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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2008 > August > 05 > Entry
I miss Manny Ramirez
What a crummy deal. The Boston Red Sox literally gave away the future Hall of Famer last week. The Los Angeles Dodgers were the lucky recipients. Their manager, the former Yankee skipper Joe Torre was left virtually speechless. Manny is the greatest hitter in baseball. I’m speechless too.
The novelist Elizabeth Berg had a great write-up in the Milwaukee newspaper. It provides a lovely snapshot of her life and work. To peruse it click here.
Last week I taped an interview with Ammon Shea. He read the entire Oxford English Dictionary then wrote a book about it. It’s called READING THE OED-One Man, One Year, and 21,730 Pages. Last week Shea’s book got a glowing review in the New York Times. To read the review click here.
Fans of Donald Ray Pollock’s short story collection KNOCKEMSTIFF will enjoy this article from today’s New York Times: click here.
Manny, Manny, Manny. I miss that guy so much! The last time I saw Manny was in October of last year when Boston was playing in Cleveland for the American League Championship. It was also the last game that Boston lost to Cleveland before charging ahead to win that title and then, sweeping the World Series. Manny crushed a home run that night. As he watched the flight of the ball out of one of his favorite ballparks all we could do was admire Manny admiring Manny.
Then there was the time a few years ago when I saw the Red Sox play the White Sox in Chicago. Manny was out in left field when a ball was hit his way. He completely misjudged it and the ball went sailing over his head for a double. When they re-played his buffoonery on the JumboTron he turned completely around to admire himself botching the play on the instant replay. He loved it.
We loved it too, Manny.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
Comments
By victor mickunas
August 30, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
“While the Dodgers’ offense continues to struggle, having been outscored 54-15 during their current skid, Manny Ramirez has remained hot. The left fielder went 4-for-4 on Friday and is batting .400 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 27 games since being acquired from Boston at last month’s trade deadline.”(CBS SPORTSLINE)By victor mickunas
August 19, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
“Los Angeles didn’t have Manny Ramirez in the lineup for that set. However, the hot-hitting outfielder, who homered and drove in three runs on Sunday, has batted .424 (25-for-59) with six homers and 21 RBIs in 16 contests since he was acquired from Boston at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.” (CBS Sportsline)By victor mickunas
August 11, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
“In nine games since being acquired in a trade from Boston on July 31, Ramirez is hitting .459 with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI but the Dodgers are only 4-5 since he arrived.” (CBS SportsLine)By victor mickunas
August 7, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
Ramirez, booed throughout the series before each at-bat by fans who apparently remember his 2004 World Series MVP turn in Boston’s sweep of the Cardinals, is 13-for-23 with nine RBI since joining the Dodgers. His 514th career homer was a two-run shot in the third off a first-pitch fastball from Lohse, putting the Dodgers ahead 3-0. “I’m just learning the league,” Ramirez said. “I like it here.”(CBS Sportsline)By victor mickunas
August 7, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this
“Analysis: Ramirez is batting .600 (12-for-20) with three homers and six RBI in five games since joining the Dodgers. Looks like he’s happy to be in La-La Land.”(CBS Sportsline) Jason who? He came from the Pirates and he is no Manny Ramirez…By Fan in YS
August 6, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Thank you for the link to the article on Elizabeth Berg. I met her when we attended the same writing workshop in Boston in 1989. Though she hadn’t yet found her genre—as the article points out she was writing non-fiction and short stories—it was clear even then that her talent was not only beyond ordinary, but breathtaking. It’s been heartening to see that talent bear fruit, and be rewarded, in the years since, especially given that so many wonderful writers—despite their gifts—for various reasons are never able to “make it.”By Blowfly
August 6, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
They guy they got from the Brewers has been putting up Manny like numbers and he’s a lot younger. Plus, I always thought Manny was kind of a lousy fielder. I think the Sox did ok in this one. Manny can be Manny somewhere else for a while.By victor mickunas
August 6, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Good one, Page Turner.By Page Turner
August 6, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
The guy who operates the manual scoreboard inside The Wall at Fenway is gonna be lonely now.