When thinking of Manny Ramirez, many moments go through a person's mind. Many are good, but several are anything but.
On the side of being one of the better hitters of his time (or any time for that matter), are the moments that created the saying of "Manny being Manny".
Plenty of comical instances have occurred while Ramirez has been in the league, whether it be missing a dive for a ball and ending up sitting on it, or cutting off a throw while playing left field.
Things that Ramirez has done make millions of fans scratch their heads time and time again, but despite the many memories of wackiness, many don't know everything about the "real" Manny.
A prime example of Ramirez may have never been so clear as the other day, when Manny was the first player hitting in the cages in the early morning.
Saying he works hard is an understatement. He has transformed his hitting into a pure work of art during his career. Hitting 555 home runs can't be executed without going the extra mile, taking the extra cuts.
He's done his share of stupid things. There's no way to deny that. But when player after player praises about his work ethic, you shouldn't look into it any further. He has a drive casual fans wouldn't realize is there.
Ramirez is out to prove his worth. With that said, he isn't preparing very much more than he would any other season. But he wants to show he has plenty left in the tank. So there he was, 7:30 in the morning, hitting in the cages, perfecting his already beautiful swing.
Ramirez is clearly not the old Manny, the one who was a threat for 40 home runs and 120 RBIs any given season. It's obvious why he wouldn't be putting up those same numbers, seeing as he will turn 39 in May.
With that said, Ramirez is less than two and a half years removed from the end of a 37-homer, 121-RBI season, while playing in Boston and LA with the Dodgers. But what happened after that season is what seemed to start a downward spiral.
Before the 2009 season, Manny took "Being Manny" to another level, when he was suspended 50 games for taking a women's fertility drug. Even with how funny that may sound, what he used was supposed to help lower his chances of testing positive for a steroid.
So with what happened before that season, it's a fair case to say Ramirez isn't a hard worker, and that he tried to cut corners for success. But any Ray would tell you otherwise.
According to MSNBC, during his days in Boston, it was a common scene on game day for Manny: Hit in the cages the morning before a night game, play fungo hits off the Green Monster, go home to eat lunch, and then head back to the ballpark for even more work before the game.
It's clear seeing that he once took a phone call, a swig of Gatorade and a bathroom break in the Monster during an inning that Manny is a bit of a goof. Or a very big one, with his baggy pants and long dreads to go along.
There's plenty of "what-if's" to go around involving Manny. What if the bullpen doesn't come through and Manny starts to complain, or he shows his age and crumbles in the big role the Rays have him in?
Then there's the other end of looking at this scenario. If Manny hits anywhere close to his pre-'09 self, it will be a big success and could make the Rays contenders depending on the bullpen and the rest of the lineup.
Ramirez can provide protection for Evan Longoria in the order, but all we can do is guess how that will turn out for the Rays. But those who jump to the conclusion that signing Manny will do a lot more hurting than helping is clearly not looking at the whole picture.
The fact that after the departure of many of the teams' stars, most thought the club would tank in 2011, is why this move is a solid one. The Rays had nothing really to lose in this situation. The Rays will only pay him $2M this season, so there doesn't seem to be much risk in signing a potential Hall-of-Famer.
If Manny fails, the Rays don't have to keep him. Simple as that. Since he isn't playing the field and has the Tropicana Field air conditioning, I don't think laziness will set in ever for Manny, who can just worry about his hitting.
The Rays didn't sign a washed-up former star to get rear ends in the seats at the Trop. Nothing may be able to help that cause. It's the Rays spending the money they have on a player that still has a high ceiling.
Ramirez is having a good spring so far in preparing for his 19th season. He's been hit with the reality that he's 40, not 30, and he's making seven figures, not eight. But he will work his back-end off to prove he's still a threat.
Sure, getting paid like he has, Manny should be working hard. But people aren't saying he works harder than most for nothing. It's not a cover up to keep him happy. It's the truth, with many witnesses to prove it.
So it's clear Manny will, one way or another, have a large impact in Tampa Bay in 2011. He's had his blunders, some more embarrassing than most. But behind that comical, sloppy nature is a drive to succeed. So yes, there's more to Manny than just being Manny.
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