Rosenthal: O's and A's are teams most interested in Manny Ramirez

[PaulFolk]

You guys have to understand that we need a professional hitter or name in that lineup to protect those young guys. The options are very weak at the moment. Buck is going to need someone to put in that lineup every night in the 3 hole. There is no guy oh there currently. But there is a guy who has done it before and knows what it takes to fill that role. Unfortunately that is where this team is at this point. If you don't bring in this guy we will be scoring 2-3 runs a night.

This exact same argument, word for word, could have been made about Vlad before the 2011 season. How did that turn out? And Vlad was younger and coming off a much better season than Manny is now.

I just don't see any evidence that Manny is anywhere close to the hitter he used to be, and he hasn't played major-league ball since the second week of last season. And that's without even mentioning the PEDs, his notorious lack of effort when he's unhappy, and his history of being a distraction in the clubhouse. Manny brings absolutely nothing to the Orioles.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Posnanski weighs in via Twitter:

Joe Posnanski @JPosnanski

Headline: "A's, O's leading suitors for Manny Ramirez." What would MannyBManny have to do to NOT have suitors? Kill teammates?

[Mr Snuffleupagus]

You guys realize that I didn't say "Lets Get Man-Ram!!"

I'm just stating the facts:

1. Duq has a man crush on Ramirez

2. Options are limited for a 3- hole hitter

3. There is a huge hole at the 3 spot

4. You have a hitter, although his numbers have dropped. But has fulfilled this role before

5. Putting anyone in that spot from this current lineup would be detrimental to their development

So please don't twist the fact that I'm advocating to sign Ramirez... I'm just simply stating how this is possibly lining up for the O's. I think he would atleast bring some entertainment to this season. That's all I've said.

I think the problem is that most of us don't view Ramirez as a "3-hole hitter". Even with his declining power numbers, I'd rather see Markakis bat 3 and find a better solution for the leadoff spot.

The problem with the signing of these players is that they seemingly require you to treat them like they were treated when they were in their prime. IE - Vlad had no business batting 4th last season, DLee had no business batting 3rd, and Manny had no business batting 4th in Tampa.

I didn't want him last year and that was before I realized he was using steroids. I hate to know what he'll look like w/o the juice.

The only way I could justify a signing like this is if it's a MiL deal like Gordo suggested. Otherwise, he needs to hang it up.

[srock]

Posnanski weighs in via Twitter:

Kill those puppies Miggy merely kicked.

[Sports Guy]

You guys realize that I didn't say "Lets Get Man-Ram!!"

I'm just stating the facts:

1. Duq has a man crush on Ramirez

2. Options are limited for a 3- hole hitter

3. There is a huge hole at the 3 spot

4. You have a hitter, although his numbers have dropped. But has fulfilled this role before

5. Putting anyone in that spot from this current lineup would be detrimental to their development

So please don't twist the fact that I'm advocating to sign Ramirez... I'm just simply stating how this is possibly lining up for the O's. I think he would atleast bring some entertainment to this season. That's all I've said.

And if we signed Manny, that hole would be as huge.

[24fps]

There's also a big hole at leadoff and cleanup.

[Sports Guy]

There's also a big hole at leadoff and cleanup.

Not if they put Nick there, like they should.

[allstar1579]

Not if they put Nick there, like they should.

Not if he doesn't improve his base running. He's not slow, but he's never been REALLY great at stealing bases. 18 in 2007 is his best, and that's not terrible, but in the leadoff spot you want someone that could steal 30 at least if needed. You need someone that can create from getting on base and disrupt pitchers, he's got the OBP part of things, but unless he shows me that he can actually steal bases and mess with pitchers, I'm not really interested.

[glenn__davis]

MLB reduced it from 100 to 50 as a compromise. Manny and his agent were saying he served his 100 games while retired, MLB said no-dice, but were afraid an altercation with the union about it would rule in Manny's favor because it would effectively take away any chance of him finding employment and being ABLE to serve the suspension.

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Major League Baseball and the players' association are working on an agreement to cut Manny Ramirez's drug suspension from 100 games to 50 because he already sat out most of last season

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/12/04/source_manny_ramirez_applies_for_reinstatement/

Thanks. Totally missed that somehow. So is it a done deal at this point, or are they still negotiating?

[Sports Guy]

Not if he doesn't improve his base running. He's not slow, but he's never been REALLY great at stealing bases. 18 in 2007 is his best, and that's not terrible, but in the leadoff spot you want someone that could steal 30 at least if needed. You need someone that can create from getting on base and disrupt pitchers, he's got the OBP part of things, but unless he shows me that he can actually steal bases and mess with pitchers, I'm not really interested.

I could care less if he can steal bases or not...To me, that's an old school thought with very little meaning behind it.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Not if he doesn't improve his base running. He's not slow, but he's never been REALLY great at stealing bases. 18 in 2007 is his best, and that's not terrible, but in the leadoff spot you want someone that could steal 30 at least if needed. You need someone that can create from getting on base and disrupt pitchers, he's got the OBP part of things, but unless he shows me that he can actually steal bases and mess with pitchers, I'm not really interested.

Nope, sb's don't really mean a whole lot. Nice to have somebody with decent speed and keep the defense honest and Nick's certainly a decent enough baserunner to do that. I'm not sure what to make of the messing with pitchers stuff, but unless it's a rook I doubt it makes much of a difference either.

[allstar1579]

Thanks. Totally missed that somehow. So is it a done deal at this point, or are they still negotiating?

Not official yet, but I think it happens because there's a good chance Manny could win outright and not serve ANY time since the way the situation kinda creates a catch 22.

[CA-ORIOLE]

You guys have to understand that we need a professional hitter or name in that lineup to protect those young guys.

I understand that's nonsense.

[allstar1579]

I could care less if he can steal bases or not...To me, that's an old school thought with very little meaning behind it.

Nope, sb's don't really mean a whole lot. Nice to have somebody with decent speed and keep the defense honest and Nick's certainly a decent enough baserunner to do that. I'm not sure what to make of the messing with pitchers stuff, but unless it's a rook I doubt it makes much of a difference either.

I didn't necessarily mean the statistics of stolen bases themselves, but basically what you mentioned. Being able to keep defenses honest and on their toes, and making the pitcher be aware and keep his attention. There is a big difference for a pitcher throwing to a guy with Brian Roberts (healthy) on 1B than Mark Reynolds. If he has to worry about a guy running, not only are you forcing him to concentrate on the shortest time to the plate he can possibly get, but a lot of pitchers pitch better from the wind-up than from the stretch. Having to worry about keeping a guy as close to 1B as you can, while at the same time focusing on the AB of the guy hitting divides attention. (I tend to oversimplifiy things when I'm just trying to make a quick point.)

I don't know if Nick is actually that good of a baserunner that he does any of that, I'm just not sure, you have to actually watch him to see, there's no stat that is going to track that. His lack of steals could be attributed to his batting order position, so it could be coincidence, but I'm just saying if he doesn't have the ability to disrupt the defense or pitcher with his base running ability I wouldn't want him up there. I don't know if he does or not, but it's just something I look for in a legit leadoff hitter.

[weams]

Hasn't Manny been busted twice, and isn't that a 100-game suspension?

Seeing as how no one else has brought that up yet, I'm sure I'm wrong, but what part of it is wrong? I thought once was 50 games, twice was 100 games.

Anyway, ain't no way the O's are signing Manny. If they do I'll run naked around Camden Yards*.

*This declaration is void if the aforementioned event actually occurs.

His suspension was reduced to 50 games because of not playing all last season. Besides, he wasn't using PED to play better, he was trying to get pregnant. Like Ryan Braun was trying to suppress his herpes. H.I.P.A.A. says you have to believe this.