According to an interview with USA Today, former Indians slugger Manny Ramirez has stated that he’d like to play for Cleveland one more time before he finishes playing.
“I would like to play for Cleveland one more time, to go back there I started,” said Ramirez. “I have so many good memories there, why not? I think to go back where you started is everyone’s dream.” He went on to add “I love L.A. I really do. But the way the city responded to me, it reminded me a lot of how it was in Cleveland.”
Well Manny, if that’s how you feel about it, maybe you should have accepted the Indians’ offer. You had your chance to remain an Indian and you let your agent talk you into taking less deffered money.
No doubt Indians owner Paul Dolan and GM Mark Shapiro did not want to see something like this stated publically by Ramirez. For the last two years, Indians fans have been essentially begging the team to bring back the proven slugger. Instead, fans have been given every excuse why he can’t or shouldn’t be brought back. No doubt, with this definite interest by Manny to return, sports talk radio shows and internet message boards will be beating this topic like a dead horse once again. And once again, Mark Shapiro will make us dizzy with the spin he’ll put on the situation to try to explain why it won’t be done. Don’t hold your breath Indians fans.
In other news, the Indians will be recalling left-handed starter Aaron Laffey to take the place of Scott Lewis, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with a mild forearm strain. Laffey will be starting Wednesday’s game against the Royals at 2:10pm EST.
Lewis, Laffey and Jeremy Sowers all battled for a spot in the rotation this spring with Lewis eventually winning the spot. Laffey hasn’t been particularly great this spring and here in the early going of the minor league season, but manager Eric Wedge felt like Laffey was the best choice to replace Lewis. Let’s hope he’s right since the pitching needs all the help it can get.
