Manny Happy Returns — to Cubs’ Farm Club

May 26, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: Theo Epstein is a genius. How else can you explain the Chicago Cubs’ president of baseball operations signing Manny Ramirez to be a player/coach for the franchise’s Class AAA Iowa Cubs?

Wendy Trent in a lovely red, white and blue outfit.

* Making the Ramirez announcement on Sunday — the day before Memorial Day — is brilliant. Not only does such a move allow for any negative reaction to be minimized — who reads newspapers or listens to sports-talk radio on holidays? — but it also will prolong the story when radio hosts return from their long weekends on Tuesday, so the blathering can continue (for those aleady blathering).

* Also brilliant is Epstein’s move means folks who distract easily (and if you’re a Cubs fan, you’re certainly a likely candidate) will look to Des Moines rather than look at the big-league ballclub (which is probably just as well).

* Of course, there is the possibility that Epstein, whose relationship with Ramirez go back to their days together with the Boston Red Sox where Epstein was general manager, that this entire saga is merely a case of Theo being Theo.

* Epstein in a statement Sunday: “Manny will coach full-time and play part-time in a limited role that does not take at-bats away from our prospects.” OK. In that case, exactly whose at-bats will he be taking away?

* More Epstein: “While Manny is not and will not be a fit on the Cubs major league roster, we do think at this stage of his life he’s a nice fit as a mentor for some of the young talented hitters we have in the organization.” And, yes, it would be embarrassing to the Cubs’ front office, if a 42-year-old Ramirez was the best hitter the big-league team had on its roster.

* Given Epstein’s soft spot for former Red Sox, how long before it’s Pedro Martinez bobblehead day at Wrigley Field?

* And, yes, the question of an admitted former performance-enhancing drug user arises. If the Cubs wanted to employ someone with a PED pedigree, what about former Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa? Maybe the Red Sox will sign him as a player/coach for the Class AAA Pawtucket Red Sox.

* For those who sincerely believe Ramirez is reformed and deserves a second chance, how many second chances should he — or any of the others caught up in the steroid saga of recent years — receive?

* Major League Baseball, which turned a blind eye (OK, actually more like a winking one) to the use of PEDs, is only too glad to embrace ballplayers whose home-run prowess propelled the sport to greater heights (and revenue). Lest we forget Mark McGwire, whom Tony LaRussa hired as a hitting coach when he was managing the St. Louis Cardinals. Guessing that move is not what made voters select LaRussa for induction to the Hall of Fame this summer.

* With their 4-3 loss Sunday at San Diego, the Cubs are a National League-worst 18-30. That’s a .375 winning percentage. The statistical analysts at ElliottHarris.com had the holiday weekend off, so you will have to take our word that such a winning percentage projects to a 61-101 season for the Cubs. Oh, quick look, there are prospects in the minor leagues!

* Speaking of the Cubs’ loss, third baseman Mike Olt struck out three times in four hitless at-bats. He is hitting .169 with a .246 on-base percentage. He has struck out 45 times in 118 at-bats this season. That’s approximately a strikeout 38 percent of the team. Meaning if Olt lasts long enough to have 400 at-bats, he will whiff 180 times. Can Manny play third base?

* Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter went 4-for-5 in his final 7-1 game at U.S. Cellular Field. Otherwise known hits-wise as a good week for Sox outfielder Alejandro De Aza, who has 29 hits in 167 at-bats (.174 batting average, .239 on-base percentage).

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