ESPN Still Upset About Non-Manny/Sox Series

It’s been about a week since the Phillies roared into the playoffs with a 4-1 series win, but ESPN can’t stop talking about (who else?) Manny Ramirez. A relevant chap to mention during this World Series contest he is not involved in! No, really. Check out Tim Kurkjian’s first paragraph to his World Series preview:

It’s not the Red Sox-Dodgers. There’s no story that has the sex appeal of Manny Ramirez returning to Boston. The matchup will be a ratings disaster, most say. But there’s no denying that the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies are the best teams from their leagues, and they belong in the World Series. It will be fun to see new, young faces in new places. Get your cowbells and white hankies ready. It’s going to be wild.

What a great, absolutely nonsensical opening. It’s not the matchup that everyone wants to see, and nobody will watch it, but the two best teams are meeting in the World Series this year. Also, I must have missed that “Most say World Series to be ratings disaster, worse than ‘McEnroe’” story in the paper this morning.

And, yes, apparently this series is going to be great because of “new, young faces” and “cowbells and white hankies.” Despite having who he writes are the best two teams in baseball, apparently.

Manny Being Philly?

Every year, Manny Ramirez says he’s tired of playing for the Boston Red Sox, and every year the hometown TV station of the Sox (ESPN) treats it as if the Holy Ghost were divorcing God and Jesus.

It took a while for things to get rolling this year, but now we’re in full Manny-leaving-the-Red Sox watch. This year, as usual, all the reporters say this is the year the Sox will finally trade Ramirez. SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports it’s down to the Phillies and the Marlins in the Man-Ram trade sweepstakes.

The Phillies have downplayed the possibility of acquiring Ramirez in media reports but haven’t ruled it out entirely. If outfielder Pat Burrell isn’t involved in the trade, one question would be whether Ramirez or Burrell could play right field for Philadelphia.

An early version of the story suggested the Phils could swap Burrell for Ramirez, straight-up, free agent-to-be for free agent-to-be. (Ramirez has two option years left on his contract, but Heyman writes he would likely want those to be dropped if he were to be traded.) Seems like a strange idea — and one that could backfire. A trade making the Phillies’ outfield the worst defensive OF in history but a lineup of Rollins-Utley-Howard-Ramirez-Burrell would be absolutely outofsight.

In closing: Ramirez won’t be traded (as usual).

Update: Ken Rosenthal with the hilarious trade:

The Phillies might take Ramirez, major-league sources say, but only if the deal were a “giveaway” — say, outfielder Geoff Jenkins and a fringe prospect. The Red Sox could not make such a deal without hurting their team unless they acquired a slugger such as the Pirates’ Jason Bay or Reds’ Adam Dunn in a separate trade.

He also writes the Mets have the best shot. Oh, goodie.

Marlins join Phillies atop Manny sweepstakes [SI.com]