The citywide change in attitude raises the question of what the former Red Sox slugger's legacy will be in Boston.
In June, when Manny was still with the Dodgers, his return stirred up emotions in every Red Sox fan. When he stepped in for his first at-bat, he was met with equal parts cheering and booing. Not everyone was happy to see the former No. 24 back, but at the very least, he still mattered.
Who would have thought that just two months later, the weather would be a bigger story than his next return?
That's the case this time, as No. 99 is set to play in his second game for the White Sox on Friday night (provided, of course, that Hurricane Earl doesn't disrupt those plans). Though he's still the same old Manny, he's definitely on the back nine of his career. More accurately, he's teeing off on the 16th.
He's certainly put together a Hall-of-Fame resume, but that little thing with the female fertility drug is sure to interfere with that a bit. In Boston, though, Manny at least never got caught with any drugs. He hit 274 homers, batted .312, drove in 868 runs and was named to the AL All-Star team all eight seasons. He also ticked off more than a few fans with his antics.
Given his tumultuous departure from the team in the summer of 2008, that behavior has come to define his legacy in Boston. Will it always be that way, or, somewhere down the road, will Ramirez be remembered more for his monster homers and imposing bat?
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Thursday, Sept. 2: Will a change of scenery be good for Manny Delcarmen?
