November 29th, 2006 → 1:46 pm @ Seth Mnookin // No Comments
One of the many mistakes I made in high school was taking French — which has come in handy exactly never — instead of Spanish. So I can’t be sure that I’m reading this right, but I’m pretty sure that “eso no es problema” can be translated as, “It won’t be a problem.” That is, David Ortiz told El Diario that it wouldn’t be a problem is Manny Ramirez weren’t on the Red Sox next year.
(I’m actually more confident in my translation than in Babelfish‘s. Here are some selections from their attempt at deciphering the piece:
“‘Manny is a key card in the equipment, but… I have been developed all my single life and single it is necessary to battle, which is is that to throw p√°lante’, it indicated.
Ortiz and the Ramirez form one of the more frightful offensive pairs of the baseball of the Great Leagues and the year last with the Red Averages they added towed quadrangular 89 and 239. …
‘that is Already problems between Manny and the equipment of Boston, but we will see in what it finishes. They finish almost always with Manny in the equipment, we hoped that she happens thus ‘, added.”
Indeed. Who doesn’t hope it finish with Manny in the equipment? But I digress…)
Ortiz’s statements seem to offer even more evidence that Manny is likely on his way out; I can’t imagine Papi hasn’t been in touch with both the team and with his partner in the most frightful offensive pair of the Great Leagues. Lots of press reports seem to indicate this as well: ESPN’s Buster Olney reports the chances of the Sox dealing Ramirez are a 9 out of 10 (it was Olney who tipped me off to the El Diario piece); the Globe‘s Gordon Edes has some specifics, mentioning San Diego’s Scott Linebrick, Jack Peavy, and Adrian Gonzalez and the Mariners’ Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson as possible bounty; while the Herald’s Michael Silverman raises the possibility that the Sox are responding to Manny’s latest trade requests by doing some reverse-psychology jujitsu, fermenting all this “activity on the Ramirez trade front” as a “good-faith gesture to keep Manny happy.” (Believe me, it’s not the craziest notion in the world.)
I’ve had some more thoughts since yesterday, when I said I was stumped as to why the Sox would consider trading Ramirez and signing J.D. Drew (with whom the Sox are apparently on the verge of finalizing a 4- to 5-year deal for $14 million per), and, in my usual flip-floppy way, I think I’ve come around to why some sort of trade does make sense, or at least is, at this point, unavoidable. (My inability to take a position and stick to it is one reason I’ll never be a successful politician, although arguably not as a big of one as my sordid past). But that’ll have to wait for later…
Post Categories: 2006 Hot Stove Season & David Ortiz & Making flippy floppy & Manny Ramirez
yerfatma
18 years ago
The sad part here is I’m forced to agree with Gerry Callahan. I was on board with not signing Johnny Damon last year. Too many dollars for too long. But how Damon’s deal with the Yankees worse than signing J.D. Drew’s reanimated corpse for 5 and $14?
dbvader
18 years ago
I saw Ortiz on ‘Red Sox Weekly’ and he was very reserved in his response as to whether he would miss Manny. Before responding he paused and let out a big sigh. He did not offer any plea to keep Manny. I was stunned by disinterested response.
pondaz
18 years ago
“Equipo” means “team” and not “equipment” in Spanish. Not sure why I know that and Babelfish doesn’t, but whatever.
Also, doesn’t Manny talk to Spanish reporters? Can’t we get ESPNDeportes on this case?
moctavio
18 years ago
Transaltion from a spanish speaker: “That is not a problem”…Manny is a key player in the team, but…I developed myslef my whole life all alone and the only thing you have to do is to battle, what you have to do is push forward”
“This things are some problems between Manny and the Boston team, but wee will see how it ends up. They almost (sic) always end up with Manny in the team, let’s hope it ends up that way”
moctavio
18 years ago
Translation from a spanish speaker: “That is not a problem”…Manny is a key player in the team, but…I developed myslef my whole life all alone and the only thing you have to do is to battle, what you have to do is push forward”
“This things are some problems between Manny and the Boston team, but wee will see how it ends up. They almost (sic) always end up with Manny in the team, let’s hope it ends up that way”
benschon
18 years ago
Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson? God help us. These guys are bookends on the shelf of Bill Bavasi’s incompetence. “Baseball Between the Numbers” devoted a whole chapter to Beltre’s terrible contract with the Mariners. We’re talking about a guy who still has three years left at $12 million per! He would also push out the still-useful, still-expensive Mike Lowell ($9-million next year). I hope this is a no one knows anything rumor.
djarm18
18 years ago
First, the babblefish translation was hilarious. I know it’s a simple gag but I couldn’t help giggling.
Second, I HAD NO IDEA that you had struggled and overcame drug addiction. Kudos for picking yourself up and capitalizing on news oppertunities such as handicap elevators in condos.
Third, we are going to miss Manny when the Sawx play the Yanks head to head. Manny always seemed good for a homerun, 3 rbis and a put out in a big Yank game. The wait is excruciating.
My seven year old son will be confused and saddened when (if?) they trade him. I suppose it’s time I have a heart to heart with him about trade market value.
deversm
18 years ago
New category: Oblique references to the Talking Heads.
Nice catch. I wasn’t sure whether to throw an oblique reference category up for that when the only reference was in a category itself…
Seth
rog
18 years ago
“Equipo” has more than one meaning (like a lot of words have in almost every language). It can mean either ‘team’ or ‘equipment.’ This is why Babelfish is an embarrassment that will never work. Software cannot recognize context, slang, or meaning for that matter. Interestingly, that Diario clip has an AP byline so maybe there’s an English language version of it somewhere (though moctavio’s translation pretty much covers it).