The Streak (2/3) and thoughts on Manny Ramirez

In today's blind guess soccer game, I'm picking two goals or fewer in the SC Heracles Almelo vs. Ajax Amsterdam contest. I did no research and have zero facts to back this pick up. In fact, I'm in the minority with this choice, as 15.7 percent of the picks are for two goals or fewer.

In the contests I think I know, but actually don't, I'm going with Ohio State at home over a Purdue team I can't, for the life of me, ever figure out. It probably has to do with the fact that they play in the Big 10. Well...the Big 11.

I also like UNC to win by more than Vasquez gets points and assists. Did anyone else see Maryland play Duke? Or Boston College? I'm pretty sure UNC's margin after 10 minutes might be higher than whatever Vasquez does.

I like the Calgary Flamers to defeat the Dallas Stars. Yeah, Calgary just lost at Colorado, but other than the Avs, the Flamers have been playing pretty well and should pick up a W.

Finally, in the late contest, I have SDSU and UNLV combining for fewer than 131 points. Both teams give up less than 64 per game and neither has an outstanding offense. UNLV- 70, SDSU- 58.


Now, onto the never-ending saga that is Manny Ramirez. With pitchers and catchers set to report in a couple weeks, Ramirez still finds himself unemployed, but not for a lack of offers, especially by his most recent ballclub, the LA Dodgers. In November, LA offered ManRam a 2-year, $45 million contract, which Manny turned down. Yesterday, Ramirez rejected a 1-year, $25 million contract to stay with the Dodgers.

Sure, Manny had a scorching hot end to the 2008 season, hitting roughly .850 with 71 homers and 233 RBI's in a few months, but really? He's turning down $25 mill to do what he loves? Having known this guy for the better part of the last decade, I figure one of the following is to blame:

1) He's holding out for $25.2 million over one year.
2) He wants to return to Boston.
3) He was too busy entertaining himself with a coloring book to have understood the offer presented to him.
4) He's waiting to see what the Dallas Cowboys offer him.
5) He's vetoing any deal which doesn't include his own personal knee specialist.
6) He doesn't want to face Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Jake Peavy, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain 20 times a year.
7) He wants to DH.


This guy is a nut job, plain and simple. He doesn't even know what he wants and that's a fact. The most likely scenario involves the Yankees trading Melky Cabrera and Phil Hughes to San Diego for Peavy, then nabbing Manny for 3 years and $80 million.

And it ends with Manny showing up to Fenway in a Sox jersey during his first trip with the Bronx Bombers because he forgot who he played for.