Spring spotlight: Manny needs strong Cactus League effort
Article By smcneal.tsn on 12th February, 2010
Spring training often resembles a working vacation for most veterans. You know, put in a couple innings of work and then call for your tee time. However, the list of proven veteran players who slumped in 2009 is a long one. For those players, regaining their confidence/swing/swagger starts when they report to their Grapefruit League or Cactus League camp. Which disappointing player from last season is in most desperate need of a strong spring?
Chris Bahr says Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano must return to form in order for the Cubs to compete, but Stan McNeal says all eyes should be on Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez:
Talk about a fast fall. In less than a year, Manny Ramirez has gone from superstar slugger to drug user to mediocre major leaguer to, well, who knows?
Questions abound as to whether Manny Ramirez can regain his old form. This we know: At 37 and in the last year of his contract, no player is in greater need of a strong spring to set himself up for a big season. Consider what is riding on Manny's bat: his team's playoff chances, his future and his already-tarnished legacy.
Not long ago, Ramirez was the hero that L.A. couldn't afford to lose. He was coming off a two-month stretch when he carried the Dodgers to the NLCS by hitting .396/.489/.783 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 187 at-bats.
Manny was rounding into familiar form in 2009 until his world as he knew it ended in early May. He was suspended for 50 games for a positive drug test, and he hasn't been the same since. He hit .269/.389/.492 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 260 at-bats after his return, and the Dodgers carried him to the playoffs this time.
In the NLCS, the Phillies did what few pitchers previously dared. They challenged Manny with fastballs, and the strategy worked. He hit a two-run homer in Game 1 but ended up drawing more attention in the series for an early shower than for his hitting.
Joe Torre re...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Chris Bahr says Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano must return to form in order for the Cubs to compete, but Stan McNeal says all eyes should be on Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez:
Talk about a fast fall. In less than a year, Manny Ramirez has gone from superstar slugger to drug user to mediocre major leaguer to, well, who knows?
Questions abound as to whether Manny Ramirez can regain his old form. This we know: At 37 and in the last year of his contract, no player is in greater need of a strong spring to set himself up for a big season. Consider what is riding on Manny's bat: his team's playoff chances, his future and his already-tarnished legacy.
Not long ago, Ramirez was the hero that L.A. couldn't afford to lose. He was coming off a two-month stretch when he carried the Dodgers to the NLCS by hitting .396/.489/.783 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 187 at-bats.
Manny was rounding into familiar form in 2009 until his world as he knew it ended in early May. He was suspended for 50 games for a positive drug test, and he hasn't been the same since. He hit .269/.389/.492 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 260 at-bats after his return, and the Dodgers carried him to the playoffs this time.
In the NLCS, the Phillies did what few pitchers previously dared. They challenged Manny with fastballs, and the strategy worked. He hit a two-run homer in Game 1 but ended up drawing more attention in the series for an early shower than for his hitting.
Joe Torre re...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
