Playing Hardball

Looks like things could get real interesting real soon in Dodger land. According to multiple sources, Ned Coletti has just extended a second contract offer to Manny Ramirez. The reported details: one year, $25 million. My first reaction: nice work Scotty Boras. This offer is a big drop from the 2 year/$45 million plus team option for another year that Ned originally put on the table only to get no response from Team Manny. The most interesting twist to this, if you believe Jayson Stark of ESPN, is that Ned has given Boras a 48 hour window to accept the deal or it will be pulled.

Frankly, I'm torn. Boras/Manny have totally miscalculated the market. They have not gotten a single offer since Ned's original (I thought very fair to both parties) proposed deal. Nonetheless, Boras has continued to try and jerk the Dodgers around in the hopes that they would be dumb enough to bid against themselves when teams like the giants admit that they would "consider" going after Manny if his pricetag were in the neighborhood of $10 million plus incentives for a one year deal. I'm glad Ned is taking a stand.

On the flip side, if the Dodgers fail to re-sign Manny they are in deep shit (not that I don't think they already are to a large extent). By "deep shit," I mean that Mr. Falcon may have to run up into McBankrupt's office and show off the tapout moves he just learned from watching UFC highlights on youtube. If, after taking $50 million dollars off the payroll for a team that is a giant cash-cow, McCourt does nothing but possibly add Randy Wolf this offseason (still not a foregone conclusion either), my fellow bloggers and I are going to be fucking apeshit. Oh, I'll still buy tickets Mr. McCourt, but you will not like having my presence in your stadium. Your security goons may try and kick me out (wouldn't be the first time I've been ejected from an MLB ballpark thanks to those Nazis on the police force down in Arlington, TX), but I will get my money's worth cussing out you and and the rest of your cheapskate family until you are shamed into selling our beloved Dodger franchise. We cannot lose Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, Saito, Beimel, Kent, Nomar, and Andruw Jones (know he did nothing but he was earning like an all-star) without adding anything but fucking sorry-ass Randy Wolf, backup catcher Brad Ausmus, and utility-man Mark Loretta.

My solution for all parties involved:

Scotty/Manny: TAKE THE DEAL already. Nobody's gonna offer you more and you can still go after that giant payday you think you're entitled to next year (and Manny will still have the highest salary of any outfielder in the MLB.

Ned: Stick to your guns, get Manny back in the fold, then go out and sign Wolf AND Sheets (I don't care if you have to kick McCourt in the dick to get the extra dough). Handle your business, son.

McCourt: Eat shit and die you cheap Jew bastard (yes I know he's not jewish but it is WAY more offensive that way and that is what counts around here).