Topps Cards That Should Have Been: The Manny Ramirez Chronicles

In 2010, Manny Ramirez was still doing pretty well with the Dodgers, still a well-known superstar with capabilities of hitting tons of home runs and making flashy appearances in games. However, in 2009, Manny has his infamous suspension over using a fertility drug as a PED. He rebounds accordingly with .311 numbers in 66 games in LA, but the murkiness that befell his 2009 season hasn't left, especially after rumors of more potent performance enhancing drugs begin to circulate after Alex Rodriguez is implicated.

The bottom line is that 2010 is probably the last time Manny Ramirez really feels like Manny Ramirez. I was at a game in LA when he was still with the Dodgers, and...yeah, that was Manny. He was still, for the most part, being Manny.

It's when he's waived by the White Sox that his career essentially begins to unravel.

Manny spends the last month of the 2010 season with the White Sox, and while the numbers aren't bad, .261 with a home run, his final one, in 24 games, you can see the magic beginning to leave. This stint happened after Topps' cutoff for 2010 Topps, so it wasn't depicted until 2011 Topps.

Then, by that point, Manny had already signed with a new team. He and former Red Sox teammate Johnny Damon made a very big splash in January by both signing with the Tampa Bay Rays on one-year deals. Yes, their best years were past them, but they still wanted to play, and as Tampa was fielding free agents, they saw the opportunity to reunite, and jumped on it. 

2011 was going to be a fun, successful year for Manny, and Topps jumped on the excitement despite missing a Rays card of him for flagship, getting him in Heritage and Bowman in Rays colors. The assumption would be that Manny would get his Rays card in Update..

Except he didn't last in Tampa past April.

It wasn't due to his numbers. Ramirez hit .311 in Spring Training, and was looking at a comeback season. And though his first week left a lot to be desired, with a sub-.100 average and no homers, he was looking forward to getting back to his base level.

Then, on April 8th, Manny Ramirez abruptly retires. It's an inexplicable move that doesn't make sense until the facts come out. Manny tested positive for PEDs again, and would face an 100-game suspension if he chose to keep playing, so he decided right then and there to retire, confusing the hell out of the Rays management. Despite attempted stints with Oakland and Chicago in the next few years, this is the last time Manny sees the majors, and it's a very cloudy note to end his career on.

Topps decides not to make a card of him for Update, as it'd probably be too distracting and unnecessary. I don't have the ethics and standards of a baseball card company, and I like filling in holes in the timeline, so...I made one regardless. 6 games or no, he still played in 2011, and it's a true sunset issue. 

Regardless of how you feel about Manny Ramirez, he's an important figure in baseball history, and his final career footnotes deserve depiction as much as his heights. 

No, Manny, No

Now...think about what you're doing for a second, Mr. Ramirez. I mean, the fact that you're bringing me out of my self-imposed hiatus to talk you off the ledge is mind-shattering enough.

Please...this makes your, what, second return from retirement? So, two different times, you've said 'enough of this', only to come back? And both times, you were leaving some pretty meaningless teams. Like the 2011 Rays. And...okay, the 2012 Athletics turned out to be pretty awesome, but they would have sucked if you were DHing.

So after all of that...you decide that your best move is signing with the Chicago Cubs.

I'm sorry, Manny, but that is not your best move. That is the move you go with when the other 29 do not work. You could have gone to ANY of the other 29 teams, and they would be happy to have you. Go back to Boston for all I care. Go to Houston, or Seattle, or San Diego. But no, you had to go to the butt of every joke this season. Chicago. A city where their best pitcher can't even win a single game.

I honestly doubt you'll play any major league games this year, but if you do, be prepared for things to not exactly go as planned. Like, if your comeback game is mainly met with boos, be prepared for that. Or if you come in the eighth inning, do your Manny shtick, and then get absolutely no other run support...be prepared. Or most importantly, if the pitching from 24-year-old players absolutely befuddles you, a 41-year-old man...be prepared for that.

And yeah, you're saying that there's no chance of you coming back, because you're coming into the minors as a 'mentor', and 'player/coach'. Yeah, you know what is one half of player/coach? 'Player'. As in, 'YOU WILL BE PLAYING A LITTLE BIT OF BASEBALL'. I mean, mentor is kinda like a joke. They tried having mentors on Big Brother one season. You know how that ended? They ended up PLAYING the game. Not just watching and sitting on the sidelines the whole time. They played. Sure, they got their asses kicked by 20-year-olds named after planets, but they PLAYED.

So honestly, what you're really trying to say, Manny, in saying 'I'm joining the Cubs so I can be a mentor to their minor league teams', is 'Manny wants to play again, and Manny is really, really desperate for a job'.

Yeah, whatever. See you at Wrigley, Manny.

Custom Card of the Day- Manny Edition

I was a bit pissed last year when Manny Ramirez retired before I could even make a custom of him. I mean, he is a big star in a new uniform, which is basically the whole point of the first few weeks or so. And I never made a real Manny Rays card. Surprisingly, neither could everybody else. So I was a bit pleased this year when I saw him in an A's uniform, in a workable shot. I think he's a decent enough player, and if he gets lucky, could be a Hall of Famer. And remember, Manny isn't too bad when he's not playing in your division.

Coming Tomorrow- An aging outfielder brought in to fill an unfillable hole underneath the archway.

Oh the InhuManny-ty

There was a brief moment last year where I thought the wrath of Manny Ramirez had finally subsided, that he finally had crawled back into his hole, and retired from baseball.

Then I remembered how many times they killed off Jason Voorhees. And subsequently, how many times he came back. And how this situation was no different.

Sure enough, last year there were musings about how Manny Ramirez wanted to come back, despite the fact that the original plan was him staying home and not playing baseball anymore. I at first compared this to the desire for Terrell Owens to get back into football, and the fact that nobody showed up to his workout. I thought Manny 2.0 would crash and burn, sort of like how the returns of Hideo Nomo, Satchell Paige, and Jim Palmer were rightfully short lived. Of course, this being Manny Ramirez we're talking about, that obviously wouldn't be the case.

Right now there are rumors that the Oakland A's, of all people, want Manny to be their DH. And I understand their modivation. In Oakland, it's basically 2002 all over again. Bailey, Gonzalez and DeJesus have flown the coop, leaving only a few stars (Suzuki's still there, right), and a few question marks left unsigned. Right now the A's are practically poo-poo. And if they had Manny Ramirez, then they'd be a little less sucky.

But my infuriation lies not with Oakland. I think the A's are a fun team to watch. My infuriation lies with the DH in question. Becuase if there is one major league player, current or former, whose demise I wish for nightly, it is Manny Ramirez. And the demise usually involves him being hit by a truck. Filled with matches and gasoline in that matter.

When Manny retired I said good riddance. Hell, I even made that the title of the damn blog post. I was so happy I didn't have to deal with Manny anymore. The AL East was finally clean of its horrors, much like the end of Ghostbusters. And then, a year or so later, he comes back, even after everyone knows he took steroids. After the press took a gigantic dump on his legacy, Manny still wants to play. I can't understand that.

If the A's eventually sign Manny, then I hope he crashes and burns quicker than Charlie Sheen's limo. If not, and if Manny sinks back into obscurity until 2017, when his name comes up for HOF election, I will cherish all six years where I don't have to hear his name.

And even if he comes back, it's basically another chapter in Manny Being Manny. Hopefully Manny himself will be the one to close the book this time.

Good Riddance- Manny retires

All of New York breathed a heavy sigh, and began to cheer today. Manny Ramirez, former bringer of death and steroid abuser, and current bench staple, has finally retired after 20 years of playing...or something like that. Am I happy. You better believe it. But is it sad to see him go in this way. Kind of.

Manny was nabbed for drugs- which ones he was nabbed for is a topic of question-, and this forced him to retire. Now granted, while I'm happy to see the man go, it would have been better if it wasn't due to this. Maybe it could have happened after the year was over, or maybe when he was really done playing. Because this was abrupt. Too abrupt.

And the truth was that he wasn't really playing too well either. The Rays were happy to have him, because him and Johnny Damon were preventing the team from going down the crapper, but he wasn't living up to the expectations that Rays fans wanted when he was acquired. So that, added to the drug thing might have preempted it.

Still, even though this is Manny Ramirez we're talking about, it'll be kinda sad to see him go. Before he became what everyone remembers him as, he was still a pretty good player with Cleveland, and those few years alone were great. Then, in Boston, he played well, and reached two championships, but his temper on and off the field defined him. And that really brought on what well think of him as- Crazy Manny Ramirez.

And there's a chance that he could end up in Cooperstown. But at the end of the day...he was a Red Soc, and he antagonized my team to the point of near explosion.

And to coincide with the Green Day reference in the title, it's simply unpredictable, and in the end it's right. And I hope he has the time of his life...at least until he's busted and indicted for steroids.

Manny to Tampa: I can now hate the Rays again

This is kind of old news, but I just found out a few minutes ago, so my instict as a blogger is to rant about it.

Manny Ramirez was aging, desperate, and needed a team. He failed to win over people with the White Sox, so he went and signed with Tampa Bay. And while it may be good for Tampa fans, however few of you there are on the blogosphere, it's not good for Yankee fans. Cause now, Ramirez will be playing us a lot more.

I explained my massive hatred for Mr. Ramirez is a post last year, the day he ventured to Chicago. I said that while he may be a decent player, he still caused me great pain in his days with Boston, and he has been my least favorite player ever. Seriously. Ortiz looks like a freaking Saint compared to Manny. And just when I thought we'd never have to contend with his steroid injected ass again, he's shipped to Tampa. Isn't that great?

When all those players left Tampa at the end of the year, I thought I was saved. The Rays were a major contender last few years, and thankfully, Crawford, Pena and Garza are now gone. Now, they still had Evan Longoria, David Price and BJ Upton, but they were still dimished from the team that almost won a World Series. They add Manny, and while they may still be a minor setback, they have Manny Ramirez, and imagine what he'll do against the Yankees. He'll hit dingers out of the park.

And in even worse news, there's a rumor going around that Manny may be reunited with former terrible person Johnny Damon. This is bad news. I've tolerated Damon since his days with Boston, mainly because for four seasons, he was a member of the Yankees. And those 4 seasons completely took back anything against him, and his 4 seasons with Baaston. And now that he's signing with the Rays...it looks like nowhere is safe. Manny and Damon combined with Longoria might be pretty bad news. They might not even play together, cause Damon or Ramirez have to vy for DH.

On a lighter note, I don't think we'll need to worry about Toronto anymore. Vernon Wells, the only person on that team worth giving a damn about has been traded to Sluggerland, USA, also known as Anahiem. He'll fit in well with the Angels, but Toronto adds to the list of teams that will not be a problem for us (Right there with Baltimore)

I just hope that Damon deal doesn't go through. Manny on the Rays is bad enough. Manny and Damon...that's even worse.

Yet Another Manny Ramirez Custom

I remember the last time I made a Manny custom, it was a sweet natured gesture, mainly because he was on the Dodgers, and I have nothing but respect for them. Now he's on the White Sox. Okay everybody, it's safe to make fun of him, now!

It's not that I don't like Manny Ramirez...wait a minute, yeah, that's what it is. I also don't necesarily like making Manny customs. I mean...he's just an aggrivating player, and I feel like it's tiring just to make one.

I've already made 3 Manny customs, 2 this year. I really don't want to make another one.

Coming Tomorrow- Someone that is not Manny Ramirez...but I'm pretty sure you're sick of him too. Ichiro Suzuki.

Manny's going WHERE?

I originally thought this didn't have to be news, but once it became official, and once I realized this was Manny Freaking Ramirez, I had to bite.

Former Red Sock and supposed steroid abuser Manny Ramirez was claimed off waivers by the White Sox (Every time a waiver deal is completed, a Topps designer gets a heart attack). This bodes well for the other 4 teams in the NL West, and the Yankees, but is less good for the Red Sox, Dodgers and the other 4 teams in the AL Central.

Since Manny is still healing apparently, he won't play against the Yankees this weekend (A sigh of hope). I do, however, wish the other 4 players that Chicago has in the DH position good luck, for playing time will cease once the dreadlocked Manny resumes being Manny.

Night Owl, this one's for you

The Customizer is a dying speicies. There might only be a few of us left, but what we end up doing is all worthwhile. I do agree with Night Owl's plea to topps, though. If Topps were to make a good old fashined retro set, we customizers would do it, probably better than the Topps guys would.

Thanks again for the shout out, Night Owl. And yes, Mint Condition fans. CUSTOM CARDS ARE OFFICIALLY BACK, BABY!

Last night was awesome!!!

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What a game. Man, if every playoff game is going to be like this, then we're in for a hell of a World Series

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

My friend the Indians fan also happens to be a Red Sox fan. I feel sorry for what I am about to say.

I KNEW IT!

How is it possible that someone as beefy as Man-ram or Papi could NOT be taking roids?

You know what this means? You do, right?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2009 World Champions, the New York Met- I mean Yankees"

Manny trips! For once, not on his team in the playoffs!

Manny Ramirez got a 50 game suspension for drug use. Fitting, because he seemed to be taking all the credit for the Dodgers winning. Is someone else going to step up? Russ Martin?

I for one am surprised and I hope that everything is alright when he comes back in July.

There's the good part

Now, remember Manny was on the Red Sox for a while?

Well, I do, and because of that, I hope that his first game back his team gets killed.

Nothing personal Manny, it's just my job

At Long Last

Manny Ramirez has found a team.

All the notable free agents (besides a few) have been signed.

Now we can start this damn season.

Nomar and Manny

Remember a few weeks ago I said that Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra were free agents? Not anymore, it looks like.

Nomar has signed wih the A's, which ultimately makes Jason Giambi their DH. This is a great deal for them , and FINALLY makes Nomar noticeable again (No Topps card since 2006).

And Manny is very close with signing with the dodgers again. Good luck with that, crazy!