The LAUGH of the day

According to Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald.

Forget 500 home runs, Manny Ramirez has his eyes on another prize - a Gold Glove.

But, according to Ramirez, there’s one problem.

“How am I going to win a Gold Glove if they take me out in the eighth (inning),” said the Sox left fielder, repeating a line he has passed through the clubhouse since he was removed for defensive replacement Jacoby Ellsbury on Friday night against the Twins.

That was a joke.

This, however, wasn’t:

“I think I’m the best ever to play left field in Boston,” the slugger said.

There was quite a bit of joking that went into Ramirez’ pregame antics yesterday, even though he was out of the starting lineup for the third game of the series with a sore right hamstring. He pinch hit in the ninth, with the at-bat leading to a game-ending groundout.

He announced that Julian Tavarez will be traded to Milwaukee for one of the team’s racing sausages. He described how he and shortstop Julio Lugo used to chase chickens for fielding practice. And he asked the media, “How much do I make a day?”

But when it came to Ramirez analyzing his defense, it was serious business.

He asserts that no other Red Sox has defended left field like him because of his familiarity with the intricacies of playing so many games in front of The Wall.

“I invented that throw that I do,” said Ramirez, mimicking the double-play-like flip he uses to get the ball back into the infield. “I don’t know how it started, it just happened like three years ago. I have to practice it, though. I started to learn how to throw it where it tails right into (second baseman Dustin Pedroia. But I need to practice it more. I haven’t practiced it at all this year. But I’ve got it.”

Despite the pride he takes in attempting to revolutionize playing left field at Fenway Park, Ramirez admits there are drawbacks to his style of play.

“It’s a bad habit,” he said of the sidearmed throws. “You should throw over the top sometimes. For Fenway it’s good, though. The problem sometimes when I’m on this type of field (at the Metrodome) I get into bad habits and throw it like that, just trying to hit the infielder’s mitt.”

As for Ramirez’ other Fenway innovation - playing closer to the infield dirt than The Wall - the Red Sox asked that he put that away for a while.

“They told me to play back,” Ramirez said. “I figured when I play in Boston anything that was hit over my head was a hit, so I catch everything that might be base hits. But if they want me to play back, I’ll play back.”

Ramirez, who is routinely found working on his defense with outfield coach DeMarlo Hale, is intent on moving toward his ultimate goal of a Gold Glove.

“Why not?” he said. “If (first baseman Kevin Youkilis can win one, why can’t I? I only made two errors last year. Put a good word in for me.”

My take on this is that my bet is that I'm going to win a gold glove before that dumb ass ever does. Manny being Manny=Crack Head. The man has to be on drugs to think that he is a great defensive player. He is ok at best. He is the Jason Giambi of the out field. Not great but usually doesn't kill you defensively. Manny should just stick to hitting home runs, working on his pose at the plate, and pumping big papi with steroids. Funny how that wasn't in the Mitchell report. Oh that's right Mitchell works for the Red Sux, but that is another story.