The Cubs signing 41 year old knucklehead Manny Ramirez to a AAA contract to be a "player-coach" is another odd piece of news from Clark and Addison.
The move makes little sense.
Ramirez is a two time PED violator. Six years after pushing a 65 man year old Red Sox employee down to the ground over a ticket dispute, Manny finally apologized. He is a baseball diva. He is a distraction.
And perhaps that is why the Cubs hired him. The team is the worst in baseball. The Iowa Cubs have little talent. Theo Epstein said Manny is not going to be promoted to the majors, but then why sign him as a "player?"
Ramirez is to play a couple times a week for Iowa. What's the point?
He will take away at bats from younger players and prospects. How does that help your ball club in the long run?
He is supposed to help teach prospects (Baez in particular) how to hit. Baez has been doing pretty good on his own. Some say if Manny imparts any "wisdom" on young players on how to prepare for games, that is a positive. But you already have coaches in Iowa whose job is to be hitting and fielding coaches.
What could possibly go wrong?
Baez and other prospects could become Mini-Mannies . . . privileged players who want special treatment and attention. Baseball is still a team sport. Unless you can produce big (non PED) numbers now, managers will not put up with personal antics.
Some say that this hire may be just Epstein paying back an old player of his - - - - but Ramirez was well compensated for his work with the Red Sox. He just wore out his welcome. How fast will that happen in Iowa?
