I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I'm missing Manny. I'm
glad to see shots of him from the dugout. I think we have about 15
to go. We better keep our lead. Any comments?

Bye-for-now,

Lynne

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BOSTON -- Manny Ramirez has the rare distinction among the 2007
finalists for the Hank Aaron Award, presented by Sharp, of being more
notable for what he hasn't accomplished this season than for what he has.

The unrivaled energy of Red Sox Nation, along with a scheduling quirk
-- fan voting ran through Sept. 14, but began before Ramirez injured
his oblique in late August -- might have had a hand in recognizing
Ramirez, whose .880 on-base plus slugging percentage is his worst in a
full season, as one of the top five American League offensive performers.

But even when Manny's not being Manny, he's better than all but a
handful of Major League players. Only 11 American Leaguers have topped
Ramirez's OPS in his so-called down year, a season that is more
notable for Ramirez's passing of several all-time greats in career
home runs and RBIs. As the Red Sox handle Ramirez's injury carefully,
meanwhile, opposing managers aren't exactly disappointed.

"Well, I like Manny, I've had him on a number of All-Star teams," said
Yankees manager Joe Torre on Sept. 14. "But I'm not going to miss him
in the lineup, let's put it that way. He certainly plays so well in
that lineup."

No, this isn't Manny Ramirez's best year. But it speaks to a
hit-making career that the Sox's Aaron Award nominee has received the
benefit of the doubt.

The AL finalists are Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees, Magglio Ordonez of
the Tigers, Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners, Vladimir Guerrero of the
Angels and Ramirez. In the National League, the finalists are Jose
Reyes of the Mets, Prince Fielder of the Brewers, Albert Pujols of the
Cardinals, Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Reds and Chipper Jones of the Braves.

Since 1999, Major League Baseball has recognized the best offensive
performer from each league with the Hank Aaron Award, presented by
Sharp. Past recipients include Barry Bonds (three times), Rodriguez
(three times), David Ortiz, Andruw Jones, Pujols, Todd Helton, Sammy
Sosa, Carlos Delgado and Ramirez.

Last year's winners, selected during balloting during the regular
season's final month on MLB.com, were New York's Derek Jeter and
Philadelphia's Ryan Howard.

Final fan voting will take place from Sept. 18-30. Before Game 4 of
the 2007 World Series, Aaron and Commissioner Bud Selig will present
the awards to the winners.

Ramirez is no stranger to the honor. A win this year would give him
three Aaron Awards, tying Bonds and Rodriguez. His climb this year up
the all-time records in RBIs has been a daily march past luminaries
young and old -- Rogers Hornsby on July 29, George Brett on Aug. 15 --
and Ramirez has thrice posted a season OPS better than Aaron's own
career high of 1.079 in 1971.

After a slow start, Manny became Manny during the last week of July.
On the final Thursday of that month in Cleveland, Ramirez blasted a
pair of titanic homers, the first traveling 481 feet, farther than all
but two homers in the history of Jacobs Field.

He batted .393 with four doubles, three homers, and 10 RBIs during
that week, taking home American League Player of the Week honors for
the 15th time, more than any active player.

"He's incredible. He's one of the greatest, pretty much of all time,"
said Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp. "And he's still in the game
and still fairly young. You come to expect those things from him."

With his return imminent, Ramirez can soon go back to fulfilling those
expectations.

Source: Alex McPhillips / MLB.com