A Confession

The big news on everyone's mind this week has been Manny Ramirez' return to Fenway with the Red Sox taking on the LA Dodgers. There has been so much speculation ahead of time about whether he would be booed or cheered and I think the consensus is that it was pretty much half and half. I have refrained from having an opinion about it because I don't feel like it is really my place to have an opinion. And that is where my confession comes in - I was not a Red Sox fan when Manny Ramirez played for the Red Sox. Yes, that means I was not a Red Sox fan in 2008. I was not a Red Sox fan when they won their two World Series. Heck, if I'm going to confess I might as well tell you that in 2007 I was rooting vaguely for the Rockies since they were the underdog (not that I watched any games or really payed attention). Nope, I became a Red Sox fan last year around May or June, I can't quite remember. So I don't consider myself a bandwagoner, since I became a fan in a random year when they didn't win anything and hadn't won anything the year before either. I don't consider myself a Pink Hatter (I think I'm a little too informed for that). My sister, who has been a Red Sox fan for much longer but it not as well informed as me, calls me a Johnny-come-lately fan. I'll except that designation since I am a new fan, even if that doesn't sound very nice.

So all this to say, I don't feel entitled to have an opinion about Manny. Anything that happened in 2009 and beyond, yes, I have an opinion and will not be shy to tell you about it. I think the VMart trade was great. I'm still angry that we didn't keep Gonzo even though Scutaro is definitely growing on me. I hate the John Lackey signing and may never like it. Getting rid of Lugo was the best thing that happened to the team last year. Sometimes I still think it would be nice to have Nick Green around. So when I ask my sister who Bill Mueller is and what Pap's comment about Billy Wagner being "like the Gagne" thing, she takes pity on me. Because she can't tell you what team Bill Hall came from and I can.