Losing on Manny

It is February 5, do you know where your Manny Ramirez is?

I don't and, honestly, I'm not alone because no one, and I mean NO ONE can predict what is actually going to happen with one of the all-time greatest right handed hitters in history.

To be honest, I don't get it. Yes, he's older, and many teams have been burned giving older players long-term contracts. Yes, he is a nutjob, we all know this. There is going to be a game where a ball goes flying over Manny's head because he is counting cloud formations in the sky or getting ready to take an in-game bathroom break. And yes, Manny handled his last month or so with the Sox horribly, and there is little doubt in my mind that, had he remained on the team, he would have quit on the Sox before the whole season had ended similar to what he did in 2005 after the Yankees spanked the Sox in a 5-game sweep, affectionately called the Boston Massacre II.

But make no mistake, Manny aint no Terrel Owens here. This isn't a guy you CAN'T win with. In fact, the Boston Red Sox, the mutt teams of all mutt teams not based in Chicago (sorry Cubbies) won TWO championships in large part due to Manny's abilities. And, if you want further proof, go ask Joe Torre and the Dodgers, a middle of the pack team prior to Manny's arrival, what it was like having that man on their team.

Manny isn't just a good hitter, he is a GAME CHANGER. He can do things few, if anyone, can do. So, when Manny eventually does land somewhere, there are gonna be a few teams absolutely kicking themselves, and I thought it would be fun to point out which teams should be smacking their head against the wall.

The LA Dodgers: The smart money is still on the Dodgers to land Manny, but at this point it certainly isn't a given. We are near zero hour when it comes to spring training and nothing has happened, meaning Manny may very well find a new landing spot.

Now, if LA ends up without Manny, just turn out the lights, please. This was a .500 team at best before Manny showed up. With him in the lineup, they had a legit chance to end up in the World Series.

Coming in to this year the Dodgers have an even more pronounced need for Manny's bat. There isn't one difference maker in the everyday lineup, unless you believe that Matt Kemp is ready to take a leap and become a superstar caliber player. Yes, Andre Ethier and James Loney are very good players, and both might join Kemp in continuing to mature as players, but none of them have superstar all over them. Plus, LA hasn't really replaced the loss of Derek Lowe, meaning that not only is their lineup somewhat limited but their rotation is also compromised.

Perhaps more importantly, though, Manny became a cult hero in a short time in LA. He put on a show in a town that loves theatrics. This was his Hollywood moment and he proved himself to be an A-lister. Despite the fact that their team would still be a major challenger in a weak NL West, it would seem a hard sell to get Dodger fans excited for the season minus Manny.

San Francisco Giants: Is this not a perfect spot for the Giants to swoop in and grab Manny on a two year contract with an option for a third? I mean, seriously, they were willing to overpay for Bar-roid for years to provide some star power to their lineup. Why not pay an equivalent amount for Manny for two or three years and give yourself a chance to win the NL?

Look at the Giants right now. Their "big" hitters are Aarond Rowand, Edgar Renteria, and Benjie Molina. I know the team is very high on Pablo Sandoval, who will probably play third base, but even if he were able to produce at a much higher level than his 22 years would indicate, it is really hard to see how he could make that big of a difference in that lineup. Now, add Manny into the lineup, couple him with the veteran hitters of Rowand, Renteria and Molina, and hope you get a good year out of Sandoval, and suddenly the lineup isn't as pathetic as it appears. Plus, look at the rotation the Giants will be putting out there every single day: Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito, and Randy Johnson. Heck, that isn't that bad at all, is it? And, consider the fact that much maligned Barry Zito only gave up 5 or more runs twice after August 13 and, for the most part, pitched very well down the stretch, and there is room for optomism that Zito could end up being better in the second half of this lineup than the first half.

If you're the Giants and you sign Manny, it gives you a tremendous amount of flexibility. First, it immediately improves your chances to win this year. Second, it allows you to trade one of your pitchers for yet another bat but it doesn't necessarily have to be Cain, since you wouldn't need a HUGE stick any longer, just a good, professional hitter (something a Sanchez should be able to bring back). Finally, it immediately energizes your fanbase and packs your stadium each and every night.

But, of course, it seems all of that would just make way too much sense. How could anyone expect you have to spend money in order to make money? That never works, does it? Nope, sending out a mediocre team that has no personality whatsoever, except for Lincecum, really sends the right message, doesn't it?

The St. Louis Cardinals: This is kind of a wild one, I know, but think about it for a second. Right now, the Cards are probably what, third in the Central behind the Chicago Cubs and I would still say the Brewers, even though Milwaukee lost a lot this offseason? If they landed Manny, think of what that would do for their entire team?

Immediately, it gives them one of the most potent lineups around with Albert Pujols and Manny back to back. You could make the arguement that they are the best two pure hitters in the game today. Add in Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, a healthy Troy Glaus, and a perfectly pesky Adam Kennedy and I can't imagine there would be a lot of teams that would want to face that lineup.

Manny would also help the rotation. Suddenly, what looks to be a thin starting five that leans on Adam Weinwright and the always shaky Joel Piniero (who is either really good or really bad) only has to be solid because the offense should be able to blast its way through a lot of other team's pitchers. If you ended up getting a good year Todd Wellermeyer and/or Kyle Lohse, you would probably have more than enough pitching to make it through the central.

Why not sign Manny on and make a run for it with your offense, at least until some of the younger pitchers in their system mature or they are able to trade for another arm or two that could help.

The Anahiem Angels: Again, this is a move I just don't understand. Last year, after the Angels traded for Mark Teixeira, they became the best team in the majors in my mind. Adding Tex to the lineup with Vlady was the last step needed to make that team and juggernaut. Now, they still need to figure out a way to actually beat the Red Sox in a big spot, but wouldn't Manny be a HUGE step in that direction?

If you were to add Manny to the team, you would essentially be moving Juan Rivera to the bench and Gary Matthews Jr. to left field. It instantly improves every aspect of the team. The offense is significantly improved. The outfield defense becomes perhaps the best in the league. And, as has been said before, the rotation, already a huge plus for this team, has more pressure taken off their shoulders.

Look, I understand the Angels desire to acquire some young players. Vlady, Tori Hunter, and Matthews Jr. are not getting any younger and, eventually, this team is gonna hit a wall and take a step back. But that wall is still off in the distance, and it would seem to me that the Angels would want to take full advantage of this window of opportunity.

This team has money, certainly enough to spend on Manny for two or even three years. What really is the down side?

The New York Mets: I honestly believe this is the no brainer of the group. The Mets have essentially ripped their fans' hearts out over the last two years. Is there a team in the majors that has done a better job of adopting the abandoned Red Sox "we like to kill at least 3,000 older fans per year with our end of the year play" mantra better than this team?

Now they have the chance to steal the best righthander hitter in baseball and make him feel like the most wanted man in America, and weld a chip the size of Texas to his shoulder for the entire length of his contract.

Please, tell me again why the Mets have said they WILL not go after him?

Jose Reyes and David Wright have proven to be two of the best young players in the game, and they have also proven to show cracks under pressure. Carlos Beltran is a terrific player who comes up with big hits, but he isn't the force Manny can be. Add Manny and suddenly the pressure is taken off the Mets players in an instant. Can you imagine the Mets trotting this lineup out there for the next three years: Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran, Manny Ramirez, David Wright, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church and Brian Schneider. That is a potent and dynamic group of hitters right there and, let me ask Mets fans this question - with Manny in that four hole, do you think Cole Hamels would be quick to call the Mets "chokers" or Hanley Ramirez call them "punks?" No chance.

I have a feeling the whole Madoff scandal that evidently cost the Wilpons millions of dollars is having a much larger affect on their personnel decisions. Why else would they avoid any conversation with Manny? At this point even the Yankees would be smart to check in on Manny and see what it would take.

The Mets need to make some sort of effort here for their fans. If Manny were asking, still, for $100 million over five years I could understand them balking, but, at this point, a two year contract might seal the deal. Even a three year contract wouldn't be all that bad as one could see Ramirez remaining potent to at least 40 year's old.

Come on Mets, step up here and prove that, yet again, you aren't a second rate team.