I've been holding my breath all weekend hoping Manny would show up
tomorrow. Now I can relax awhile. He'll be there only a day I think
though. The World Baseball Classic starts a day or two later. Oh well,
as long as he keeps playing for Boston. I want to wear my Manny jersey
when they come to California in August! Go Red Sox!

Any fantasy baseball players in the house? I was lucky to get Manny
again this year. He was my first choice in the live draft.

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FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Manny Ramirez was given permission by the
Boston Red Sox to report to spring training on March 1, six days after
the team's first full-squad workout and one day after Major League
Baseball's mandatory reporting date.

Ramirez asked the team through his agent to trade him during the
offseason, but the Red Sox were unable to find a deal to their liking.

"Manny is in Florida completing an extensive training regimen and is
prepared to have an exceptional season," said a joint statement from
Ramirez and the team that was released by the Red Sox on Tuesday.

"There are a lot of factors involved, some of them are personal, some
are family related," general manager Theo Epstein said. "He assured us
that by staying in Miami and continuing to work with his personal
trainer, continuing his regimen, that he wouldn't be behind. In the
end, after talking to him, we were OK with accommodating him. It's not
perfect, but we're going to support him through this."

Position players are due in town on Wednesday, the day before the
first workout. Baseball's collective bargaining agreement sets the
mandatory reporting date as 33 days prior to the major league opener,
which is April 2.

Pitcher Curt Schilling said he wasn't concerned about the delay
granted to Ramirez.

"It happens all the time, guys all over the big leagues show up at
different times," he said. "He'll be ready to play. Manny's one of
those guys who if he didn't show up for spring training I'd still know
he'd be ready for the season when the season started."

Boston starts its exhibition schedule on March 2 against Minnesota.
Ramirez might not be in Fort Myers long -- he is on the Dominican
Republic's preliminary roster for the World Baseball Classic, which
runs from March 3-20.

Ramirez batted .292 with 45 homers and 144 RBIs last year. He said
during the season he didn't want to stay with the Red Sox, a statement
he's made in many of his five years with the club.

David Ortiz, also scheduled to play for the Dominican Republic, said
Tuesday he had "no idea" whether Ramirez still would play in the WBC,
but he's not concerned about Ramirez missing camp.

"You tell me that he's not gonna be here for the season, I understand,
but this is camp. He knows what he's gotta do to be ready," Ortiz said.

On Sunday, Ortiz said Ramirez "seems happy."

"I read in the news that he wants to stay in Boston," Ortiz said.
"Something like that, right? That's good. Sounds good to me. Having my
man around once again. Hopefully, things never change."

Source: HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer