Manny Ramirez Calls it a Career

Lets take a look at the series of events:

-Manny Ramirez hitting .059 on the season with 1 RBI.
-MLB notifies Manny he is about to fail another drug test, facing a 100 Game Suspension.
-Manny notifies MLB and Tampa Bay Rays that he is retiring from baseball.

Yeah... It was the perfect storm of playing badly and coming under scrutiny for taking performance enhancing drugs AGAIN. But Manny Ramirez, long-time Boston Red Sox, has retired from Major League Baseball. I doubt, though, that this will be the last we hear from Manny. I imagine the only reason he has come back (along with his crummy Captain Jack Sparrow impersonation) was to pay for bills he can't afford anymore. Granted, this is all speculation, but doesn't Manny seem like the kind of player who has already blown through all his cash on stupid things?

I'm sure in a few weeks/months we will hear that Manny has signed with a Japanese team, or some Independent League team. I'm sure that in five years, when his name comes up for Hall-of-Fame consideration, he will surely be another polarizing figure. Along with guys like McGwire, Canseco, Bonds, Palmeiro, Clemens and Sosa, guys who have certainly put up HOF-like numbers, but will probably be excluded for connections to steroids and the dirty era of baseball.

Through all the steroids, the "Manny being Manny" and any other shenanigans he put the baseball world through in his 19 (!) year career, I've always loved Manny. Even when he was a Red Sox, I loved Manny. Even when he was a DODGER! (Yes, that's worse), I loved Manny. He was fun to watch play. You never knew what he was going to do (or say) next. Easily one of the most interesting players over the last two decades, Manny Ramirez will be missed, especially by me.

Why The Angels Should Claim Manny Today.

Thats right, today. Rumors are running rampant that Manny Ramirez of the Dodgers is going to be put through waivers today. His relationship with the Dodgers has crumbled, and with the Dodgers out of the race, they are looking to move the All-Star Outfielder for some pieces they can use to build on in the future. I'm going to a few of reasons that the Angels should pursue him and land him on their team for the last month of the season.

1. Increase Ticket Sales, TV Ratings and National Attention: The Dodgers received a HUGE boost in all three areas when Manny came to LA at the Trading Deadline in 2008. Not to mention a significant boost in Season Ticket sales in 2009. Its no secret that the Angels attendance isn't going to be what the team has been used to this year. They aren't selling out as many games, and there have been many more games with tickets on sale. Manny would bring people out to games in a mostly meaningless final month of the season, bringing me to my next point.

2. Keep Angel Fans Interested for Final Month of the Season: I'm not going to sugarcoat anything here. With the last two Angels losses (combined with big wins for the Rangers), the Angels are done. They are not making the playoffs, and at this point are playing for second place. With Manny on the team, you can bet your ass I'll be tuning in to just about every Angel game in September, even though Football has begun.

3. He Will Help The Angels Finish Strong: While I said two sentences ago that the Angels are out of it, that doesn't mean they should stop playing. September call-ups are a week away, and with all the new talent on the roster, guys should start playing for playing time next season. Throw a big bat like Manny in the lineup, someone who could actually get hits with Runners in Scoring Position, and the Angels could finish strong, with maybe an 85 win season. Its better to have some momentum going into next season.

4. It Will Give The Angels the Inside Track to Signing Him in the Off-season: I like Hideki Matusi. He seems like a good guy, but he didn't quite pan out as the Angels had hoped this year. With his one year contract, he is unlikely to receive another offer from the Angels, and will take his bum knees to another AL town (More than likely to Seattle, to play with guys like Ichiro, and for the huge Japanese community in the Seattle area). The Angels will need a DH, and Manny is the perfect DH. He has never liked to play in the field, but loves to hit home runs. While its not an ideal scenario for me, I admit that I've always liked Manny, and would love to see him in an Angels uniform, at least for a couple years.

5. He Can't Possibly Be Any Worse Than Our Current Hitters with RISP: After going 0-for-7 on Sunday, the Angels managed to go 1-for-11 with RISP on Monday night. Angels hitters are struggling to even move guys over. I've seen more pop-outs, shallow fly-outs and strikeouts than ever before. While I'm not going to claim Manny Ramirez is some sort of savior, there is no possible way he can be worse. Its mathematically impossible.

Rangers Magic Number: 29
Carl Crawford Countdown: 110