Tim McCarver: Manny Ramirez ‘despicable’ in Boston

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You thought Bill Plaschke was rough on Manny Ramirez when he wrote that the Dodgers shouldn’t sign the best hitter and most luminous clubhouse presence they’ve had in years after this season.

Tim McCarver, seldom at a loss for words, makes Plaschke’s comments sound like they came from Mister Rogers.

McCarver tells the Philadelphia Inquirer that Manny Ramirez was ‘despicable’ in Boston. He backs it up with a laundry list of sins.

But he does acknowledge that Ramirez has been a different person for the Dodgers.

Chicago media were somewhat smitten with the Cubs last week, 16 of 17 forecasters in the Tribune and Sun-Times choosing the local team over the Dodgers. Only Mike Downey in the Tribune chose the Dodgers. Of course, he also picked the Lions over the Bears.

Philadelphia media so far are a little more circumspect, saying the series between the Dodgers and Phillies is too close to call.

That’s probably wise. Philadelphia’s sports teams haven’t won a major professional championship in 25 years.

If the Phillies do win, they’re thanking the Mets. Omar Minaya, Mets general manager, is the one who took Billy Wagner off the Phillies’ payroll. Practically stole him.

The Phillies will keep the same starting pitching rotation against the Dodgers that they used against the Brewers: Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton. Old Dodgers friend Rudy Seanez might be added to the roster.

Dodgers fans can read it and weep. Chase Utley could have been a Dodger -- chose to go to UCLA instead.

-- Randy Harvey