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ManRam to report to spring training late

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Hitman
Tough Customer

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 3873
Location: Chavez Ravine

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject: ManRam to report to spring training late

http://sports.(Four Letter Word).go.com/mlb/spring2007/news/story?id=2771039

Quote:

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The latest Manny Ramirez mystery surfaced Monday when teammate Julian Tavarez said his close friend would arrive late at spring training and Boston manager Terry Francona said that may not be true.

Tavarez said the left fielder would report March 1 as he did last year when he received permission from the Red Sox to show up late.

The first workout of spring training for position players is set for Thursday. The official reporting date under major league rules is Feb. 27.

"I spoke to Manny [Sunday] and he said he's going to be here March 1," said Tavarez, a reliever who joined the Red Sox before last season. "He's been going through a tough time because his mom, you know, they told him that she had a tumor.

"It wasn't a tumor. She had surgery in between those ribs. She's at home right now recovering and Manny's there with his mom. He's working out," Tavarez said. "Nobody believes that, but it's the truth about his mom. That's really true."

He said Ramirez was with his mother in Weston, near Miami, about a two-hour drive east of Fort Myers.

"The way he sounded [Sunday], he's laughing a lot. I don't know if that's because his mom's home and he's happy," Tavarez said. "He said, 'Hang in there. I'll be there the first.' "

Ramirez requested trades the past two offseasons, but Francona said on Feb. 6, "I think he's OK. I don't think there's any problem."

On Monday, Francona was reluctant to comment on Tavarez's remarks.

"That's unfair because I haven't talked to [Ramirez]. There's a lot of, 'he said, she said,' that I'm not too sure is true," Francona said. "If somebody calls me and tells me something happens, it's easier for me to comment than on his publicist [or] Julian, saying this."

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and Ramirez's agent, Greg Genske, did not respond to e-mails seeking comment.

The team and Ramirez have had a sometimes bumpy relationship since he signed an eight-year, $160 million contract before the 2001 season.

He has complained about a lack of privacy, requested trades and been placed on waivers with no takers. In the last six weeks of last season, he played in just 11 games, raising speculation that he wasn't badly hurt. The team said he had tendinitis in his right knee.

Still, he batted .321 with 34 homers and 102 RBIs in 130 games. In his career with Boston, he is hitting .316 with averages of 39 homers and 119 RBIs.

"Manny's really prepared for things he does, play ball, and he's worked hard in the offseason. He always shows up in good shape," Tavarez said. "He's still going to put up 100 RBI, 40 home runs and hit .300. That's a natural player right there."

He said he lives about 10 minutes from Ramirez and wouldn't be surprised if the team didn't know of Ramirez's reporting plans.

"He doesn't keep in touch with anybody but me," Tavarez said.

Last season, Ramirez also reported on March 1, six days after the first full team workout and one day after the major league reporting date. Six days later, he singled in his first at-bat in an exhibition game. Boston's first exhibition game this season is March 1 against Northeastern University.

When Ramirez arrived last year, he declined several opportunities to say he's happy to still be with the team.

"Manny's going to be happy anywhere he goes. He doesn't want to leave Boston. It's a great city to play ball. He knows that," Tavarez said. "I tell him every time, he has to give something for you [reporters] to talk about.

"He doesn't deal with the media, so he's got to do things to bring Manny's name [up]. It doesn't make Manny crazy. It's just Manny being Manny," Tavarez added. "He doesn't think about anybody. There's only one human being in Manny's life. That's Manny. Manny doesn't know there's many humans in the world."

No matter what issues surround him, Ramirez always produces on the field. So Francona didn't rush to comment with the regular season still six weeks away.

"We all know how this works," Francona said. "It gets legs and we'll end up wasting time. If there's ever a need to talk about anything with our team, I'll be happy to do it. I just think it's very premature."

_________________
Counting the days to the 09 season

The Hobbes
Anime Otaku

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 1266
Location: Arturia

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:08 pm Post subject:

family first _________________

angelgarcia
Veteran

Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 690
Location: Sherman Oaks, Ca.

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:38 am Post subject:

Oh man, i thought his vagina was hurting or something.

UnderPressure
Pushing Down on Me

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 3775
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:52 am Post subject:

angelgarcia wrote:

Oh man, i thought his vagina was hurting or something.

Wrong player. That would be JD Drew.
_________________
"Losing feels worse than winning feels good." - Vin Scully

Tommy Lasorda
Veteran

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 419
Location: 3rd Base Coaching Box

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:03 am Post subject:

When I read the title i thought ManRam was up to his old tricks, but this is a good reason, for once.

Hitman
Tough Customer

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 3873
Location: Chavez Ravine

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:22 am Post subject:

UnderPressure wrote:

angelgarcia wrote:

Oh man, i thought his vagina was hurting or something.

Wrong player. That would be JD Drew.

it's Nancy Drew
_________________
Counting the days to the 09 season

The Hobbes
Anime Otaku

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 1266
Location: Arturia

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:48 am Post subject:

UnderPressure wrote:

angelgarcia wrote:

Oh man, i thought his vagina was hurting or something.

Wrong player. That would be JD Drew.

_________________

Snake Eyes
Right Hand Man

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 3896

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:04 am Post subject:

He is going to a car auction this weekend... is that really his mom that is hurt or did he just want to go and sell / buy a car?

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