Despite all Manny-being-Manny goofiness to the contrary, I have long suspected that Ramirez is far more savvy than he wants the world to know. It seemed to me that he often played the clown knowing that it bought him a long leash in terms of public patience and private restraint.

Then came a two-year, $45 million offer from the Dodgers that he and agent Scott Boras left on the table. One of them is a damned fool, and Boras has never been spotted ducking into the scoreboard to relieve himself during a pitching change.

Now Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has told Boras that negotiations will have to start from scratch, if they are to resume at all, even though the only major issue in dispute seems to be whether much of Manny’s payday is deferred. In other words, Ramirez pushed McCourt to the point of exasperation, his only talent that may dwarf his ability to hit a baseball.

If the ugly show of selfishishness with which Ramirez left Boston wasn’t enough to make him a pariah, he seems determined to finish the job now with the only team that seems particularly serious about wanting to sign him.

Earth to Manny: Opening Day is about a month away. It’s going to come whether you are getting a mammoth paycheck or not. Further evidence of your willingness to put pouting ahead of professionalism won’t help your cause.

Someone, likely the Dodgers, will eventually sign Ramirez. But he will have lost himself some money along the way.

He has already drained a reservoir of respect among the baseball world.

Tags: Dodgers, Manny Ramirez, Scott Boras