Manny Mania goes Hollywood

For the third straight week, “Quotes of the Week” revolve around Manny Ramirez. (When doesn’t the world revolve around Man-Ram?) But this time, Manny is the object of our affection for good reason – he’s going, going, back, back to Cali. ... Manny will officially be welcomed at a 4 p.m. press conference today. We’ll have more on that shortly ... if Andruw Jones can get the limo there on time.
Here’s what sportswriters around the country are saying about the trade to L.A.:

Dodgers get Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox and Casey Blake from the Indians. Give them credit for taking their best shot at a winnable division. But if Andruw Jones had done what he was supposed to, they wouldn’t have had to take a chance on a loose cannon like Ramirez.
— Paul Hagen
Philadelphia Daily News

“It’s crazy,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre.
There are some who would argue that’s also an accurate description of Manny Ramirez. OK, he can be a bit of a nut.
He’s also one of baseball’s most feared hitters. Is superb in the clutch.
— Steve Dilbeck
Los Angeles Daily News

He will arrive at Dodger Stadium Friday lugging 510 career home runs inside 510 pounds of baggage.
He will take his place in the middle of the Dodger batting order tonight as one of baseball’s biggest hitters and most baffling headaches.
In the biggest late-season acquisition in club history, the Dodgers acquired left fielder Manny Ramirez on Thursday from the Boston Red Sox and Mars.
— Bill Plaschke
Los Angeles Times

Theo Epstein again has proved how smart he is. This time he cured Boston of cancer.
... Minutes before the trade deadline Thursday, the Red Sox sent Ramirez to the only place in the world where a jackass can become “Jackass: The Movie.” They sent him to Hollywood.
— Jeff Jacobs
The Hartford Courant

The Angels added a silver stick and gold glove; the Dodgers added a bodacious bat and non-stop newsmaker, a 24/7 minefield who can produce headlines as wacky as his hairdo.
— Jeff Miller
The Orange County Register

The Dodgers now have too many outfielders. But I imagine they will be sending a limo to pick up Ramirez at the airport, his safety in getting to the stadium critical, so why not have Andruw Jones driving -- knowing there's no chance of him hitting anything along the way.
— T.J. Simers
Los Angeles Times