Cubs sign Manny Ramirez to be player/coach at Iowa

[Smack]

Ah, back on a real keyboard.

 

This is fantastic for a number of reasons.

 

1) It's Manny freakin' Ramirez

2) He really has had a great reputation for mentoring younger players in the past. I wish I could remember who was particularly outspoken about it.

3) I haven't heard anything bad about Baez listening to coaches at all, but if anyone can get instant respect it would have to be Manny.

4) From Manny's comments, it seems obvious that the Cubs have talked to him about working with Javy on the "Javy being Javy" stuff, as well.

 

Carlos Gomez is one of the guys he's mentored.

 

When? There's no overlap in their careers that I can see.

 

Not sure where. Maybe in the offseason but Gomez has talked about Manny texting him after games etc.

 

Looks like offseason.

 

http://onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/carlosgomezlefhanded.html

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh, yeah, I wonder how long it takes before people start complaining about giving Manny a second chance but not even letting Sosa show up for ceremonies.

 

I prefer to look at it as a step in the right direction.

I think it serves as a message to Sammy what the organization wants him to do in order to get accepted back in the fold. To my knowledge, Sammy has never admitted any guilt or expressed any remorse about "cheating" (or been caught, to be fair).

 

Whether that's right or not is another matter.

 

As much as I love Sammy I doubt coaching is something he's ever wanted to do, but it's likely the best route for him to get back in the good graces of enough people so that Tom stops fearing the meatball revolution.

[davell]

Tim, he had a very big influence on Matt Kemp.

[Guest]

Oh, yeah, I wonder how long it takes before people start complaining about giving Manny a second chance but not even letting Sosa show up for ceremonies.

 

I prefer to look at it as a step in the right direction.

I think it serves as a message to Sammy what the organization wants him to do in order to get accepted back in the fold. To my knowledge, Sammy has never admitted any guilt or expressed any remorse about "cheating" (or been caught, to be fair).

 

Whether that's right or not is another matter.

 

As much as I love Sammy I doubt coaching is something he's ever wanted to do, but it's likely the best route for him to get back in the good graces of enough people so that Tom stops fearing the meatball revolution.

Sorry, I was vague. I mean the contrition present in Manny's statement is something I've never heard from Sammy.

[Guest]

Tim, he had a very big influence on Matt Kemp.

That's the one I was thinking of. Kemp gave a lot of the credit for his breakout to Manny

[Hairyducked Idiot]

i am excite

[Guest]

I was just reviewing his stats for his career.

 

First off, holy crap: career .996 OPS

Second, I miss the steroid era

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh, yeah, I wonder how long it takes before people start complaining about giving Manny a second chance but not even letting Sosa show up for ceremonies.

 

I prefer to look at it as a step in the right direction.

I think it serves as a message to Sammy what the organization wants him to do in order to get accepted back in the fold. To my knowledge, Sammy has never admitted any guilt or expressed any remorse about "cheating" (or been caught, to be fair).

 

Whether that's right or not is another matter.

 

As much as I love Sammy I doubt coaching is something he's ever wanted to do, but it's likely the best route for him to get back in the good graces of enough people so that Tom stops fearing the meatball revolution.

Sorry, I was vague. I mean the contrition present in Manny's statement is something I've never heard from Sammy.

 

Yeah, but have McGwire or Bonds said anything similar? Sammy shouldn't have to; Manny should because he was busted waaaaaaaaay after the foot was put down.

[Guest]

Yeah, but have McGwire or Bonds said anything similar? Sammy shouldn't have to; Manny should because he was busted waaaaaaaaay after the foot was put down.

I did say that whether it is right or not is another matter.

 

But enough of that topic for now. Let us just bask in the glory that is Manny signing to work with Baez, Bryant, Soler, Alcantra, Villanueva and others.

[Guest]

Oh yeah, promote Bryant already and let him work with Manny while he's here.

[davell]

This is surely being looked at as a long term audition, right? To see if Manny could work out as a hitting coach. Can't complain about Mueller, but maybe as a 2nd major league hitting coach or a permanent job at Iowa, maybe?

[Guest]

This is surely being looked at as a long term audition, right? To see if Manny could work out as a hitting coach. Can't complain about Mueller, but maybe as a 2nd major league hitting coach or a permanent job at Iowa, maybe?

I'm not sure, but I do think it expresses some level of dissatisfaction with the job Brian Harper has done so far. I'm not sure I see Manny signing on for a long-term, minor league coaching role. But I think I'd be really happy if he did.

[Guest]

Seriously, though, let's promote Bryant as soon as Manny gets to Iowa.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

http://assets.sbnation.com/imported_assets/74745/5a44120c55_sside05152008.jpg

[Little Slide Rooter]

I don't care how inept he is. I want him called up pronto for no other reason than to see Manny Ramirez in a Cubs uniform.

[Guest]

Two things:1) with half the site unaware of a minor league forum, my guess is there will be at least 5 threads in other forums created for this.

 

2) The guy truly knows hitting, almost savant like. This is going to help Javy, KB, whoever.

Manny has been credited in the past with mentoring young hitters and bding great at it. I just cant remember who it was.

 

olt?

[Guest]

I wonder if the player/coach thing is to get around rules on the number of coaches a minor league team can have? Or if it was just incentive to get Manny to sign?

 

Personally, I'd love to see Manny get a few ab's in september.

 

 

 

Oh, yeah, I wonder how long it takes before people start complaining about giving Manny a second chance but not even letting Sosa show up for ceremonies.

 

I think Manny still wants to play and this gives him an opportunity to have success and showcase him for other teams who might be interested.

[Guest]

Love it. They need to sign Pedro to be a PC too.

 

http://deadspin.com/pedro-martinez-says-pitching-is-all-about-properly-sexi-1580698214

[DiamondMind]

I LOVE IT

[Guest]

http://i.imgur.com/haTM1bh.png

match made in heaven imo

[Sammy Sofa]

Baez definitely needs to rock the longer hair again.

[Guest]

@CSNMooney: Mike Olt played with Manny Ramirez last year at Texas AAA affiliate: "It was really an awesome experience and I learned a lot from him."

[PrimeTime]

Javy was so [expletive] excited by this news he just hit a grand slam. :yahoo: \:D/

[Tryptamine]

The addition of Javy and Bryant is going to make the Cubs so much more fun to watch next year.

[Guest]

Yeah, but have McGwire or Bonds said anything similar? Sammy shouldn't have to; Manny should because he was busted waaaaaaaaay after the foot was put down.

 

Not sure about McGwire but Bonds certainly never did.

 

The move itself is fine. I've just got an issue with the inconsistency of hiring a known steroid user who was suspended twice for testing positive who had no ties to the organization but not inviting back one of the greatest players in the club's history to a celebration of the club's history with other great players.