He arrived at the Sox facility yesterday, wearing a blue Jeremy Shockey jersey. One of the first things he did was go into a meeting that included John W. Henry, Larry Lucchino, Tom Werner, and Gene Mato, one of Ramirez's representatives.
Because this is Ramirez we're talking about, the meeting cannot be neatly summarized. Any meeting with Manny always has declarations of love and loathing. Ownership didn't have to kiss up to him the way it did to Nomar Garciaparra (or the way Kevin Millar did to Nomar). He was told that his smart approach to hitting might help Boston win the World Series. He was also told there were tangible reasons for the Sox' actions in the fall.
First they tried to place his contract on the curb, hoping some sucker of a team would snatch it up like a discarded Ottoman. Then they tried to deal him to Texas. After that fell through -- and I'm not even joking -- they alternated between crossing their fingers and praying.
Ramirez, a lifetime .317 hitter, excites ownership and management. He also makes them extremely nervous. They understand that this year is going to be different than any other in Ramirez's major league career. This is the year they are going to make him a little more accountable than he's ever had to be.
They are not going to acquire a Carlos Baerga or Rey Sanchez to be official players and unofficial chaperones. They are not going to be imprisoned by his talent (if something drastic happens, they'll DH Ellis Burks and put someone such as Gabe Kapler in left). They are not going to look away if there are any residuals from last season in Philadelphia.
After Ramirez refused to pinch hit at Veterans Stadium, 10 of his teammates went to Grady Little and told the former manager to bench Ramirez. If you don't do something, they told Little, you are going to lose this team. Little benched him, the team was saved, and Ramirez responded with a sizzling September.
