Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz to Retire… after 2013

“Why isn’t it going to work out? Of course it’s going to work out. I don’t need a list of teams,” Manny Ramirez said before playing ninth-inning hero in last night’s 6-4, come-from-behind Red Sox win against the Cleveland Indians. “Everybody knows it’s going to work out. A list (of alternative teams)? For what?”

“I’m just going to play and have fun. At the end of the year it’s going to be (the Red Sox) who will make the decision not me. Why would I want to talk to them now? It’s the same situation as (catcher Jason Varitek), because he’s a free agent. Just play the game and whatever happens will happen.”

“Like I told you, I’m going to play six years (in Boston), David (Ortiz) is going to play six years,” Ramirez said, “and then we’re going to retire.”

Manny: Six more years

It’s super that Manny is showing some Boston pride while hitting the shit out of the ball, but I’m betting he will be wanting to see a list of teams once he realizes Theo Epstein will not be dishing out $20M a year for his age 37-41 seasons. If Ramirez has a “Ramirez” season this year, I think the Sox will pick up his option for 2009 or maybe work out of a 2-year deal for a discount on the $40M in options.

Five more years after this one will bring Ortiz through his age 37 season. That would mean playing out his current contract ($12.5M/yr), having his 2011 option picked up ($12.5M), and being signed for two more.

Does this mean no Mark Teixeira?

David Ortiz’s Worst 12 Game Stretch as a Red Sox Player

Gross Production Average, a variation of OPS, but more accurate and easier to interpret. The exact formula is (OBP*1.8+SLG)/4, adjusted for ballpark factor. The scale of GPA is similar to BA: .200 is lousy, .265 is around average and .300 is a star.

One of my favorite stats since it is quick and easy, yet it gives you a good three digit summery of a player’s offensive skills. Since David Ortiz is off to a miserable start to this season, I decided to use GPA to see if this is his worst 12 game stretch as a Red Sox player (749 games).

It is, by a lot.

Of course, his .063 Batting Average on Balls in Play is also the lowest for him in a 12 game stretch, by .055. That’s some incredibly poor luck, as Ortiz owns a career .310 BABIP… however we all know it is only a matter of time before his numbers start to normalize and Ortiz in the batter’s box puts the fear of God in opponents.

And That is Why Sports are Great

You wake up at 5am to watch the pregame show, the first pitch of your team’s 2008 season is at 6am and they are playing in Japan. A few hours later, it’s not Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, or Jonathan Papelbon on the front of ESPN.com, it’s literally the last guy on the roster. Brandon Moss gets the start in right field because of JD Drew’s back stiffness, drives in a run early in the game, then ties the game in the 9th with his first major league homer. Incredible.

It was a fun way to start the season, even though Daisuke looked shaky in the first two innings, Snyder sucked, and Papelbon allowed four men to reach in the bottom of the 10th. Manny’s drive for 150 RBI and a new contract got off to a good start with 4 RBI and the game winning hit. The guy is locked in, has inner peace and is even talkative with the media. Amazing.

Now all we have to do is wake up early again tomorrow, hope Jon Lester throws first pitch strikes, and hope the jet lag is easier to deal with being 2-0 on the season.

Dougie’s Going Home Tonight

Interesting that Doug Mirabelli would be released at this point. Has Kevin Cash shown enough this spring to clearly win the job of Tim Wakefield personal catcher? Not possible. Has Dusty Brown or George Kottaras? Possible, I suppose.

I would think that the front office wants Kottaras playing every day, as he is the most suited to replace Jason Varitek long-term, and that is only going to happen in Pawtucket. So I can’t really see him on the major league roster yet.

Brown has been catching knuckleballer Charlie Zink for a few years in the minors, doesn’t have a lot of offense (more than Mirabelli or Cash), but plays good D and has a cannon for an arm. I don’t know how deals with the knuckleball, but he is ok at it I would like him to get the shot over Cash. It’s always nice infusing some young blood.

Sean Casey Signs with Red Sox in a Reserve Role

Theo Epstein brought in yet another great clubhouse presence in Sean Casey who will be used as corner infield insurance and as a bat off the bench in 2008. Casey will be able to play some first base early in the season in an attempt to keep Kevin Youkilis from fading in the second half of the season as he has done in each of the last two seasons. Plus, in the event of a Mike Lowell injury, you could feel somewhat comfortable with Casey at first base and Youkilis shifting to third base.

Casey’s power is pretty much gone at this point, however, he is still a good average hitter with on-base skills. He should also benefit from hitting the ball towards the Monster when playing at home.

It will now be interesting to see what happens with Coco Crisp. Casey essentially replaces Eric Hinske, but is not an outfield option like Hinske was. Thus, the Sox seem a little thin in that area. Brad Wilkerson, who spurned the Red Sox to sign with the Mariners, has the ability to play both first base and in the outfield, received a one year $3 million deal, while Casey signed for $800,000.