As another year comes to a close, I want to wish everyone who has visited the blog over the past 12 months a very happy holiday season. I will be taking a break from posting for the next week so, unless something major happens, I will resume updating the blog shortly after January 1st.
In the words of Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol, "God bless us. Everyone."
It's funny how Manny Ramirez's reinstatement came around the same time the Ryan Braun news broke. Funny, but sad. We will hear more about Braun in the coming days or weeks, presumably, but Manny has finally decided to talk.
He granted an interview to ESPN Deportes which is summarized here. In it he claims he received bad advice on what to do after the second positive test was announced. He also expresses his support for Braun:
"Ryan is a tremendous ball player ... the information out there is pure speculation. He must be allowed to speak in order to know what is happening,"
Speculation? Is that what you're calling it, Manny? Okay, whatever. Let's see if a team takes a chance on you in 2012, after you serve your 50 game suspension.
Fifty games! This really has me hot under the collar. Apparently his mini-retirement is being counted as "time served," and he will only have to serve 50 games, not 100. To borrow a line from Braun, I think that is B.S.. He shouldn't get off that easily. But, he is. The whole thing reminds me of when I compared him to a character in an episode of the old "Twilight Zone" TV series. He is still that small boy, getting away with everything while the adults sit nearby watching helplessly.
I'm tired of Manny and his antics. Hopefully there are 30 MLB teams out there who are tired as well.
The off-season continues to be a quiet one for the New York Yankees: a few rumors, a few minor signings but nothing earth-shattering. The team that is doing its best to shatter the earth is, of course, the Miami Marlins. They have been doing it since before the season ended, when they hung Ozzie Guillen on their Christmas tree, otherwise known as their new stadium.
They have added two more ornaments since then: Heath Bell and, just today, Jose Reyes. They are trying their best to reach the top of the tree to add the star, a shiny bauble named Albert Pujols. If they can't add Pujols, they will do their best to decorate the tree with other high-priced free agents on the market.
What kind of a tree is it? Is it an evergreen? Will it stay filled with life after the 2012 season? Heck, will it stay filled after the All-Star Break? As everyone knows, baseball has a terrible track record in Florida, where people go to retire, people who have already been rooting for other teams their entire lives. Why should they switch to the Marlins or the Rays? I suppose the Marlins have resigned themselves to this, since they are going after the Latino market.
How do Latinos in South Florida feel about this? Will it really make them want to come out to the ballpark just because Jose Reyes is flying around the bases and Albert Pujols might be hitting balls into the seats? Or, are they insulted by this marketing plan? My personal experience with Latinos has led me to believe that they don't really care who plays on their teams. So, I am of the opinion that this appeal to Latinos will go unanswered.
In any case, I can't wait to see how this all turns out. We will find out soon enough whether a tree grows in South Florida or non-existent fans I'll call Paul Bunyan chop it down.
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