What kind of a world do we live in where Julio Lugo serves as the voice of reason. Yet here it is, from the Extra Bases blog, courtesy of the Looger:
“I’ve been here two years, I think I’m one of the guys closest with Manny. I’ve been closer to Manny than anybody else. As a friend I’m trying to defend him. He cares so much. He does so much to be ready. Sometimes things distract him. Things just came together. I don’t think he means anything. He [felt] real bad about the Jack [McCormick, the team’s traveling secretary] thing. He apologized to Jack and he apologized to [Kevin] Youkilis. Those things, nobody even mentioned that. I don’t think anybody mentioned that. Sometimes people misjudge him. People think he don’t care. That’s not the way it is. I think you guys should know that. He’s the first guy to come here, the only guy who gets up at 10 o’clock in the morning every day is Manny, to get set. It’s unfortunate that things like that happen. He shouldn’t be doing that stuff. He’s a mature guy. He understands he made a mistake. Just move on, ask for forgivenness, like he should, and move on.”
To paraphrase the Large Father: “Manny ain’t goin’ to no Mets.” So let’s just suck it up, move on, and cheer his righteous ass as he carries us to the promised land. The land of Postseason Baseball.
Get yer swim trunks and pray for a game tonight, people.
