Hub Bids Manny Adieu

Four years ago today, the Red Sox traded Nomar Garciaparra and Matt Murton to the Chicago Cubs in a three-team trade that broughtOrlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz to Boston. Three months later, the Sox were drinking champagne in St. Louis. Will it turn out so perfect in 2008? Only time will tell. Manny Ramirez, first ballot Hall of Fame sometime in the near future, is no longer the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team deal that brought Jason Bay to Boston. Here's hoping that Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss, sent to Pittsburgh in this deal, will become the Matt Murton of the 2008 Red Sox. Similar to the Nomar trade of 2004, I have mixed feelings about this trade. Manny has been one of my favorite Boston athletes in his 7 1/2 seasons as a member of the Red Sox. Yes, he had many moments which made us all question his maturity but at the end of the day, Manny did what Dan Duquette brought him here to do. He hit. And, by the way, the Red Sox became winners. Manny hit 274 home runs with the Sox and drove in 868 runs. He was seleted to the All-Star team all eight times he was eligible while with the Sox. He was a postseason stud who was named the 2004 World Series MVP. As much as I loved watching Manny play for the Sox, he had his warts. He was not above sitting out when he thought he wasn't getting his way. He didn't always play hard. He shoved a 66-year-old team employee to the ground. Still, all things considered, we will all miss Manny. I don't blame the team for trading Manny, there really seemed like there was no other option after the events of the past month. But he will not be easily replaced. Jason Bay has some huge shoes to fill. He has been a nice player on some bad Pirate teams. He was the 2004 N.L. Rookie of the Year and has been selected to three All-Star teams but there are legitimate questions about whether or not he can thrive under the pressure of playing baseball games that have meaning. The issue going forward for the 2008 Red Sox will be can they hit well enough to make it back to the postseason and possibly win the World Series. There are still some great bats in this lineup but now that Manny is no longer in the middle, will the offense still be championship caliber? If I had to make the Red Sox lineup card out tomorrow night, it would look like this: 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 3. David Ortiz, DH 4. Mike Lowell, 3B 5. J.D. Drew, RF 6. Jason Bay, LF 7. Kevin Youkilis, 1B 8. Jason Varitek, C 9. Jed Lowrie, SS The Sox have to gamble that Ellsbury can shake off his slump and be the dynamic leadoff man we saw last October and this spring. The Sox can't waste Youkilis at the top of the order, they need to produce runs at the bottom of the lineup now that Manny is gone and Bay needs some protection. Big Papi has to evolve from superstar and postseason hero into a Hall of Fame player. Lowell and Drew need to step up their production. Well Manny, goodbye. The last month has been rough but I, like many Red Sox fans, will miss you and remember the good more than the bad.