What Would Peter Abraham Have Us Do?; Random Thoughts (September 3, 2010)

Manny Ramirez reurns to Fenway Park as a visitor for the second time this season following his acquisition by the Chicago White Sox from the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week. Hurricane Earl will probably make this a moot point for the Red Sox fans in attendance tonight but what kind of reception are they expected to give to their former left fielder who played such a critical role in delivering World Series titles to Boston in 2004 and 2007? This is the kind of information that casual fans like myself can't decide on our own. There is just too much conflicting information to come up with an answer. For all the great memories we have of Manny leading the Red Sox to big wins there is also the negative side that will be summarized here as just "Manny Being Manny" that led to his messy divorce with the Sox in July 2008. Where are the experts to help us to sort out our feelings? Cheer? Boo? It's just to hard to make a decision. Oh, Peter Abraham, where are you now when we need you most? I remember you offering the ignorant masses of Red Sox Nation similar advice when Johnny Damon came to Boston this summer but with the bad feelings over Manny's exit much fresher in our minds, why can't you offer your sage advice? Please, help us... Blind optimism and baseless predictions are two of my specialities to take what you want from the following statement. Laurence Maroney, despite a limited preseason role and a disappointing first four years in his career, will surpass 1,000 yards for the Patriots this season and will play an important role in an offense that will be expected to put up a lot of points to cover for a defense that has glaring holes... One week from today I will be getting ready to board a plane from Boston for Chicago. After spending a night in the Windy City (with a possible stop in the bleachers at Comiskey to cheer for Manny Ramirez), I will be taking a party bus to South Bend, Indiana for the Michigan-Notre Dame game. I do not claim to be a huge fan of the Wolverines or Fighting Irish but a visit to the home of Touchdown Jesus rates with my January 2009 trip to Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium and going to the 2010 Final Four in Indianapolis. Stay tuned for details... Enjoy Manny this weekend...