Remember the trading deadline in 2004?
The Red Sox had a disgruntled superstar who refused to play in a big game against the Yankees. He hated the new owners. His contract was coming due. The parties reached a hardball critical mass.
Nobody believed the Sox would actually trade Nomar Garciaparra, but general manager Theo Epstein pulled the trigger on deadline day, then watched the energized Red Sox win a World Series.
Could it happen again? Would Epstein make a deal to get Manny Ramírez out of town between now and Thursday?
Doubtful. But while Manny continues to scald the baseball (3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs last night), he's doing his best to get himself traded.
The savant slugger spoke to the media before Boston's 9-2 win over the Yankees and said, "I'm tired of them - they're tired of me."
Well put, Manny.
It's a shame it had to come to this. Ramírez put up Hall of Fame numbers in his seven-plus seasons in Boston and for most of that time he's been a fan favorite. But it's ending badly. His sit-down strike Friday night appears to have been the tipping point.
Manny said he's certain the Sox will let him go at the end of the year. He doesn't think the ball club will pick up his $20 million option for 2009. Good guess.
The Sox spanked him publicly Friday. For the first time. Outraged he would quit on them at the start of the Yankee series, they let him dangle in the breeze for all the world to see. Convinced he was lying about his right knee, they sent him for an MRI on both knees (in case Manny suddenly tried to claim it was the left knee). Then they made sure we all knew the MRIs were clean - getting word out before the end of the game. Late Friday, the club told him he'd be suspended if he refused to play Saturday - a sanction the Players Association would have grieved and won.
Epstein has wanted to get rid of Manny since the end of the 2003 season. Now he has the hammer. He has an owner who has seen the light. Manny insulted John Henry during the All-Star break and the once-naive billionaire is now on board with his baseball operations people. They all love Manny's presence in the cleanup spot, but the nonsense has reached a point where it's just not worth it anymore.
Henry wouldn't take the bait. Asked for a response to Manny's remarks, the owner e-mailed, "We are concentrating on one thing - a playoff spot."