Manny Ramirez: Red Sox tales, Coaching aspirations, LA love

00:00:04
Speaker 1: Hey, we've got the twelve time All Star, two time World Series champ, including a World Series MVP, nine time Silver slugger, almost two decades in the sport. Manny Ramirez joining us right now on FT many Great to see you.

00:00:15
Speaker 2: How's life, how you been?

00:00:17
Speaker 3: Everything is good? L A baby all the way? Mine's back.

00:00:23
Speaker 2: Hey. We all know that your favorite team was the White Sox you ever played for? Okay, so let's let's change that. Let's off and put a White Sox out on.

00:00:35
Speaker 3: Had a great time with you guys over there.

00:00:38
Speaker 2: It was fun. We had a We were very good, but we had a good time. I'll tell you.

00:00:41
Speaker 3: That, especially in that CD. That CD is a nice baby.

00:00:47
Speaker 1: Not not Yeah, exactly exactly, Manny. What about Boston? You watching and rooting for Boston in the playoffs.

00:00:57
Speaker 3: I'm gonna lead it about Boston, but I don't know. I'm taking La all the way?

00:01:05
Speaker 2: Okay? Is that because of Manny Wood? Or is that because you just like the Dodgers? I mean, is La can get you in trouble now too?

00:01:12
Speaker 3: I'm out, tiny fine baby?

00:01:17
Speaker 2: Oh okay?

00:01:18
Speaker 1: Is he the best player ever?

00:01:22
Speaker 3: I saw a two wait, I saw a two way player. Yes, but now it's a hitter. I think Barry Ball is the best I ever seen.

00:01:30
Speaker 2: Okay, well then I want to ask you this the best right handed hit her you ever saw?

00:01:36
Speaker 3: For my prepason, I like Blothee.

00:01:40
Speaker 2: Really over pol over yourself.

00:01:44
Speaker 3: I like pool Hoosball. I used to love Blithie because I don't know how he did it. He's over was ready for anything, you know, like I gotta play the cons, you know, to hit bo Blotheie. What was something special?

00:01:57
Speaker 2: By the way, so I'll say this when I when I was playing and I was catching his right handed hitters, there was only one because I was in the American League and we didn't do it as Manny. It was Manny because you were the one guy. I was like a crab. Manny's almost stuff. How the hell we're gonna get him out? From the time he was time. Yeah, but that's because I was talking to you, so you would say crazy stuff I would say, and you weren't expecting it. That was the difference. But there was the one guy you. I was like, oh crap, here comes Manny. How it because I knew in my mind you were trying to set me up. And I know you set guys up. You would take bad swings and you'd be like, oh, you'd walk around, Oh I can't hit that pitch. Oh my right center. Man, you were the best. I tell people all the time. You were the best I ever saw a setting dudes up and I fell for him many a time. So for me, the best right handed hitter I played against numerous times, I didn't get pools as much was you, Manny Ramirez.

00:02:53
Speaker 3: Thank you, sir, Thank you sir.

00:02:56
Speaker 2: And by the way, I just tried to hit like a little bit because there's one thing that you and I tell people this the way you load it up. So you were like I can't really see it, but you were like this with your hands and you load it up right. You were It was almost like you're going on your toes. You were like whoa. And I tried to tell people like that's the way you should do it, but everyone's like, no, you gotta load and get Like I'm like, no, watch many Ramirez. He was like almost like it was like almost going on your toes and then you just whack.

00:03:24
Speaker 3: He's like Mike Trout, he make it simple.

00:03:28
Speaker 4: Can you teach that?

00:03:29
Speaker 3: Yeah?

00:03:30
Speaker 4: Can you teach that? Why aren't you a hitting coach because I talked to different guys, young guys with with the Dodgers when you were when you were coming up del and young Laroche. Who else did they have there, Russell Martin, like all those guys, they said you were you were probably the best hitting coach that they had on the team. Can you teach that?

00:03:50
Speaker 2: Maybe I could teach it.

00:03:52
Speaker 3: I could teach it. I can teach it. I just need I just need the opportunity. Hey, coman do it? Come on, do it yo, way.

00:04:03
Speaker 1: Manny, how close have you been to getting a position like that? Have you had conversations with teams and what have they told you back?

00:04:12
Speaker 3: To be honest, like, I spoke to Boston last year and we were talking a little bit, and I know they hired a guy from driveline and we were talking, but then we never got back, you know, like about getting serious about it, and so they never get back to me. So I never, you know, went back to them and see if it's really an opportunity to me teach these kids how to hit, because sometimes, you know, you see all these kids with all these talent, with all the talent, and they seem kind of lost.

00:04:52
Speaker 4: One One guy in the National League hit over three hundred, Trey Turner. Can you teach hitters to hit the pitching that's out there today? Ninety five to one hundred big sweepers. Can Can it be taught to hit over three hundred again? Or is that only for the guys like Luisa Arrives who just you know, just try to put the ball in play?

00:05:17
Speaker 3: Not really, not really, Remember, peaching is peaching those who matter one hundred eighty five ninety five. If you got the techniques, you're gonna hit. I got the best example, David o'tiz. He's last year. He better than when he was young. He didn't change his mechanic. So White Chang's something that he's not broken. Yeah, it's a good call, yep.

00:05:44
Speaker 1: Exactly how many players many? How many players do you, you know, speak to it and work with? I remember I saw you. I think it was when you were doing some things with the cub It's been a minute now, But how many guys are you helping and mentoring? I know that's important to you.

00:06:00
Speaker 3: Actually, I was soaking to Hobby when he was with the Cops, Brian Shroubert when they were there, and uh, even Reso. But those guys. They know how to hit. You don't gotta teach those guys anything. Just the mental of the game and the approach. True.

00:06:19
Speaker 2: When if you can hit, you can hit, you can hit, right a Jay, I agree? What about your son? Can your son hit?

00:06:28
Speaker 3: My son could hit, and especially I got one in Juco right now that he could hit. He got bombed. He could hit bombs what what what Juco is? Yet he's here in Nova?

00:06:39
Speaker 2: Oh? Okay?

00:06:41
Speaker 3: Nice?

00:06:41
Speaker 2: And is he a prospect?

00:06:44
Speaker 3: He's getting there? He could hit, he throw ninety four and he could run. Well this run he's good too.

00:06:53
Speaker 2: Okay, all right, Well who's better than I'm gonna ask you? Because D'Angelo Ortis or your son.

00:06:59
Speaker 3: They're like different players, like like like you know, Lucas, he's too young. He's young. He just get out of high school. I think DeAngelo, you know, he went to college. So it's the there, like both different players.

00:07:12
Speaker 4: You know, how do they get away from the shadow that that is their father? Like how does your son get out of your shadow? Not that it's a bad thing, but it's one of his quotes, like he wants to be himself.

00:07:28
Speaker 3: Like I always tell my son, listen, you don't got to do it my way, but you could learn the way that I did it. Joe's try to figure out what kind of hitter you are, and then you could develop as a power hitter. Because that's what happened to me, To Aless Rodriguez, to David Ortiz, we became a hitter and when we start getting older, then we understood the song and start hitting home drums. Not like this kids these day, that they trying to become a power hitter when they're know the song and they don't know what kind of heater they are.

00:08:05
Speaker 2: Okay, Well, then I want to know this. What did you teach David when he came over to Boston, Because I played with him in Minnesota. I played with them up and he you know, he was okay, But all of a sudden he went to Boston and he became obviously like a god to the Fenway people.

00:08:20
Speaker 3: So we used to go to the cage every morning. Let me tell you, Davey work hard. You know a lot of people think a lot of people sold Davy's body. But then when he went to Boston, he really worked his butt off. He used to work out in the morning every day, and then we went to the cage, and we used to teach him how to stay in his back leg.

00:08:45
Speaker 4: How much did you talk to Raffi during this whole the whole thing. One of your quotes was, it's like telling Aaron Judge to go play catcher next year in spring training? How much did you see Raffi working not only as a player, but as a teammate too.

00:09:00
Speaker 3: To be to be honest, I really didn't know what was going on in Boston, but what I saw that Raffie said that they didn't they they didn't when to talk to him in the Winner, Listen, if you're gonna spend three hundred and forty million in a guy, at least that guy, you gotta tell him, Hey, we're gonna give you this money, but if we need you three three years down the road, can you help us in first base of the age. That would be easy. Instead of telling a guy, hey, you lose your glove and everything, you're not gonna play. You're not gonna play the field anymore.

00:09:41
Speaker 2: That would be like me asking you to go catch man. That would have been freaking comical. I would have loved.

00:09:47
Speaker 3: Get crazy.

00:09:48
Speaker 2: That would have been awesome. How much fun and how scared would you have been if you would have had to catch because I would have laughed my ass off seeing you back there.

00:09:56
Speaker 3: No, boy, let me tell you. When I signed with Boston, Remember I used to play right field with the Indians. So as soon as I got to Boston, they told me, hey, we want you to move to left field. Well, the first thing that I did, I went and check out right field is right field, And as soon as I saw the right field was so big, then I said, let me move to left field because it's gonna be easier for me. No, for real, play right field Boston. You gotta be truck and field right That thing is big back there.

00:10:39
Speaker 2: Hey. Plus, there's no bathroom in right field, so you couldn't go no bathroom. Yeah, you know, you couldn't go to the bathroom. The people would see you, so you have to You had to be in left field by the door so you could just go in there.

00:10:52
Speaker 3: It was a good decision. It was a good choice.

00:10:55
Speaker 1: Jonathan Papavon's on our show a lot, and he wants to know how often you use the bathroom out there? How often was that a spot for you?

00:11:03
Speaker 3: Man? First, I shout out to Papapa and I love him. He's a great competible man. We love him to be honest. I don't even use the bathroom out there, like the kids that they change the number. They always got getaway for me. So that's why I always go inside. I don't even go in there to be.

00:11:21
Speaker 4: What's your favorite what's your what's your favorite story from Boston from your time in Boston that you can obviously tell on here.

00:11:30
Speaker 3: My favorite story. We're playing against Toronto, so I strike out with basis loaded. So I'm coming to the dog out. I'm going to see and nobody's talking to me. They think I'm really mad. So as soon as I sit down on the dog out, I'm talking to David and I'm telling David, I'm thinking about putting some wheels in my new car.

00:11:58
Speaker 2: Huh m hm. That's it.

00:12:01
Speaker 3: That was sae like, like I strike cow, we based this lorded, and I'm thinking about something else. And then then and then in the last minute, I hit a home run to win the game.

00:12:12
Speaker 2: Well you did that a lot, by the way, the one against the Angels where he stood there for like seven minutes like this was unbelievable. We get the one against the Angels.

00:12:21
Speaker 3: Killed I thought the game was over.

00:12:24
Speaker 2: The game was over, the Angels were on the flight man, he was still standing there like this, and the balls you know, the ball was already on eBay before you got finished. So my favorite moment.

00:12:33
Speaker 3: Go ahead, no, go ahead, no, But let me tell you that guy used to get me out all the time, so he was due. I was supposed to get him in that time.

00:12:45
Speaker 2: You got a lot of people, by the way, my favorite many moment. And Johnny Damon is a great friend of mine. We grew up together.

00:12:52
Speaker 3: But you're not mind huh the quarter of marnin liftfield.

00:12:57
Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, why yeah, why the hell? Like Johnny David, I know he can't throw, he never could throw. He throws like he throws like this, right, But why were you? Did you decide that I'm gonna dive and catch his throw because I.

00:13:10
Speaker 3: Gotta help him. Hey, I gotta help him. He cannot throw. I gotta help him. I decide to go out there and do a treple coat of man to help Johnny.

00:13:22
Speaker 2: Cut off, triple cut off, triple cut off. You can you do me a favorite? Can you move your dreads? Because I think your low is your logo. You you stand in nice see there it is right there, right see.

00:13:37
Speaker 3: That's my logo right there, baby go in money dot com.

00:13:41
Speaker 2: But so I want to know this. When you go home or when you go see your kids, do you just say I'm back, Like when every time you see him you just walk in and go, I'm.

00:13:49
Speaker 3: Back, I'm back.

00:13:53
Speaker 2: Give me a hold.

00:13:58
Speaker 1: Hey, uh manny, I've got one. So we were talking about catchers. How about two thousand and four when yacht he's like, hey man, he's stealing signs, and Terry fran Cone is coming out and he's like, I don't even think he knows our sign, so leave him alone.

00:14:12
Speaker 3: I don't even know Me and David we didn't even know any signs. How are we gonna be how can we gonna be giving signs?

00:14:22
Speaker 1: Sorry, we just hit you're sign?

00:14:25
Speaker 3: Hit?

00:14:26
Speaker 2: What? What's what's cheto gonna give him? A? David hit a run like you guys are gonna hit run.

00:14:33
Speaker 1: It's a classic line. That's a great line in a heated moment, like he doesn't even know the sign.

00:14:39
Speaker 3: I don't even know those signs. Me and David we only got one sign. We look at the dog and Tito go.

00:14:44
Speaker 2: Like this, hey no, because you guys were that good?

00:14:49
Speaker 3: All right?

00:14:50
Speaker 2: I want to know you were Indian, Cleveland Guardian, Indian whatever they call him now, but you were an Indian. How the hell did y'all not win when you were in Cleveland? I mean, look at the teams y'all had. It was unbelievable.

00:15:03
Speaker 3: That what I mean?

00:15:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, told me playing third base, right, I mean told me you. The whole team was unbelieve Rovert Almar, the whole thing. I'm like, how in the world did this team never win a World Series?

00:15:15
Speaker 3: Well? Remember, we didn't have any peaching. We scared, we scored ten rounds and you know in the and we lose the game like fifteen to ten, So we didn't we didn't have any peaching.

00:15:27
Speaker 2: True.

00:15:28
Speaker 1: Yeah, they had some high scoring games the game.

00:15:30
Speaker 2: Seven one and against the Florida Miami that one the morn Yeah, that was a great series with Jose Mason, they had bringing Naggy and Tony.

00:15:42
Speaker 3: So, guys, so who do you guys have the tops of San Diego?

00:15:48
Speaker 1: Me?

00:15:48
Speaker 2: You know who I'm roomed for. I ain't room for the Cubs, So you know I want Diego. That's what after that?

00:15:56
Speaker 1: And the Dodgers have to get past the Phillies first many and the Phillies looked pretty strong. I mean they've done this for a few years where they've looked really solid during the regular season. Last year was a big disappointment for them against the Mets in the playoffs. But the Phillies have some pretty solid pitching and a lot of veterans just like you mentioned, who don't need to be taught how to hit, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trey Turner, et cetera. Just are they going to show up in a five gamer to beat the Dodgers? I think that's gonna be a great series, right.

00:16:23
Speaker 3: That series is gonna be great. But remember the Dodgers. They got so many pitching, they got so many weapon They could hit, they could run, they could do everything.

00:16:34
Speaker 2: Were a bullpen.

00:16:36
Speaker 3: Now who wins.

00:16:39
Speaker 4: LA in what five games?

00:16:45
Speaker 3: Full games?

00:16:48
Speaker 4: Okay? So if it's the pitching, If it's the pitching, who's the Dodgers' best pitcher?

00:16:55
Speaker 2: Right now?

00:16:55
Speaker 4: If you're the manager of that team, who do you start game one of any serious if you can pick anything, Tani? Why because they're they're facing they're throwing Blake Snell Game one. So do they think it's an easy walk in the park for the to beat the Reds.

00:17:16
Speaker 3: I think they're gonna throw it now because hey, you said it, it's gonna be a walk in the park and now is nasty. And remember Sincinnati, they youned they pretty good. Well, I don't think they could touch La. I don't think so.

00:17:30
Speaker 2: And Cincinnati doesn't hit lefties either. That's the reason why he's started king one. That's why I was all right, man, before I let you go, I have two questions for you. One they're both funny to me. One you might not think it's funny, but one you're gonna think it's funny. When I saw the video of you, I think it was in Australia and the guy had the Red Sox hat on and you went up to him and said, hey, you're Red Sox fan and he had no idea that was you. That was freaking awesome. Okay, so I don't know who told you to do that, but that was awesome.

00:17:57
Speaker 3: It came out out of nothing. That was awesome. You know, we're just playing the round in the street, you know, we wanted to make some contents and we went on to make people laugh. It was great.

00:18:06
Speaker 2: Okay, and then the second one. I have to ask you this because I always I haven't seen you, and I always wanted to know this. I played with you for about six seven weeks, and then it was twenty ten. I never saw I never saw you take a shower because every time I came off the field, you were already dressed. How the hell I'm always dressed that fast?

00:18:27
Speaker 3: He's you never know, He's never I was. I was in the training room all the time getting treatment. That's why you never saw me, because.

00:18:36
Speaker 2: I would like, literally, we would you would having it bad in the bottom of the top of the ninth and whatever would happen, and we would get shake hands, win and whatever, and.

00:18:44
Speaker 3: I no, you gotta you gotta go through, your baby, you gotta go through.

00:18:52
Speaker 2: But he never he was already dressed. And I'm like you you.

00:18:55
Speaker 3: Never told me, Nah, you never you never saw me.

00:19:01
Speaker 2: I'm fast, baby, Seriously, I was like, man, he does a car wash shower.

00:19:06
Speaker 1: Well, you're not the only one going to the training room, so if you go first, then you get your treatment first before everyone else, right that say, baby, mm hmm.

00:19:15
Speaker 2: Plus, there was a shower in the training room in Chicago. There was one shower you remember, you remember, Yeah, But he was always there, no matter what happened. He was always there right shaking your hands. But he was already dressed. I'm like, let's have a bitch. I'll make it dressed so fast.

00:19:30
Speaker 3: Remember I came from the Laby on Andrew, so I'm always got to go to the training room and stuff like that.

00:19:35
Speaker 2: That's true, that's true.

00:19:37
Speaker 1: You got first in line for treatment, otherwise you're gonna be leaving an hour later, right. I mean I think they're a little better now where they've got more, but I mean you could wait in line, right if there's three four guys that need treatment. Well, I mean you you are the wrong.

00:19:51
Speaker 2: He's the wrong because I never went back there.

00:19:55
Speaker 3: But but I always I always wanted to tell you this. Thank you man. The wad you treat me in Chicago. It was awesome and you and Kneko, you guys was awesome.

00:20:05
Speaker 2: Well, I appreciate that, man. I love I love playing with you. I tell people you were awesome, and I'll never do anything to talk about it. I'll never forget that one trip we had to Kansas City where we got you laid for like three hours. That was one of the most fun times I ever had with all you guys on that plane. It was one of my most fun times. So thank you for the memory problem. Thank you for having me, guys.

00:20:25
Speaker 3: Thank you, thank you man, You're the man.

00:20:28
Speaker 2: Thanks so much for joining us.

00:20:29
Speaker 1: Great to see you and good luck to La.

00:20:32
Speaker 3: Thank you, guys.