ShareThisHard as it is for us spoiled Southlanders to comprehend, not every one is smitten with Southern California.
Which is why Santa Claus may be coming to town this week, but it looks like Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira are not.
Two of the enduring images left lingering as the Dodgers' and Angels' postseasons came to an end in October are the indifferent, detached exits by Ramirez and Teixeira. As media members prodded -- some even gushed -- attempting to get the two superstar midseason acquisitions to commit to returning, both managed to sidestep the syrupy mess.
The exchanges went something like this:
Media: How much did you love playing for the Dodgers/Angels?
Answer: It was great.
Media: So, you want to come back?
Answer: I didn't say that.
Even then, of course, most Dodgers and Angels fans couldn't imagine Ramirez and Teixeira leaving. They were such perfect fits, especially from the players' points of view (that we all presumed we knew).
Ramirez thrived in LA, even said it was the anti-Boston, where he felt boxed in and over-examined. He liked that his eccentric personality was just a charming addition to La-La Land's treasure trove of kooks.
Teixeira was finally playing for a winner, a franchise primed to dominate its division for years to come. He was the perfect Angel, a pro's pro who was amiable, but had nothing colorful to say, just the way they like it in that clubhouse.
Everything went so swimmingly with both players for three months -- not counting that neither team won the World Series -- that it was assumed the Dodgers and Angels would kill to bring each man back.
The Dodgers finally had a star that connected with and widened their fan base. They had to over-extend for him, didn't they?
The Angels finally had the huge, middle-of-the-order bat that made them complete. Plus, owner Arte Moreno always lands his big winter fish, doesn't he?
Baseball fans should know better by now. Call it classic, over-emotional investment.
Neither player ever shrieked, "Eureka! (I have found it!)" Neither misled anyone into thinking that the Dodgers or Angels had leverage over anyone else that can write a big check or put a contender on the field.
Moreover, before you could say "Scott Boras," Manny caught a plane home to Florida, his long-time residence by choice. And Tex, the Marylander who still lived in Texas, was already eyeing his first free agency chance to play ball on the East Coast.
Their newfound California connections? Grand illusions of the faithful. Wishful season-ticket-holder thinking.
The only thing capable of roping them back, of course, is the usual thing -- a mountain of money. Much more money than what these two Boras clients can squeeze out of their other suitors.
The truth is, there's nothing special about playing in SoCal for either of these guys. The only way to drag them back, it seems, is to offer contracts significantly beyond market value.
Fans may be upset that the Dodgers and Angels, so far, have been unwilling to make that leap, but it's just smart business, even commendable.
The Dodgers say Boras never responded to their over-generous two-year, $45 million offer, now wisely withdrawn. And the Angels excused themselves from the Teixeira circus, presumably recognizing themselves as pawns, not players.
If it's any consolation, the Dodgers and Angels -- and friends -- should remember that plenty of free agents do choose Southern California as a destination. It's just the Southland's bad luck that this winter, these two, the ones everyone really wanted, couldn't have cared less.
(Contact Gregg Patton at gpatton@PE.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
columnMust credit The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif.
