Obnoxious

Top of the 9th in LA... Dodgers lead Philly 8-4. Everyone's ready to go except... left field is...vacant?

Where the heck is Manny??

After an awkward period of time [while people searched for him], he runs out from the dugout... grinning and looking ridiculous with his baggy pants and shirt not buttoned up.

From the announcers: "Well, we did a little special on "Manny being Manny,"... and we've got more. He's unbuttoned, he's late... who knows, huh? Who knows."

Absolutely obnoxious. His egocentrism and lack of seriousness about the game are not only annoying... but they also make the game seem like a joke.

You've got guys playing their hearts out... hustling down the line, chasing down balls in the outfield. It's like those guys realize that people are paying good money to watch them work hard. They realize that it's a privilege to be on the field in the first place and don't take it for granted.

And then there's Manny.

I've said it before... but one of these days [or years] Manny's offensive contribution will be outweighed by his mediocre defense and his lack of heart. On his way to becoming a player of little consequence, he'll go back to the AL and end up as a DH for awhile, I'm sure. [Which may happen sooner than later as he's hoping to go to the Yanks during the offseason. Apparently he wants to get back at the Red Sox or something. Good grief.]

He's a great hitter... one of the best of this generation. He'll make it to the Hall as his bat deserves to be there. But I wish the powers that be wouldn't tolerate so much stupidity and laziness from him. There's a higher standard for baseball players... and that he gets away with so much is an embarrassment.

Baseball is too good for Manny.