Manny Ramirez is a Cheap Ass
Posted by: Richie Rich in Attenion Whores, Baseball Business, Dodgers, Drugs, Minor Leagues, Steroids, WTFIt’s a long standing tradition for a rehabbing Major League player to pick up the postgame spread for the Minor League club hosting him.
From Minor League Dugout …
One of baseball’s unwritten rules, along with not talking to a pitcher throwing a no-hitter, requires major league players on rehabilitation assignments to furnish a post-game meal for their often under-funded minor league teammates. [snip]
Tradition holds that the big leaguer will approach the clubhouse manager about picking up something for post game on their last day with the minor league club.
MILB.com reported on this back in May in a piece about Rehab stints.
And the team’s players have the chance to suit up alongside an established star, who following established protocol, nearly always pays for a primo postgame food spread.
And why not? The usual Minor League spread is akin to pasta, cold cuts, or peanut butter and jelly and typically costs the players $3-10. MLB players get paid their normal salary even while they’re (usually briefly) in the minors. Add to that the fact that they’re taking away playing time from a guy trying his heart out to make the bigs and the gesture is a small one that goes a long way.
Angels’ catching prospect Chris Rosenbaum blogged that minor league players look forward to them …
A tangible perk for the players of these assignments is that a post-game spread is usually purchased for us by the Major Leaguers.
“Nearly Always?” ”Usually?”
What Major Leaguer would stiff their rehab teammates on such a tradition? The name should not surprise you.
Manny Ramirez.
According to the Modesto Bee, Manny stiffed both his Minor League teammates at Albuquerque and Inland Empire of their traditional post-game meal during his little warmup stint before he returned to the Dodgers from his 50-game suspension for taking a banned substance.
Never heard of this tradition before? Here’s some examples from the past couple years…
- In 2007, D-Backs pitcher Randy Johnson bought the Visalia Oaks a $3,000 dinner from a “national chain steakhouse.”
- Roger Clemens refurbished the Lexington Legends clubhouse with “four new black leather couches, two love seats, a 42-inch plasma television, a 20-inch television, a microwave, DVD and a VCR.” In 2007 Clemens bought the Tampa Yankees a post-game spread from Outback Steakhouse.
- Kei Igawa and Hideki Matsui bought the Tampa Yankees a spread from Lee Roy Selman’s. It’s a barbeque joint. Yum.
- Rick Ankiel bought a ping-pong table for a minor league clubhouse.
- Jose Valentin treated the St. Lucie Mets to Outback.
- Heck, fifteen years ago, Michael Jordan provided the Birmingham Barons with a tricked out bus.
And the big names aren’t the only ones who do it …
- Last season, Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson bought dinner for the Jupiter Marlins. The year before that he bought a flat screen TV for the Class-AA Carolina Mudcats.
- In May, the Colorado Rockies’ Ryan Spier and Jeff Baker (now withthe Cubs) each bought a postgame meal for the Modesto Nuts.
- In June, SF Giants’ rookie reliver Joe Martinez (the one who was hit in the head by a Mike Cameron line drive in April) bought the spread for the San Jose Giants.
But Manny couldn’t do that.
Perhaps someone forgot to tell Manny about the tradition. Then again, Manny spent three seasons in Cleveland’s farm system and had Minor League rehab assignments in 2000 and 2002. He would have known about that.
Of course, during his stint in the Minor Leagues, Manny was still officially under suspension and wasn’t being paid a dime (which raises a whole new question of why MLB players under suspension are allowed to play in the minors) … but that’s no excuse.
Manny will be paid nearly $16.5 Million this season even after pulling out the cash ($7.4 million) he lost as a result of his suspension.
Maybe Manny’s just a big prima donna cheap ass. He apparently tips about 10%. Here’s another example when Manny made a producer from “Jimmy Kimmel Live” pick up a $860 tab after a night of drinking with David Ortiz and Johnny Damon.
Manny being Manny, I guess. Now hit some homers so ESPN can blow their wad and we’ll go back to ignoring what a self-centered douchebag you are.
Funny thing about that MILB.com article about Major Leaguers doing rehabs in the Minors … Manny Ramirez’ picture is prominently featured.
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July 6th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Why publish the invectives of “Richie Rich?”
He really knows nothing about Manny Ramirez.
Ramirez can tip or not tip, that is his choice and it has nothing to do with baseball. Our politicians and law makers these days get less scrutiny than a baseball player.
Get real. Look at what Manny has done on the baseball field both in hitting and in fielding. Look at his stats, his records, his post season records making MLB history, and his consistency over the years.
For the most part he is a humble player and wishes nothing to do with the press or media. That wish should be honored, if he is shy or otherwise uncomfortable unlike most of the other big mouths in the league . . .
He is a baseball player and perhaps the best to ever play the game. You did not elect him for President, and the last I heard, he was not in the Presidential race!
Sit back and enjoy the ball game. It is (despite the outrageous prices for seats, food or a beverage) still only a game!!!
Go Manny and don’t pay attention to all the naysayers, etc. Do your thing Manny.
From, your loyal fan since the day you signed in the majors.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:04 am
[...] on their last day before going back up to the bigs. Uh, yeah. . . Not so much for Manny Ramirez. Home Run Derby quotes a report in the Modesto Bee that says “Manny stiffed both his Minor League teammates at [...]
July 7th, 2009 at 9:05 am
@KeepTrying: Best to ever play the game? Um, no. There’s no chance he was better than Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron just to name a few. And I’ve seen what Manny has done on the field. It probably made the Red Sox wish that David Ortiz could play more first base. It’s funny how a guy like Joe Martinez who has been making the major league minimum for about three months can pay for the spread, but a guy like Manny who has made like $200 million in his career can’t. It shows a lack of class. But if you can root for a guy that has no class and intentionally tanked it to get out of a contract, then more power to you.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
[...] steak dinner thanks to Home Run Derby [...]