It's Manny time in Chicago - good luck Sox

Since June 30, Manny Ramirez has as many visits to the disabled list (two) as he does base hits.Despite that, at least three teams (Tampa Bay,Texas and the Chicago White Sox) put in waiver claims when the Los Angeles Dodgers became the second team to tire of Ramirez's antic sin the middle of the season. The White Sox were awarded - if that is the proper term - Ramirez, and he is expected to join them for the rest of the season.

Good luck to the White Sox. It is not as if they have not been properly warned. Once upon a time, Ramirez was an immensely talented slugger whose ability to hit outweighed the baggage he brought. Not anymore. At 38, he is a broken-down hitter who has quit on his last two teams. Two years ago, Boston got fed up and sent him to Los Angeles. He became so unwanted there that the Dodgers benched him for four games despite being in contention in the wild-card race.

In his final at-bat for the Dodgers, Ramirez got himself ejected after arguing about a called first strike. That was a fitting end. Hours later, the Dodgers allowed the White Sox to claim him without getting a player in return. The White Sox are a long shot to catch the Minnsota Twins in the American League Central, but they believe Ramirez could make a difference. Properly motivated, that may be true. In the meantime, baseball will sit back and see how Ramirez meshes with Ozzie Guillen, the manager. That should be entertaining. [e-mail]