It was just a few weeks ago that Manny Ramirez shoved Jack McCormick to the ground, causing a small amount of outrage across Red Sox Nation.  I semi-defended Manny, writing this:

"Somehow, one minor misstep has turned him into a villain nearly overnight.  Personally, I hope Manny stays in my life forever.  Yeah, his personality is a puzzle wrapped in an enigma pasted on a rubik's cube (and after the Youk and McCormick incidents we can add a violent-streak to his list of quirks),  but the man is 100% entertainment.  Our lives, and yes, I'm speaking for all of us, are truly better because Manny is a part of them.  For better or worse, the man makes us laugh, smile, cringe, dust ourselves off after he shoves us to the ground because we couldn't get him 16 tickets to that day's game, but mostly, he makes us celebrate championships.  And I can't imagine a Boston fan (particularly a Red Sox fan) who'd ever kick a guy outta town for that."

Well, screw that.  Let's get this guy outta town.  Quickly.

I don't mind it when, instead of catching a fly-ball, he lays down on the ground and rolls around.  I'm OK with a slowly declining stat line.  Hell, I can even handle some violent flare-ups. What I can't stand is a player quitting on his team.

From Dan Shaughnessy of the Globe:

It was extraordinary. In the past, management and the manager would do handstands to excuse Manny's strange acts. No more. This time, the manager - apparently confident there's nothing wrong with the slugger - put Manny's name in the lineup, then sat and waited for Manny to pull himself out of the lineup. Manny complied. Never concerned with wins or losses, Manny told Brad Mills he was unable to play and took himself out of the batting order for the (thus far) biggest game of the season.

It was predictable. It was ridiculous. It was the last straw.

The theory is that Manny is upset about his contract situation.  That the Red Sox hold all the power with their $20 million team options over the next two years.  That Manny wants a 4 year guaranteed extension from Boston, or he wants out of town.  Much like an 8 year-old not getting their way, the only thing Manny knows to do is to throw a temper-tantrum.  Keep his bat on his shoulder while Mariano drills pitches down the middle.  Hold himself out of the lineup with phantom injuries.  Bad-mouth the owners in the press.  Make a mockery of himself, and one of the classiest franchises in all of sports.

From a CNNSI.com article stating that not even the Mets, and World Class Manny-Lover Omar Minaya, are willing to go after Ramirez:

"Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told Tim McCarver on FOX's broadcast of the Yankees-Red Sox game that he would try to trade Ramirez if Ramirez would waive his no-trade clause. As a 10-and-5 player, Ramirez has veto power over trades."

I say Do It!  Get Matt Holiday, if you can.  If not, I'd settle for a copy of "The Holiday" DVD, the romantic comedy staring Kate Winslet and Jack Black.  Anything to get this guy out of town.

We'll revisit Shaughnessy's article for the final quote:

Former state treasurer Bob Crane happened by the EMC Club, pregame, and spoke for many fans when he said, "Manny's got to go. Enough's enough. Fans are finally sick of this guy."