Man-Ram

Well, I didn't feel like weighing in on the Manny situation any more than I did on Friday, but since everyone else is, I'll put in my two cents...

IF they get rid of Manny, the Sox are essentially writing off defending the title this year. That's not the end of the world - as I'm writing this, Beckett is getting yanked in the 6th. Although it's essentially the same team from last year, they don't seem to be missing a certain je n'sais quoi. But it's a decent team, and (with an additional reliable reliever) assuming everyone hits their stride in August/September, there's no reason why they can't compete.

The Angels just made a sweet move to bring in Texeira, and now there isn't a replacement bat out there should Manny leave town. As we saw during Ortiz's absence, the Sox have a lineup that can be pitched around when one of the big boys is missing - hence my assertion that a Manny trade would be the equivalent of ending it for the year.

SO - if they decide that this must happen, they'll have to get a better return than on the TWO first round draft picks they're likely to receive if they let him walk at the end of the year. (Point to Simmons' podcast today for pointing out the absurdity of teams getting draft picks for free-agent rent-a-players. So you give up a prospect, and then get a new one? Remember, the Sox got a 1st for Eric freakin' Gagne last year for god's sake.) So we'd need at least 3 players in return - an arm, a MAJOR power hitting prospect, and either a catching prospect, or a slightly-below-All-Star level outfielder that can play NOW.

If they get that, I'm in.

Otherwise, let's just ride it out.