There were all manner of reactions to the Athletics signing Manny Ramirez yesterday, but the one that stood out to me the most was the reaction -- across multiple tweets -- from Scott Miller of CBS Sports.com.
Miller is not at all pleased with the fact that Ramirez has a job now. And he has already decided how he’s going to cover the story:Sharpening knives now: Cannot wait to rip Manny, #Athletics & everything in path when Manny arrives in Valley of the Sun. Reprehensible.
— Scott Miller (@ScottMCBS) February 20, 2012
Um, OK. I guess it’d be silly to actually go to Phoenix, see how Ramirez is doing with the A’s, how he’s getting on with the players and coaching staff, what he has to say about his past transgressions and future prospects and then write about that. Much more prudent to sharpen knives and be determined to rip everyone now. Saves time, you know.
Miller went on to say that we live in a “twisted world” because Ramirez has a job now while Johnny Damon doesn’t. When it was pointed out to him that Damon likely would have a job now too if he’d accept $500K to play, Miller said that “economics are a large part of the twisted world we live in.” He went on to call the signing “reprehensible” again in a later tweet.
When it was suggested that he was being unfair in judging the story beforehand, Miller said this:@MosheRAB I gave Manny benefit of doubt last year in Tampa Bay. Then he pulled that stunt. I was one of Manny’s last defenders. Liked him
— Scott Miller (@ScottMCBS) February 20, 2012
So there it is: a national sportswriter’s coverage of a minor signing by a non-contender is going to be influenced by that writer’s scorned feelings. He gave Ramirez a chance, you see, and his generosity was not rewarded. So it’s time for “sharpening the knives” and “ripping” him and the organization which signed him.
Seems reasonable to me. Oy.