Why Manny’s posing only helps

In the middle of the current maelstrom over Manny Ramirez’s posing, preening and sudden desire to sit down at fireside chats with the media is an interesting subplot: Is it possible that all the hubbub and distraction could actually help the Red Sox?

Keep striking poses Manny. It can’t hurt as long as you’re hitting.

We know, it seems very out of place, and the sheer possibility that a player saying it’s not a big deal if his team wins or loses actually helps his team seems ludicrous. We get it. But we’re still not willing to say that it’s all a bad thing.

In fact, we’re ready to say that it’s helping, as strange as that may seem.

Think about it this way: At the moment, Manny is the entire focus of Red Sox speculation. There’s no more talk about Kevin Youkilis’ botched foul pop catch or Tim Wakefield’s horribly unfortunate inability to spear a shot targeted for Dustin Pedroia, eventually costing the Sox outs and runs Tuesday night.

Instead of all the negative reaction to those moments and their striking lack of execution, all the attention is on ManRam, all the time. And if we’ve learned one thing over the years, it’s that no measure of attention can dissuade Manny from being Manny. Hell, Yankee legend Reggie Jackson was on the radio this morning saying that Manny called him last night asking about where to refurbish a classic car. Clearly Manny’s not dwelling on all the attention. The guy is going to hit, no matter what kind of typhoon is swirling around him.

Think about it: After talk two and three days about Josh Beckett’s back, how much hype has focused on that heading towards tonight’s game? That’s what we thought. And how much talk is about Pedroia’s snippy quotes to the media after Game 4? During the season those shots would have started a serious Fenway brushfire. Now? Small potatoes compared to Senor Talkative over at the other locker.

So let him keep talking. And maybe he’ll even get to keep talking while playing baseball for a while longer. At the moment, it can’t hurt. That’s for sure.

– Cameron Smith, AP Photo