Ramirez, best Red Sox left fielder ever?
Best Red Sox ever...Williams, Yazstrzemski, or Ramirez? Photo Tami Goodstein 2008 Spring Training
On May 11th Manny Ramirez stated:
“I think I am the best ever to play left field in Boston.” See Boston Herald.com.
As a complete Manny Ramirez apologist I claim no objectivity; yet Manram’s claim cannot be dismissed as Manny simply being Manny. Ramirez seeks to win a Gold Glove this year and part of his claim as “best ever” comes from his time in the field and innovations he has brought to the left field position.
“I invented that throw that I do,” said Ramirez, mimicking the double-play-like flip he uses to get the ball back into the infield. “I don’t know how it started, it just happened like three years ago. I have to practice it, though. I started to learn how to throw it where it tails right into (second baseman Dustin Pedroia). But I need to practice it more. I haven’t practiced it at all this year. But I’ve got it.” See Boston Herald.com.
Manny rarely gets credit for his work ethic, yet his stats and time practicing lead me to believe that there are few players who work harder than the Bosox left fielder. Is Manny a better fielder than Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams? Clearly the Bosox have had some of the best left fielders in baseball history (read biased Red Sox fan). I am forty three years old, my experience of Yaz in left field is limited to 1975 when he returned to left field to battle the A’s and then the Reds - in those series Yastrzemski was great. I am too young to have seen Teddy Baseball roam left field. I believe that Manny is the best hitting left fielder of all time; because of his great bat his play in the field may be under appreciated (read biased Red Sox fan).
If Manny wins a Gold Glove then I believe he might deserve the title best Red Sox left fielder ever. Because of his bat and two World Series rings I believe that Manny is the most valuable left fielder that the Sox have ever had. Whatever you believe Manny’s claim makes for interesting discussion; go Manny, go Red Sox!
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4 Responses to “Ramirez, best Red Sox left fielder ever?”
May 14th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Manny plays left field at Fenway well enough and has mastered the art of playing balls off the wall but his range is not good enough to consider him the best defensive left fielder in Red Sox history nor good enough to earn a Gold Glove. But I love that he thinks so.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Ted Williams was one of the best hitting players of all time, including left fielders anywhere. Having been in left field at Fenway from 1939 to 1960, he pioneered playing caroms off the monster to limit hard hit balls to singles. As the last of the .400 hitters, and twice winning the triple crown, in a career interrupted by two stints as a fighter pilot, in WWII and Korea, Manny has a tough act to follow. Yaz was a better fielder than both of them, and is the last to win the triple crown. Manny is a whole other kind of player, a huge impact player, and plays left like Teddy Ballgame did. All three belong on the all-time list. It would be great for Manny to play 4 more years of high impact baseball with the Sox, get his # up there beside Ted and Yaz where it belongs, and hit a home run in his last at bat, like Ted, and retire before his awesome skills decline, and enter the Hall as one of the greats.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I wish I had a better perspective - not that I really want to be older - I would have liked to have seen a younger Yaz and Williams before he went to war. Then again as a Manny apologist I am not sure I’m able to see other fielder’s objectively. I agree with you Tim - how do you not love that he thinks so.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Thanks for that perspective on Ted Williams gerry!!!!
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