Hi, I deleted and resending the last article - my cut and paste was
off with the first couple of paragraphs. :)

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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The consensus among his teammates is that Manny
Ramirez will do what he always does once he reports to camp -- hit --
and that's all anyone really seems to care about.

David Ortiz is one of Manny Ramirez's closest friends.

But Big Papi still doesn't really know what's on Ramirez's mind.

Yesterday, upon hearing that Manny Ramirez wouldn't be reporting to
training camp until March 1, Ortiz said he didn't know if Ramirez
would indeed show up on that date, nor did he have any idea whether
Ramirez would be reporting to Orlando, Fla., to join the rest of the
Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic.

He didn't seem to be holding anything against Ramirez, who technically
wouldn't be late should he enter the Sox' camp on March 1 because
that, according to the Basic Agreement, is the mandatory reporting date.

"He'll be here sometime," said Ortiz. "This is camp. If you tell me he
won't be here for the season, that's different. But this is camp. He
knows what he has to do to get ready."

That was the prevailing opinion in a sampling of Ramirez's more
veteran teammates on the Red Sox.

Despite the fact he reportedly has asked to be traded, Ramirez's
teammates didn't seem concerned, nor were they angry."

They didn't seem at all upset by the reality that, on the Red Sox,
different rules apply to different caliber ballplayers, in this case a
power hitter who batted .292 with 45 homers and 144 RBI last season,
and one who produced a .354 average with 12 homers and 27 RBI in his
final 22 games as Boston secured a spot in the playoffs for the third
straight season.

"We definitely understand Manny is not on the same page with the rest
of us. But it's like Pedro," said Bronson Arroyo, referring to Pedro
Martinez, the former ace pitcher who was accused of diva-like behavior
more than once.

"If you're going to win 15 games every year, no one's going to
(complain) about it. He was something like 107-30 (actually, 117-37)
for the Red Sox. If I had those numbers, I'd want a little (special
treatment) and you'd expect to get respect from guys.

"If Manny was around .250 with 19 homers, I'd expect him in camp on
time. But he deserves special treatment. He's earned the right to have
more freedom than anyone around here. It definitely is special
treatment, but it doesn't bother us. Manny's a hard worker. He's in
the gym every day in the offseason even if he doesn't like to let
people know that."

It's the bottom line that counts, added Curt Schilling.

"Manny will be here March 1. I don't care (about Ramirez reporting
after everyone else). He'll be here on March 1 ready to play. He'll be
there for April 3 (season opener in Texas) and he might hit two
homers. If he doesn't show up at all in spring training, I know on
April 3 he'll be here and he'll hit."

Trot Nixon echoed the theme.

"It's no big deal," said Nixon. "I think spring training should be
shorter. I know he'll be ready April 1 or whatever. That's all that
matters to me."

Clearly the Red Sox have learned to live with Manny Ramirez, putting
up with his quirks, which include those times when he doesn't hustle
or seem to care about what's going on around him.

It's called "Manny Being Manny." And his teammates aren't convinced he
really wants to leave Boston via a trade.

"I didn't hear Manny say he wanted to be traded," said Arroyo. "I know
he doesn't dislike playing in Boston as much as people think. Maybe
his wife has a different agenda."

"He's a strange guy," added Arroyo. "Outwardly, he's a happy-go-lucky
guy, but inside, he has all these conspiracy theories. I can see him
sitting down in his living room with the blinds drawn thinking the CIA
is after him."

Source: STEVEN KRASNER / Journal Sports Writer (projo.com)