Bill Simmons

Look. I know no one reads this. But if they do, I have a confession.

I'd never heard of FireJoeMorgan.com until about two weeks ago.

I have since read just about every single post.

On that note, Bill Simmons gets on my nerves a bit. He's very "poppy". He seldom writes anything of real substance. He often makes outlandish claims. He's that guy at the bar who won't shut the fuck up about the fucking Patriots and how great they are and how the whole NFL screwed them for spygate and on and fucking on.

Oh. And this is Bill at his best (worst, obnoxious, etc):

Conrad (Phila.): Sorry about the Dooze. As someone who watched his dog get run over by a car, losing a dog before they're supposed to is tough. Now that that's out of the way, you're an idiot -- Manny Ramirez is perfectly rated. He's just a nut case. That's why nobody wants him; nobody doesn't say he isn't like one of the top 10 hitters in baseball EVER . . .

Bill Simmons: But he's not! He is NOT properly rated! Here is a guy who got on base 24 of 36 times in the 2008 postseason and the fans of teams like Anaheim and Texas and San Fran aren't clamoring for their GM's to sign him. It's crazy to me. Everyone seems to think he is a cancer of the highest order... why? Because that's what the Red Sox front office told their media minions. We have NEVER HEARD MANNY'S SIDE EVER. We are hearing one side of the story. It's a smear campaign. How could anyone NOT think this guy would produce for 3 years if you gave him $75 million... in a league that's given AJ Burnett and Barry Zito huge money? I am just flabbergasted by this whole thing. His teams have won everywhere he's gone. Without fail.


Sooo....Manny clearly quit on his team, beat up an old attendant, signed with the most money grubbing agent ever, forced a trade, got his options removed on a contract that he signed, refused to re-sign (so far) with the team that gave up prospects for him after he screwed the sox, and is currently sitting at home, waiting for phone calls from his agent. Who likes money (not a bad thing) more than anything else.

I didn't get the press release from the Red Sox front office. But generally, they do a good job in my opinion. Two WS titles in three years will do that. They didn't outspend the Yanks (they did spend a lot) and they tend to keep the prospects they like. They don't cave in to public pressure (Manny, Varitek) and they make the moves they think are best for the club at the time regardless of media backlash.

Not to mention that Manny really doesn't have a story to tell. I like Manny. I love his stupid hair and his goofy grin and his stupid bathroom breaks in monster. I love it!! He makes baseball so much better to watch. I never know what he's going to do. But he really doesn't have a case in his divorce from the Red Sox. He wanted out, they didn't want to let him go. He did what he had to do to get his way. He acted like a dick. The end.

In fairness, he has a bit of a point about Zito. Burnett? Eh. We'll see. Personally (I know no one else gives a shit) I think he probably got overpaid for a not-that-great season (OPS against .707? Doesn't strike me as shutdown). But still. Manny gets respect. And he acted like a dick.