomed the Red Sox last year, yet they still made it to the ALCS and were one win from the World Series. The Sox became a team one Manny left.  He was a complete distraction in his last days. Even taking in to account that Scott Boras may have been the one pulling the strings of Ramirez,  you would have to conclude that 'Manny = problems'.