Manny Ramirez predicts this is his final season with the Dodgers

PHOENIX -- On the day he reported to the spring training, Manny Ramirez predicted this would be his last season with the Dodgers.

“I know I’m not going to be here next year,” Ramirez said.

So you don’t think you will re-sign with Dodgers?

“I doubt it, I don’t know,” he said. “I’m happy to be here. I’m going to try to enjoy myself.”

Asked what made him think he wouldn’t be in Los Angeles in 2011, Ramirez replied, “I don’t know. I just know that I’m not going to be here.”

Did he see himself moving to the American League?

“I don’t know,” Ramirez said. “We’ll see. Let’s take it a day at a time.”

Ramirez said he wasn’t even certain if he wanted to play next season.

“I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know about today, so….” he said. “When the season is over, I want to see where I’m at. If I play, I play. If they let me play, I play.”

Ramirez said the game was still fun to play.

“All the time,” he said.

Of his struggles last season, Ramirez said, “For me, it was great. I was telling myself, ‘Thank you, God.’ At least I was playing. That’s how I look at things. We didn’t make the World Series, but at least we were there.

“I think I did a great job. It was good what I did, coming back” from a 50-game drug suspension. “What happened last year, that’s in the past. This year’s a new year, so we’ll see.”

Ramirez refused to talk in detail about problems at the plate last season, but he acknowledged that they made him change his off-season training regimen.

“My whole career, I never hit,” he said. “But after this year, I felt I needed to figure out a couple of [things]. That’s what I did.”

Did he figure out the cause of his problems?

“We’re going to see in September,” he said. “If I’m still here.”

Ramirez said he weighs 235 pounds.

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Manny Ramirez. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[kuruc]

grear interview, mammy. i would like to see you next season.....in santo domingo.

[Hamburger]

I dont know.

[Reno Borelli]

“I think I did a great job. It was good what I did, coming back”

Manny still doesn't get it and never will. It's "good what he did?" Getting suspended for 50 games for steroids, then patting himself on the back when he comes back to claim the millions of dollars owed to him.

He's a disgrace to baseball.

[Real Talk]

I weigh 227 pounds.

[ogeezy]

see ya you steroid using sham!

[Scott]

Boy, Manny is about to see the fans who once adored and worshiped him turn right around and boo him out of town with comments like that. You're a cancer Manny. You sure as heck better hit the ball this year if you are going to keep talking like that.

[mark]

so long mannywood. we hardly knew you.

[MarK]

great news... glad to you... you go home. pay your taxes first. cali need the $$$.

[Kathleen Kennedy]

We can only hope so!

[MotelGeorge]

We can only hope Manny is right about this being his last year with the Dodgers.
He could really be a hero and quit right now.

[Candy Maldanado]

Manny wasn't meant to talk. He was meant to hit.

Let's hope that he can return to some kind of form this year, maybe hitting somewhere between the fantasy year of 2008 and and the disappoinment of 2009 He could help the team with his bat.

[Joe]

Hey, Let's not do this again real soon!

[paul]

Get rid of that bum... NOW!!!

[Frank Mendoza]

"Ramirez said he weighs 235 pounds."

Great. I bet he likes turtles.

[danfromwestlake]

Hey Manny, Why don't you make this your last DAY with the Dodgers? Not really a very intelligent statement to make before the season starts. Unfortunately, he can't be traded because nobody wants him.
Let's let him know how we feel about this every time he sets foot on the field.

[Juke Early]

Top 5 Reasons Manny Won't Re-sign w/ LAD

5. He doesn't like how he looks in Dodger Blue

4. Too manny, er many bars in LA seem to only have men

3. Can't get those special Big Dopi protein shakes anymore

2. He misses Fenway, specifically Green Monster men's room

1. He's actually turning 50 this year