Manny Ramirez to join Iowa Cubs as player-coach
Strangely enough, the headline for this story is not from The Onion and actually real life.
Manny Ramirez — yes, that Manny Ramirez — is back in baseball in the role of a player-coach in the Cubs organization. That means that Theo Epstein decided to bring Manny in despite all the crap Manny put the Sox through in Boston. That in and of itself is shocking. That Manny might actually be influencing young ballplayers is probably more shocking.
What’s Manny going to teach these youngsters?
Proper technique on faking an injury? How to talk your way out of playing both games of a double-header? Best ways to kill time while bored in the outfield?
I kid, I kid.
From the sounds of things, it seems like Manny will actually be with the team more for coaching than playing purposes.
“While Manny is not and will not be a fit on the Cubs’ Major League roster, we do think at this stage of his life he’s a nice fit as a mentor for some of the young, talented hitters we have in the organization,” Epstein said in a statement via MLB.com.
“Manny will coach full-time and play part-time in a limited role that does not take at-bats away from our prospects. If he shows there is still some magic in his bat, perhaps he will find his way back to the Major Leagues and help another team, but that is not why he is here.
“We are thrilled that he wants to work with our young hitters and make a difference.”
Manny hasn’t played in the majors since 2011 with the Rays, so it’s unlikely he would ever come close to that again. And as much as I poke fun at the situation, Ramirez has actually been one of the more intelligent hitters in the game and probably has a lot of great things to share with young players if he chooses to embrace his new role. It sounds like he is desperate enough to do so.
“I know I am nearing the end of my playing days, but I have a lot of knowledge to pass on to the next generation, both what to do and what not to do. While I would love to return to the Major Leagues, I leave that in God’s hands. My focus will be working with the young hitters, making sure they don’t make the same mistakes I made and helping the team any way I can,” Ramirez said in a statement.
Good for him. Hopefully it will all work out.
