Kind of OT (?): Manny says he's gonna hit 600

by LSJ on Mar 22, 2008 3:45 AM CDT

Note: I'm deleting my previous diary - er, fanpost, that is - to put up a much better one, and talk about Manny Ramirez.

Manny Ramirez apparently thinks he's immortal. Or at least incapable of aging.

Right now, at age 36, he has 490 home runs. He says he's going to play 6 more years, and reach 600, and there's "no doubt" he can do it.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080322&content_id=2450456&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

He's definitely giving himself plenty of time, by predicting 6 years - he's got 110 to reach 600, so he'd have to hit 18.3 a year to get there. He hit 20 last year - but that was his lowest total since 1994.

I know he's one of the games legendary hitters, but that seems like a pretty... bold prediction to me. To say the least. Actually, I think it's kind of an ass-stupid prediction.

The guy's 36. He can barely play LF or run the bases. He should already be limited to DH duty, and in another year or so, that will become manditory. Once that happens, he might squeeze out a couple more decent seasons. But to say you're gonna keep on playing, and hitting home runs at the same rate as you are now until you're 42... is just stupid, at least in my opinion.

I know he's Manny, which sort of reserves him the right to say stuff like that - but 600 HR is quite a milestone. Especially for a guy who's 36, and looks like he's towing a double-wide mobile home when he runs.

What do you guys think?

Poll

Is Manny nuts, or will he reach 600?

He's nuts

9 votes

He'll do it

41 votes

50 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Its just

Manny being Manny.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Mar 22, 2008 6:05 AM CDT reply actions

+1

Adam loves him some Lard

by NYTXFAN on Mar 23, 2008 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions

35+ HR's this year

....at least I hope he hits that! (He's on my fantasy team....)

I do however think that he'll "break down" at some point this year, play okay next and be done by 2011.

Ya....That's Real Mature.

by SMITTY on Mar 22, 2008 7:14 AM CDT reply actions

Ramirez

NEVER underestimate that guy. He's one of the best pure hitters I've ever seen. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if he ended up with 600.

by Black Francis on Mar 22, 2008 9:05 AM CDT reply actions

Yep

This is actually a scary comment on his part. I've long thought the thing holding Manny back is that he doesn't care that much. When he focuses (not all the time), he is one of the best hitters in the game.

by JBImaknee on Mar 22, 2008 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

This is not far-fetched at all

Manny is entirely capable of doing this, realistically in 4.

Next track for OC, et al:

Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One

by inactive lsb user on Mar 22, 2008 11:19 AM CDT reply actions

Wouldnt surprise me at all

even if you back it off to just 4 years, I think he could still make the 27 a year or so.

by DShep on Mar 22, 2008 11:30 AM CDT reply actions

barring injury

i think he'll get 600 no problem. especially if he ever ended up playing primarily as a DH.

by disposablehero on Mar 22, 2008 11:48 AM CDT reply actions

He's nuts

Who is going to pay him what he thinks he's worth when he can't play the field or run the bases, and carries on the way he does?

Not the Red Sox or the Yankees, nor any NL team.

Remarks

by remarks52 on Mar 22, 2008 11:55 AM CDT reply actions

The line forms to the left

There are plenty of teams who would take on a .950+ OPS DH.

by LSBUser on Mar 22, 2008 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd rather have Manny

than just about any player on the Rangers roster right now.

by JBImaknee on Mar 22, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely

Manny has his quirks, but he by no means is the clubhouse cancer that Bonds is. If the Sox ever get tired of paying him, someone will pay him to DH until he gets his 600. Hell, I hope the Rangers do.

by chief on Mar 22, 2008 2:40 PM CDT reply actions

He is

a free agent next year and I would be estatic if they Rangers signed him. Talk about instant offense.

Milton Bradley for MVP

by miles on Mar 22, 2008 2:52 PM CDT reply actions

would love to see that

and next year since the rangers might be semi-contenders that would be a big boost.

not to mention that dude is probably my favorite non-ranger in baseball. i love the way he plays. so chilled out. hes not a robot and he seems like a fairly cool dude

touchdown... touchdown... and st.micheals takes the lead.

by kmacsm on Mar 22, 2008 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

i actually wrote an article for my schools paper about the bosox

predicting them to win the world series. and this is what i said about manny

One major problem for the RedSox lineup will be filling the major hole left in there line-up by Manny Ramirez’s extreme drop-off in production this year, his OPS (on-base percentage + Slugging) has dropped considerably in the past season from his career average of 1.002 all the way down to .881. His once elite power has almost fallen off the map as he failed to hit at least 30 home runs for the first time since 1995, a goal he fail well short of only blasting 20 homeruns. Its sad to see, but it looks like Manny Ramirez Decline has finally happened, and at the age of 35 I cant say I’m surprised, but for the past 15 years Manny Ramirez has been at least one of the top five hitters in baseball, and he should be remembered as on of the top ten hitters of all time.

touchdown... touchdown... and st.micheals takes the lead.

by kmacsm on Mar 22, 2008 6:18 PM CDT reply actions