MANNY RETURNS TO THE ML!!

Bluezoo · Feb 22, 2012

BlueMouse said: ↑

Even though this thread has mixed reactions, I like it. I like it because it brings back memories of Manny...

For me: I went to Manny's first game back after his 50-game-suspension. It was in San Diego and I wasn't sure how to react. Once his name was announced the stadium boomed with infectious cheer and I couldn't help but go nuts. The few Padre fans who attended the game, who once held up signs mocking Manny's suspension, soon faded away. I swear they were all gone by the 2nd inning and Mannymania was in full effect. He walked in his first AB, and didn't do anything after that if I recall, but every at bat was mayhem and a guilty-pleasure joy like no other.

The reality is Manny came along when we needed him most (and I like to think he needed us too). A 20-year drought with nothing made us desperate for some joy - and that's 90% of what made Manny a legend. The steroid thing? I'm starting to put it in perspective. The Gagne news. The Bonds news. Those were when steroids was new and sinister. Was it bad? Absolutely. But the reality is it was rampant beyond anyone's imagination. I've come to terms that MLB is 99% responsible, and the players, while horrific, are slightly less to blame. Even Barroids gets a semi-pass in my mind (although I still hate him more than you can imagine for the color of his jersey). Manny (to my knowledge) was the first in MLB to get busted - sucky for us, but a big moment and step forward for MLB. A good thing.

Still, I can't help but feel like we were due a moment to cheer. 20 years of steroids and what do we have to show for it? A stupid save record and a douche who wanted to make his mom proud. We didn't get to cheer while our players duked it out for the homerun title like Chicago, St Louis, and San Francisco. We didn't get to witness the most dominant regular season in history like Seattle. We didn't have the Bash-Brothers like Oakland. Nor did we have the automatic post-season births of New York and Atlanta. Never before seen sluggers that showed up in Cleveland, Baltimore, Texas, and Boston weren't ours to enjoy. Underdog World Series runs enjoyed by Anaheim, Arizona, and Florida weren't for us either. MVP awards weren't given to us like Colorado and San Diego. I say we were due a moment. Fuck the steroid era because it didn't just blow for MLB, but it blew for Dodger fans extra hard... and still, I can't help but wonder if the steroid era began in LF at Dodger stadium bacck in 1988...

The whole damn thing is tainted, so I'll be damned if I'm going to second-guess my joy over the arbitrariness of "getting caught". Mannymania was a joy beyond anything. I hope steroids gets under control and out of our sport, I really do. I think it was/is terrible. But... in my best Guy Pearce impression, "Will I lie to myself to be happy? Yes I will."

Manny, usted es una leyenda. Muchas gracias por los recuerdos.

And FUCK Bill Welke!
Click to expand...

Nice post Mouse.
The pen is mightier than the sword.

PartyBoy13 · Feb 23, 2012

Unfortunately he will be a DH so we wont be able to see replays of him in left diving to cut of a Johnny Damon throw from 20 feet away or high fiving a fan in the middle of a double play.

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MANNY RETURNS TO THE ML!!

Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

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MANNY RETURNS TO THE ML!!

Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

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