Why Yes, Tim McCarver Does Have An Opinion About Manny Ramirez

The NLCS starts tomorrow ON FOX! We know Joe Buck is amped, but how does Tim McCarver feel about covering the Phillies, the Dodgers, and the story of the moment—i.e., Manny Ramirez Reborn? Well, let's just say Tim should bring some extra towels with him if he decides to head down to the Dodger locker room after the game.The Philly Inquirer asked McCarver what he thought about Manny's resurgence in blue and the answer was in a word: "despicable." Here we go ...

"I mean, talk about wearing out your welcome in a town, and it was a long welcome with the Red Sox. But some of the things he did were simply despicable, despicable - like not playing, refusing to play. Forgetting what knee to limp on. And now it's washed, it's gone" ... "A rejuvenated Manny, I think it would be fair to say," McCarver said, sitting in the Phillies dugout yesterday. "More than old Manny. Manny's doing things that even Manny doesn't do, [like] scoring on a double to right field from first base." McCarver laughed and asked which knee was it that was hurting? "It's a wonderful story in many, many ways, and from Boston's standpoint, it's a horrible story, I would imagine, because he could be doing that for Boston," McCarver said.

So he's "a real man" then? You know, I've always sort of liked McCarver, because ... well ... when it comes to color commentary it could be much, much worse. And he maybe has a point, kinda? But he's also an old man and should L.A. win the series, who the hell knows what Manny is capable of? Provided he even realizes that his team is going to the World Series. He may just get in his car, drive to Wasilla and forget the whole thing ever happened. Or McCarver could get swirlied on live TV. Oh, and thank you, disinterested media for giving us all reasons to care. • McCarver outspoken about L.A.'s dread man [Philadelphia Inquirer] • Smoltz recounts Sanders dousing McCarver [SI]