Manny being Manny

Hey sports fans, welcome to 2009. Jax here, in the garage as usual ...

It's old news that the Giants signed the Big Unit Randy Johnson, for a cool $8 million for one year. The pitching rotation is sewn up, and it frees the Giants to deal Jonathan Sanchez. Nice.

Now I read Giants GM Brian Sabean is pursuing Manny Ramirez, and now I would like to parrot everything that Ann Killion says in her Jan. 4 column in the Mercury News. Photo credit: AP.

Sure he would be expensive and a big clubhouse presence (sound familiar?) but what a bat. Yeah, he's not a team player and left Boston on the worst possible terms, limping like a listless imbecile because he didn't feel like playing, but what a bat. Yeah, he has held up a game during a pitching change in Boston because he was taking a leak in the Green Monster scoreboard, but what a bat. Yeah, he doesn't exactly fit in the Giants youth movement, but what a ... did I mention he strikes fear in every pitcher in the majors?

Plus you're taking tons of hits from the Dodgers. Plus the Giants outfield isn't the greatest anyway (Rowand, Winn, and a back-from-bunion-foot-surgery Freddy Lewis)? The Giants were the only team in major league baseball to hit fewer than 100 home runs last season.

I say sign Manny if you can and get this train rollin'. (Note to Giants ownership: He also puts butts in seats at AT&T Park, like you didn't know that). I'm ready for the drama. Bring it.

Adios,

Jax