Mike Schmidt pans Manny's exit act
8:12 PM Thu, Aug 21, 2008 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo Sox Blog |
|
Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt, appearing tonight at McCoy Stadium, said that Manny Ramirez's behavior in his final days in Boston was "from a player's standpoint, one of the worst things I've ever witnessed in the history of the game." Schmidt was at McCoy Stadium to throw out one of the first pitches (also on hand to throw out a pitch was Olympic swimmer Elizabeth Beisel) before tonight's PawSox-Chiefs game, to sign autographs and also to promote awareness of BPH, or enlarged prostate. Schmidt is the spokesman for a Sanofi Aventis campaign that hopes to get older men talking to their doctors when they experience BPH symptoms, such as frequent urination, as Schmidt did. Click here to find out more about the campaign. He met with reporters before taking the field, and among other things was asked which players he admired in the game today. Schmidt said he used to enjoy watching Ramirez, but not anymore. "I'm a student of hitting," Schmidt said, and Ramirez has been able to do things as a right-handed hitter that few others have ever been able to do. He said that until "the last three or four years," Ramirez was probably underrated for his hitting prowess. And he also said that Ramirez has something that Schmidt himself never had -- the ability to relax on the field. So much so that Schmidt used to use him as an example when instructing kids in hitting clinics. "I hit for 20 years," Schmidt said. "I don't think I ever looked in the dugout or the stands and smiled at someone. That's all he does!" But since Ramirez's Boston exit, which included an incident of Ramirez shoving the club's traveling secretary, publicly criticizing the front office and missing games due to a mysterious knee injury, Schmidt said, "my Manny Ramirez stock has gone way down. And it's unfortunate." Schmidt says the player who most readily comes to mind as someone he enjoys watching today is Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley. This year, Ramirez joined Schmidt in baseball's 500-home-run club. With 548 career home runs, Schmidt is 12th on baseball's all-time list, just two ahead of Alex Rodriguez. 
CommentsLeave a comment |
New comments
New photos
Authors
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
How gives a rat's you know what what Mike Schmidt thinks about Manny or anything else? If he wasn't right in the room when everything went down between Manny and the Red Sox then he has no right to offer any opinion about it. None of us will never know everything or the real story. Schmidt, like everyone else, needs to stay out of business they no absolutely nothing about.
Report Abuse
You didn't have to be in the room, you just had to be in the ballpark.
I loved Manny. When the shoving match came to light, I thought it was awful. But I also said "Jack McCormick said Manny apologized and they put it behind them. It's really between the two of them."
But when Manny started dissing his team in public and blatantly lying down on the job, he disrepected the game and his teammates. I lost most of my respect for him.
Schmidt's free to have an opinion like anyway else, and he was such a great player and competitor, it holds considerable weight.
Report Abuse
so then what the hell are you talking for? were YOU there?
that's the most childish comment . . . he's not entitled to an opinion because you say so? following that stellar logic, nobody on CNN, FOX News, MSNBC etc should have a show becasue all they do is shout opinions. do you think they're in the room with obama, mccain or anyone else? probably not.
stick to cleaning the shake machine and working the drive thru, junior.
Report Abuse
Great spelling there elccpa24. If you want to know "how" gives anything about Ramirez, ask anyone who coaches baseball (as I do). It is a sport that can provide kids with a solid sense of history, an appreciation for the importance of teamwork and the basis for a lifelong appreciation for America's greatest game. Ramirez dumped on every one of those benefits that can come from baseball. So it you want to know "who" gives anything...go find a baseball fan and ask him.
Report Abuse
Who cares what Mike Schmidt thinks? I can tell you a hell of a lot more people than care if you live or die. You care too you moron, or else you wouldn't have posted. Its people like you that make me support aids.
Report Abuse
Who cares what Mike Schmidt thinks? I can tell you a hell of a lot more people than care if you live or die. You care too you moron, or else you wouldn't have posted. Its people like you that make me support aids.
Report Abuse
Real classy John...
Report Abuse
Wow, reading the comments makes me understand why "Family Guy" is set in Rhode Island.
Class is obviously out............of stock. Yikes.
Report Abuse
Schmidt is right. Manny with the Boras advise turned into an a-hole who should be fined and suspended from MLB.
Report Abuse
No mishleesh oyee shee oyee sherrrrr!
Report Abuse
The only thing that ticks me off about the Manny situation is the fact that he tanked his last couple of weeks with the Sox. He kept complaining about his knee, even lobbying for a stint on the DL at one point. Miraculously, after a short flight west, all is better. Hell, he even stole a base the other night!!!! He's getting $20 mil this season.... 20 MILLION. He should have given 100% no matter what jersey he's wearing.
Report Abuse
Thank You Captain Cool for telling like it is on Manny Ramirez. I wish more baseball people would.
Manny purposely dogged it on the field and the team lost games because of it. He forced the Red Sox to trade him. Hours before the trade he attempted to Blackmail the Red Sox into dropping the two options on his contract. I can't think of a poorer excuse for a ball player than Manny Ramirez.
Where Manny Ramirez exceeds in baseball talent, he lacks in class.
Report Abuse
Manny is gone and I am glad he is. There was no excuse for his behavior leading up to the trade. I really think it had to be orchistrated somehow by Boras and Co. I don't think Manny is that smart to come up with something like this on his own and though he always has been somewhat of a doofus, his actions prior to leaving town were surely over the top. I think he may have hurt himself more than set himself up for a big payday. I'm sure there will be some loser in line to give him close to what he is looking for. I guess 20 Mil isn't enough. God, I wish I could be unhappy with 20 million a year. Think about that for just one second before defending Manny Ramirez, ever!
Boston fans- Lets get over Manny soon please. So we don't have to read comments from someone who "supports AIDS". What a douche bag!
Report Abuse