Is Manny a Good Fit With Sox?

Manny Ramirez has agreed to swing the bat for the White Sox--and they've agreed to let him.

The White Sox claimed Ramirez off waivers from his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on August 30th; the Sox will assume payment of the rest of Ramirez's salary this season, which stands at roughly $3.8 million. But as the dust now clears, some fans can be found paying closer attention to the White Sox's final 29 games than they did their first 133. Others are convinced that the 12-time All Star is too much trouble to be worth the slim chance that he might produce.

The way I see it, I can't see any reason this is a bad move for Chicago.

Nay-sayers will talk about his alleged steriod use, as he was found to be one of 104 players who tested positive for PEDs in a 2003 survey. They will also talk about his off the field issues, ranging from rumors of grotesque activities in hotel rooms to the overall way he treats others.

But no matter how he spends his freetime in a hotel room, it doesn't change the fact that on top of his 12 All Star appearances he also owns two World Series rings, for one of which he was also awarded the Most Valuable Player award. And if you'd like a cherry on top of your sundae, this nine-time Silver Slugger award and two-time Hank Aaron award winner can also claim leading the American League in RBIs, home runs and batting average, each of which was accomplished on a different year than the others.

But if you don't care for past statistics, as this 38 year old is well past his prime, then maybe you'd be willing to look at recent success. Ramirez has only appeared in 67 games this year (66 with LA, 1 with Chicago), but he stilled boasts a batting average of .312 with 8 homers and 40 driven in. His three trips to the disabled list this season has been the reason for playing less than half the Dodgers' schedule.

But injuries aside, when Manny is hot there is seemingly no stopping him. He is a natural born run producer who also ranks 14th on baseball's All Time Home Run List with 554 career long ones. Manny is the type of player than can help a team focus in on a goal, which for the White Sox lies in surpassing the surging Twins and ripping the AL Central title out from under them. He is a veteran leader that has proven himself in the game of baseball.

And unlike with his time in Los Angeles this year, Ramirez now wakes up everyday knowing that he is in the thick of a pennant race this season. But being four games out at the beginning of September is no easy hole to climb out of. Regardless of their chances, the mentality changes when racing for a pennant; the players can wake up everyday with a purpose to jog out onto that field.

Considering Manny just joined a new team, and his fourth in his career, we can rightfully expect him to be on his best behavior from here on out; he needs to get to know the players in the locker room before he can make them wish he wasn't there. But they seem excited to have him and hopefully he feels excited to be there. And with Manny playing not just for the playoffs but also for a contract for next season, with whoever that may be, expecting his best behavior shouldn't be considered a stretch.

But the best part of it all is that if the Sox become fed up with Manny and his antics, they can simply release him at the end of the year (which I fully expect them to do). But by paying almost four million dollars to a questionable piece of an offensive puzzle at the beginning of September, GM Kenny Williams is showing that he refuses to lay down and die. Being four games out isn't easy, but then again, crying about it isn't really an option.