MBL: First wrong move for Manny and the Red Sox?

The Boston Red Sox are only into the first few Spring Training games, and Manny Ramirez has already ticked off the Boston media. What did the biggest free agent signing for Boston in more than thirty years do? Well, after agreeing to play in Left Field, in front of the mighty Green Monster, Manny told ‘Sox manager Jimy Williams that he is uncomfortable in left, and would prefer playing right -- the position Manny has played all his career. In most cases, that would be fine. This is not most cases.

In Boston, the Red Sox play in a park with one of the easiest left fields, and one of the toughest right fields. The Green Monster, though sometimes giving odd hops and kicks, is a walk in the park for outfielders. Simply watch as the ball goes over your head, and then pick it up either off the wall or as a one-hopper.

Left field in Boston is a leg saver, because you hardly have to run when playing it. Ideal spot for a player like Manny who is a worse-than-average fielder, right? Most people think so.

Right field, on the other hand, is one of the toughest in the league. A grounder down the right field line can easily turn into an inside-the-park home run if played incorrectly. With Manny’s skills, there might be an awful lot of inside the parkers if he does indeed remain there. There is another outfielder whose played right field masterfully the past two years -- Trot Nixon. Nixon is a great outfielder -- perfect for the odd quirks about Fenway’s right field.

Boston’s plan was to unload left fielder Troy O’Leary’s big contract, solidifying the Red Sox’ big outfield of Manny-Carl Everett-Nixon. O’Leary never went. The right team never came around. So, Boston fans thought if they can’t trade him, he’d make one hell of a back up to the others. After all, O’Leary was one of the heroes who carried the Sox in one of their most important games of two years ago- hitting a home run in the fifth game of the ALDS, beating the Cleveland Indians -- Ramirez’s former team.

So, that was easy: Manny moves to left, and Trot remains in right. Wasn’t it? Sorry. The story doesn’t end there. As we know, Manny asked Williams to move him back to his “native” right. Being the big man in camp, Williams could do nothing but oblige. How could he cause waves with Boston’s new clean-up hitter so soon? So, Manny moved back to right, and now Nixon is in left, competing with O’Leary. We now have one of the league’s worst outfielders in the league’s toughest right field, and one of the league’s best defensive outfielders in one of the easiest left fields. Sound complicated? Welcome to the club. This move has many in Boston confused.

Many people are wondering why Manny would not remain in left. Would the wall be too tough for him? Well, everything takes a little getting used to, and in no time he would have been a natural. Was the way the ball came off the bat in left that had Manny uncomfortable? Quite possibly, but he’s a Major Leaguer, and should be able to figure something like that out. Many people are concerned why Manny did not “take one for the team.” Everybody under the sun knows that Boston would have been better off with Manny in left. Why, then, did Manny request a switch?

To be honest, nobody knows but Manny, and possibly Jimy Williams. For now, Red Sox fans can’t do anything but hope Jimy sees what could have been, and have the guts to tell the Sox’s big time player that it’s in the best interest of the team that he toughs it out in left. Boston fans definitely don’t want to think that this was the first bad decision that will begin a very disappointing year for the Red Sox. They’re got a top-to-bottom stacked lineup, and are being taken very seriously in the American League.

Last year, it was team unity, or lack of it, that was the downfall for the team. This year, it might be any number of things: Unhappy players over playing time, as a result of so much talent on a roster with so little opportunity; Errors and poor defensive play (In Boston’s first spring training game against the Twins, they committed seven, count them SEVEN errors, on their way to 11 un-earned runs); or maybe lack of rhythm (Williams is notorious for liking to shake up lineups each and every day- something that many players dislike). It could be any combination of these mishaps that would lead to a disappointing season. Or, the Sox could go through the season smoothly, on their way back to the playoffs. It’s really all up to the players, and coaches. Only time will tell what holds in Boston’s future.

Let’s just hope we don’t see any groundballs going through first baseman Brian Daubach’s legs say… around October.