The Manny Ramirez experiment in Los Angeles has been a failure. When Manny became a cancer in the Red Sox clubhouse and completely forced his way out of town, it looked like the Dodgers were grabbing a legitimate slugger that could anchor the middle of their lineup and help propel them to the next level. Had he not been busted for steroid use, that could very well have happened.
When I say Manny’s career ended when he was dealt to the Dodgers, I’m not implying the tank was empty. He’s certainly had his fair share of exciting moments while playing in L.A. The phrase “Mannywood” became an instant hit and a sign was plastered in his honor on the left field wall at Dodger Stadium. As a result of the circumstances that have surrounded Ramirez with suspension and injury, the “Mannywood” sign is now being removed. Factor in the struggles the Dodgers have faced as a team this season, and it appears the removal of the sign signals the end of a short era that turned out to be a disappointment in the end.
Perhaps it’s Manny’s childlike personality that makes us forget he’s 38 years old. Maybe it’s his mind-boggling physical condition (steroids tend to have that effect). Whatever the reason, Ramirez is old by ballplayer standards and he was old by those same standards when the Dodgers acquired him. We have no way of knowing whether or not he took steroids throughout his entire career, but it would have been unreasonable to think Manny’s best baseball was still in front of him after he left the Red Sox.
Accompanying the trade was talk of the slugger’s personality and how it would be received by Joe Torre and the L.A. fans. It seemed as though the California lifestyle would suit his lackadaisical attitude perfectly, but there was little mention of Ramirez’s age. The main question at hand was , “will Manny be relieved of the stress he was supposedly dealing with in Boston and dominate the National League?” Assuming we weren’t considering he’d be suspended for PED use, the question should have been, “does a 36-year-old player still have enough baseball left to carry a team to a National League pennant?”
Suspension and injury played a major role in answering the latter, but Ramirez would have left his best days in Boston regardless of those circumstances. When he returned to Fenway Park, Manny received a mixed reaction from Red Sox fans. If he returns to L.A. in the future as a fan, guest, or somehow a player, don’t be surprised if Dodger fans forget he was ever a part of their team.
Source:
Say goodbye to Mannywood [Hardball Talk]
