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Braun: Ramirez makes run for MVP during Dodgers’ playoff push
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The term “value” in baseball seems to have lost its meaning.
While the MVP award in the National League has not been given out yet, it seems the most deserving player probably won’t be a serious candidate for it.
I’m talking, of course, about Manny Ramirez.
Yes, I’m talking about the same Manny who ran to first base slower than a stumbling little leaguer. The same guy who many think was purposely striking out, fielding poorly and not taking his job seriously as a member of the Boston Red Sox.
Though Boston fans may be glad that he’s gone, and probably aren’t too unhappy with Jason Bay in left field, you bet they’re upset about the way he’s playing now.
In less than a third of the season since being traded to the Dodgers, Ramirez has hit 17 home runs and 53 RBIs. That’s around 55 home runs and 160 RBIs for a full season.
Frankly, in Los Angeles, Manny can’t be happier and neither can the Dodgers.
Before he came to town, the Dodgers were all but done. They couldn’t hit, they had no pop in their lineup and seemingly the fans just didn’t care about the struggling team that had second place written all over it.
He revitalized the Dodgers and brought life back into a clubhouse that has not seen a playoff series victory since Kirk Gibson brought the fire in 1988, when the Dodgers won the World Series.
Any person in their right mind — yes, even Red Sox fans — can and should admit that Manny’s presence in Los Angeles not only pushed the Dodgers to the playoffs, but it did so in commanding fashion.
He’s so good that fans in Los Angeles expect him to give them a curtain call after he strikes out. Don’t even mention when he goes yard; that’s a given.
Even if he’s only been a Dodger for a third of the season, it was the most incredible play displayed by any player the entire year.
But he didn’t only play for himself. With Ramirez in the middle of the lineup, every player is simply trying harder. They want to knock runners in, and because the opposing pitchers don’t want to face Manny, they have to throw strikes to the players who bat around him.
Before Manny came, the Dodgers were several games back in the weak NL West division, and Los Angeles just couldn’t overtake the Diamondbacks.
Now, look who’s on top. And there’s only one reason why — Manny showed up.
No other team in baseball can attribute their success to a single player the way the Dodgers can do with Ramirez.
Seems like there’s a new definition of “Manny being Manny.” I’m not talking about him giving high fives to people in the bleachers or cutting off a throw from left-center field. In terms of his antics, he hasn’t changed a bit, but instead of sounding off on how he feels about a situation, he lets his bat do all of the talking.
Those previously-mentioned shenanigans can be exactly what a team needs to get an extra push. That and a .393 batting average, of course.
You could make the same case for Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun or maybe even Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, but think about it this way — Braun and Howard had all year to give their respective teams the extra push to get into the postseason — Manny did it all in two months.
He may play for the worst team in the playoffs, but that team would be sitting at home if he never came along. That is why Manny deserves to win the MVP award.
Jonah is a sophomore hoping to major in journalism. Think Manny Ramirez is a changed person, or is he the same nuisance that he gave Boston for six years? E-mail him at jbraun@badgerherald.com.
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The Dodgers were 54-54 before Manny and 30-24 with him. Had the Dodger kept playing .500 ball, they would have been 27-27 without Ramirez. The difference is 3 games. Do you think Howard might have accounted for more than 3 of the Phillies’ 92 wins when he was hitting 48 homers with 146 RBI? I love Manny (I mean seriously, the cockiness alone is enough for me), and Pujols’ numbers are beyond exceptional, but my vote is for the guy who grabbed 2 of the 3 jewels in the Triple Crown. Regardless of the Ks, his .320avg w/RISP shows this guy produces when it matters. Run production is your clean-up man’s job, and no one produces more runs than Howard. God forbid what his stats would look like minus the outraeous shift they put on him. Ask Prince Fielder how much he (and his stats) love the shift this year.
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Braun aren’t you from LA? just thought I’d point that out.
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CC
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Jeff Kent for MVP!
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hey genius, maybe you should learn to write a non-bias article. Of course, Manny Ramaraz didn’t even play a full season with the Dodgers, which in anyone’s opinion, would make him unable to recieve mvp. If you consider Ramaraz, you should consider Sabathia, Braun, Pujols, Howard, or even Bill Hall, based on your bias on this issue. Learn to write a non-bias article.