Top > Sport > 2007 > March > 2007-03-02

Manny Being Manny

The Boston Red Sox spring training camp opens these days, with official reporting day being this week, and first full squad workout late in the week. But will all Red Sox players show up as expected? When a question like this is shot in the air, the player whose appearance is questioned is slugger Manny Ramirez, traditionally a trade rumor and, well, a cause for some uncertainty. At first General Manager Theo Epstein said Ramirez was excused to be with his mother, who is recovering from a surgery she underwent. His report day was scheduled for March 1.

But a report that surfaced soon then after had Ramirez scheduled to attend a car auction in Atlantic City, New Jersey, away from his mother who was in Florida, and certainly away from his team?s training camp. A car owned by Ramirez, a 1967 four-door Lincoln Continental Sedan convertible is to be presented at the show.

Red Sox chose to ignore addressing the schedule conflict. Epstein said simply, ?He`s got a family situation," Epstein said. "I think the important thing from our perspective at this point is when he does show up on March first that he`s ready to go, accountable to his teammates, accountable to the organization.? Teammate David Ortiz was more frank in addressing Ramirez?s behavior: ?Manny`s still crazy,? he said with a big smile. ?I`m still baby-sitting him.? Ramirez is entering the seventh year of his eight year contract, which is expected to abound with trade rumors just as the previous seasons were.